Chariot Racing in California 257 



way. The leader and other mounted men put 

 spurs to their horses and went at the ball at full 

 speed. The lookers-on were betting nine to one 

 that one horse, which was new at it, would try 

 to jump it, but this was a mistake; the horse 

 apparently understood the game and hit the ball 

 with his breast a blow that could be heard one 

 hundred yards, sending the great sphere across 

 the field like a gigantic cannon ball. Then the 

 opposing horse came at it, sending it back, the 

 horses pushing it, the men skilfully rolling it 

 along with their feet. It was polo on a gigantic 

 scale. 



These games are watched with interest, but the 

 vast audience is eager for the event of the day, 

 the chariot races. While they have been carried 

 on for several years no one has yet been seriously 

 hurt or injured, though the men are absolutely 

 reckless of their lives. The attempts of some 

 of the drivers to cross in front of another chariot 

 and gain the inside, always bring the audience 

 to its feet, and cheers rise as the seemingly im- 

 possible is accomplished. 



Last season a favorite for the $1000 prize was 

 a team of " Lucky " Baldwin's, of Santa Anita, 

 who had entered his best running horses. Two 

 or three of the drivers have run in several, if 

 not all, of the races, and have seen some exciting 

 times. Not one in ten men has the nerve and 

 strength to drive in a chariot race successfully. 

 17 



