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Show 68 The Southern Utes track and there was a runaway. The rider did not seem to mind the laughter of the spectators. On these races the Utes gambled heavily and if an individual thought there was at least a chance of winning, he would bet his last possession, even his bed and board. The Ute love for racing is further revealed in a report by the Indian agent to his superiors in the spring of 1879: Late in January a Ute named Johnson, always friendly with the agent, always wanting to be civilized and to have things, requested us to break a pair of horses for him, wanted a wagon, wanted a farm, and he must have a team to work. Accordingly the men spent a good deal of time in breaking the horses, . . . and of course we kept the horses on grain and hay, so that they would be in condition to work. Last week I discovered he was in the habit of racing these horses in the afternoon, and it was evident that his object had been to get them in good heart so that he could beat his brethren of the turf! When issuing day rolled around, one of the main events of the day was a mimic buffalo hunt on horseback. The men took rifles and revolvers and gathered around the gates of the corrals where the beef cattle were to be slaughtered and the meat distributed. The cattle would be chased by youngsters and each longhorn was chased and shot by men on their horses. This was a great sport on issuing day and it typifies the Ute's love of fun and merriment. |