36 LIFE AVITII THE TROTTERS. 



was a big roan gelding owned by a party of people at the 

 stock-yards, and all Chicago turned out to back him. 

 Phin Smith drove J add, and as he was very sweet on the 

 horse's chances there was a large amount bet on him. The 

 famous ''forty-niner," Uncle Jack Batchelor, was there 

 with John H., and as the sequel proved, he had him keyed 

 up for this occasion with the intention of jDutting all the 

 boys under water. When the pool-selling began Batchelor 

 came down with the bank roll and took a stand in front of 

 the auctioneer, telling him he had come to bet all his money, 

 as he might as well get broke there as to go further and • 

 meet the same fate. Hattie, another local horse, had some 

 following, and Mollie was there trotting in the interest of 

 the Detroit people, and with Bill McLaughlin in the sulky, 

 and Cax)t. John DeMass to navigate the currency into the 

 pool-box, she was not overlooked by man3^ Phil Sheridan 

 had some backing from Wisconsin, where he was owned, so 

 that on the whole, the race was the big betting event of 

 the year thus far, and we knew that if the Chief could win 

 there would be a chance to take down such a pile that we 

 would not have to walk to Cleveland. 



As Mr. Z. E. Simmons could not come himself, his 

 brother William dropped in the night before the race think- 

 ing he might have a chance to buy a few cheaxD tickets on 

 the Chief. All the talent thought that the race Kansas Chief 

 won at Indianapolis was a scratch, and as at that time I 

 was but a boy, they did not take much stock in his chances 

 at Chicago. I told Mr. Simmons that Kansas would win, and 

 win sure, and on the strength of my opinion and what he 

 knew personally of the Chief, he began in a quiet way to 

 lay his money on him. When it came to the race we con- 

 cluded that the best plan would be to do some w^aiting, as 

 the held was very large, and I have found that in such 

 cases the unexpected almost ahvays happens — that is to say, 

 some horse that no one is looking for will jumj) out and go 

 a heat fast enough to cork himself and all the rest that try 

 to keep up with him. In this instance Batchelor made a 



