the chances of one horse, they were willing to stake every- 

 thing they possessed on him. 



This is instanced in the story of one of the earliest of 

 these contests. It occurred away back at a time when no 

 record was kept of the matter save the barest details. In 

 Cobb County, N. C, there lived a very rich family, and they 

 had the best horse there was in the surrounding country. 

 He was truly a handsome animal and had all sorts of speed, 

 but he had not been trained. It was the proud boast that 

 this animal could defeat any horse in the State, although the 

 family would never for an instant have considered themselves 

 turfmen. They boasted of his prowess on every occasion, 

 and often they went to the grocery store kept by a canny Scot 

 and spoke of what this horse could do in the way of running. 

 Now, it happened that this Scot had just moved into the 

 country and was not making much of an effort to get any 

 trade. He did not seem to care whether business came to 

 him or not. He was ready to take a drink, close up his 

 business and have a good time, and everybody soon got to 

 like him. He had a horse. His name was Trickem and he 

 was by Janus, the own son of Godolphin the Arabian. But 

 he did not let anybody know of the pedigree of his horse. 

 He simply tried to " make himself a good fellow." 



One day a scion of the rich family called at the store, 

 somewhat under the influence of liquor, and resumed his 

 boastings. 



" I think my horse could beat him if it came to a race," 

 said the storekeeper. 



" Have you any money to bet on it?" asked the South- 

 erner. 



" I have some money," replied the Scotchman, " but 

 there is hardly enough, and I will put up my store and bet 

 it. 



"Agreed," said the lad, and he went home and told his 

 father, mother, sisters and brothers, who said he had acted 

 properly under the circumstances. It was as much the 

 Southern pride as anything, but, at the same time, they be- 

 lieved they had the race as good as won. 



On the day following the Scotchman showed he was in 

 earnest by having his stock appraised and put up in 

 boxes ready for moving in case he lost. Then he sent for 



