Year: 1876

| her I'm condition" With her op.
| ponent things were somewhat diff.
ferent, though he was exercised and
kept in stable, yet he got father
rough treatment, as on the day before
the race he was whipped all the way
over the course at full speed, and then
carried to the zanja, or wRter-ditch, and
drenched with cold water. This the
American horsemen thought would
surely settle the thing. aud they ad-
vised their friends moro than ever to
bet. The race.day brought out the
population from far and near. The
grandees of Santa Barbara, San Luis,
and even from Monterey came whilst,
all San Diego was there. The Cali
fornians had early taken sides with
their horses, and the Americans were
rigidly arrRyed for the Swan The
horse was to be ridden California. fash
ion-that is, the rider was strapped on
the animals bare back, ,and his owners
and hackers we're to be permitted to
ride beside and whip him. The mare
came out equipped according to the
American fashiOn-light racing-saddle
and spurs, and light bOy-weights
were not taken in account, Mott SAYS
that he observed that the horse was
ridden with a hdckdmOr, or halter,
and he felt then more than sure of
the race, as the least pressure would
obstruct free breathing 1t was agreed
in the American party that at the
turning point the Swan shOnld be
checked, her mouth sponged out, and
moment given for breathing, sup
posing always that she would be far
enough ahead. She was to be kept
under steady pull, and spared from
steel and lash, The custom among
Calitornians when they offer to bet
with you is to hand you the sum pro-
posed to be bet. If at the close of the
race you have won, keep the money,


but if, on the contrary, you have lost,
you return double the amount given
you. The crowd, as we have said, was
immense and the excitement intense.


A German friend of the writer said
that in few minutes he had his bug
gy almost laden with coin, so eager
and prompt were the CalifOrnians to
bet. In fact, he had staked nearly his
whole fortune, which was consider
able. This occurred with all who
went out and who bet. which left the
Californians masters of the situation,
so far as betting was concerned, At
length the horses started amid the
yells of thousands, and were followed
by hundreds of mounted cavaliers.
The mare led off, and under strong
pull commenced to open gap, not
withstanding the conveys of the horse
whipped him numerically. At the
end of the third mile the mare had
opened a gap of $50 yards, but when
she came to the turning point the horse
was so evidently holding his own, if
not gaining, that Mott seized her by
the bit, and jerking her around the
post, ordered the rider to give her the
steel and let her go. Though she
sprang forward like thunderbolt, yet
the game horse commenced gradually
to close the gap, and from there home
the struggle was terrible to behold.
With distended nostrils and painting
sides the two gallant courses thunder
ed forward. But condition" was too
much for the wild California horse,
for his rival passed the goal four or five
lengths ahead, but bleeding at the
fianks from the spur, and so weak and
exhausted that she had to be support
ed as she was "cooled off" The Cali


fornians gracefully yielded the victory,
and 1t Is said that Don Jose Sepulveda
was a winner to the extent OF more
than $50, 900, But that seemed to be
Of less consequence than his victory.
A part of the contract was that he
should be permitted to purchase the
mare if he won. AS soon as she had
been cooled out he called ror her to be
brought to him, and taking the bit
out of her mouth turned her loose,
and, raising his hand in the presence
of the assembled multitude, vowed
that she should never again be bridled
or saddled. And he kept his VOW, as
Nathan COombs afterward offered him
81, 200 to be permitted to breed one
colt from her, and was refused. She
ran loose on the plains till her death.