Little Lena Bars Defeat

By Colonel Bain, Unfiltered 7-17-07

Hello Readers,
The Colonel been busy finalizing the eastern Montana 1800 history play Called *The Killing of the Musgave Kid*..now where too print it in history...
The Horse Race...
I was just a boy when Pappy Jack Garrett an my Dad Otho Bain partnered up on a race horse named Be Bingo..out of a Leo Mare...
He was such a proud stallion an de day he toook him to Raton New Mexico to run him, he never thought her would have to match de famous Walter Merrick in a horse race..
Walter had "Little Lena Bars" a champion who had broken a track record at 300 yards and would eventually break seven world records in Quarter horse racing..
It had to be in the 60's when I was walking around shining shoes for 7 cent and a spit shine a dime...
Walter had known my dad quite well staying at our Conchas Hotel in Tucumcari several times. This time the 1/9 odds on Little Lena Bars didn't effect my dads judgement..
Merrick told him "Otho, If any horse might outrun my horse it could be Be Bingo. "
Dad replied with confidence dat Jack and him both had a fifty dollar win tickets on Be Bingo dat was what he was going to do..Win!!
Little Lena Bars was yet untested at the four hundred yards sprint distance. She Came like out like a rocket, just like Jack said she would..But Jockey Bobby Harmon knew he would really have to bust Be Bingo to catch her...
Walter was smiling with forty yards to go but de stallion just started moving an when the photo was taken "Be Bingo" head was clearly in front..Fifty dollars was alot of money n de early 1960's but to be in the winner circle was even a greater thrill for my Dad and Pappy Garrett...hummm

The Walter Merrick family has always had great race horses after Little Lena Bars including Easy Jet..who somehow looked like Be Bingo.. I shall not tell...
I know Dad was in de clouds dat very day an is beyond de Cloud of Unknowing now, Watch'n an smiling..
de Colonel's Hat is off to Be Bingo and My dad Otho Bain
* tear* (1923-2000)
Giddup Slow Light'n.. the Colonel smiling..:)

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