Ever hear tell of old Benzine,
Hoss with a mark of 2.16?
Not much speed now-a-days, but--well,
You can't sometimes most allers tell.
Boys all laughed when Old Pop Blake,
Booked Benzine for the Breeder's Stake,
Richest prize in the Hull Big Ring,
Fastest hoss'es from every string,
But Ol Pop says with his quiet grin,
"Fastest hoss don't allus win."
First heat went to Princess Pat,
Stepping the mile in 2.10 flat,
Old Benzine was back in the dust,
Fight'n the flag which missed him just,
But Ol Pop Blake was quite serene,
And finished the mile in 2.16.
Second heat went to Farthest North,
Time hung up 2.10 and a fourth,
Last hoss home was Old Benzine,
Finished again in 2.16
Third heat captured by Gordon Glenn,
Reeling it off in straight 2.10,
Last as usual, Ol Benzine,
Best he could do was 2.16.
Glenn repeated, and after that,
Back to the front comes Princess Pat,
Breeder's had waived the five mile rule,
So Ol man Blake kep nice and cool.
Sixth heat went to a hoss named Dan,
Seventh was won by Betsy Ann,
And now, "Says Pop in his drawlin way,
I reckin we'll hav a word to say!
Sure enough the eighth heat showed,
The "Two ten cracks' was welll nigh blowed,
But this Ol "Saw-hoss" Blakes' Benzine,
Could trot all day at 2.16.
And trot he did the next three miles,
Right out in front, while Ol Pop smiles,
An stiddy as clockwork Ol Benzine,
Comes Bang right back with 2.16.
You see, says Pop, with his quiet Grin,
The fastest hoss don't allus win.
-By G.S. Applegarth.