THE “DARK HORSE.”

Dunstan Times, Issue 960, 10 September 1880, Page 3

THE “DARK HORSE.”

The term “ dark horse,” now so thoroughly domesticated in political jargon, originated in Tennessee. A sly old chap named Sam Flynn travelled about the Sta’e years ago with “ Dusky Fete,” a coal black stallion, shambling along as if it was only “ a likely boss ” until he had fixed his bets, when “Dusky Pete” swept about the track like the flyer that he really was Flynn had arranged his hots at one such country race, when Judge M'Minamee, who was the turf oracle of that part of the State arrived on the course, and was made one of the judges. A= he took his place in the stand he was told how the betting ran, and of the folly of the owner of the strange entry in hacking his “plug” so heavily. Running his eye over the track, the judge instantly recognised “ Pete,” and lie said, “ Gentlemen, there’s a dark horse in this race that will make some of you smell hell before supper.” The judge was right. “ Pete ” the “ dark horse,” laid back until the three quarter polo-was reached, when he went to the front with a rush and won the purse and Flynn’s bets with ease. Ever ' after the horsemeu'of the vicinity fought shy of “dark horses.”