THE ROUND-UP 



cup, also the second year. She was one of the best 

 relay riders ever seen on the track here and an all- 

 round cowgirl. Unfortunately the third year she com- 

 peted, she was riding a strange string and lost the race 

 through her horse crashing against the fence. A large 

 splinter tore into her leg, but notwithstanding she 

 gamely finished the race. 



There they go again and as you see the relay with 

 its zip and thrills and vacillating leads — is a race in 

 which the enthusiasm of the crowd bursts all bounds. 



Now, three pairs of beautiful animals are led out on 

 the track — each pair mounted by a rider. At the 

 crack of the pistol they're off, like the Roman riders 

 of old. It is the cowboys standing race. But it is a 

 safe bet, that no ancient Bellerophon ever rode his 

 Pegasus with greater temerity than Ben Corbett, Hoot 

 Gibson, Otto Kline and their ilk. 



Just watch them go! — How they do it is a marvel. 

 Hoot Gibson is now on his second turn around the 

 quarter mile track astride on his pair of horses on the 

 run — and letting out all the way. The arena of Rome's 

 ancient Coliseum in the days of Ben Hur never saw 

 faster travelling than this. 



Hoot shoots over the line in 59 2-5 seconds — re- 

 markable time on a quarter mile course. 



They're off again ; but this time it's the girls stand- 

 ing race with Bertha Blancett and Lorena Trickey in 

 the lead. How they fly ! Six consecutive years Bertha 

 has competed in this event with the marvelous record 

 of five world's championships, being defeated only 

 once and that for second place by Vera Maginnis. 



Here they come ! It is a close race — Lorena is right 

 on Bertha's heels, but it takes the best woman rider 

 living to outclass Bertha Blancett and none have so far 



179 



