This matter having been settled, we heard some talk about "caballos"
and "carrera," and seeing the people all streaming off in one
direction, we followed, and came upon a level piece of ground, just
out of the town, which was used as a race-course. Here the crowd
soon became thick again; the ground was marked off; the judges
stationed; and the horses led up to one end. Two fine-looking old
gentlemen- Don Carlos and Don Domingo, so called- held the stakes,
and all was now ready. We waited some time, during which we could just
see the horses twisting round and turning, until, at length, there was
a shout along the lines, and on they came- heads stretched out and
eyes starting;- working all over, both man and beast. The steeds came
by us like a couple of chainshot- neck and neck; and now we could see
nothing but their backs, and their hind hoofs flying in the air. As
fast as the horses passed, the crowd broke up behind them, and ran
to the goal. When we got there, we found the horses returning on a
slow walk, having run far beyond the mark, and heard that the long,
bony one had come in head and shoulders before the other.
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