"'That's the good game kid!' I says out loud. 'Oh, you 'Micky boy!' also out loud.
"They get off to a nice start. When they hit the stretch I throws my hat away. Hamilton's in front two lengths. A eighth from home I see there's somethin' wrong with Micky. He's got his bat 'n' lines in his left mitt. His right hook is kind-a floppin' at his side, but Hamilton's runnin' true 'n' strong. The colt looks awful good to the sixteenth 'n' then his gait goes clear to the bad. I see he's all shot to pieces behind, 'n' he's stoppin' fast. I'm standin' at the inner rail ten len'ths from the wire, 'n' the Elephant colt gets to Hamilton right in front of me.
"'I gotcha, jock!' yells the boy on the Elephant.
"'They don't pay off here,' says Micky, 'n' sticks the lines in his face. Then he goes to the bat with his south hook 'n' Hamilton lays back his ears 'n' runs true again. . . . He out-games the Elephant a nod at the wire 'n' I'm twelve hundred to the clear.
"When I gets to 'em, Micky's standin' in the track leanin' against Hamilton. The colt's shakin' all over 'n' his hind feet's in a big pool of blood. I gives a' look 'n' the left rear tendon is tore off from hock to fetlock.
"'Good God, look at that!' I says to Micky.
"'Aw, pony . . .' he says, 'n' busts out cryin'. He leans up against the colt again 'n' he's shakin' as bad as Hamilton.
"Just then the boy gets down from the Elephant.
"'I'd a beat that dog in another jump,' he says to Micky.
"'You?' says Micky. 'I'm goin' to _kill you_!' He starts fur the boy, but he turns kind-a greeny white 'n' does a flop on the track.
"When I goes to pick him up I see a bone comin' through the flesh just above the wrist on his right hook.
"We puts him in a blanket 'n' the swipes start to carry him off.
"'What's the matter with the kid?' says Ike comin' up.
"Ike sees the blood 'n' walks behind Hamilton.
"'I wish it was his neck,' he says, pointin' at the tendon. 'That's what you get fur puttin' a pin-headed apprentice on a good hoss! Get him so he can hobble, 'n' sell him to a livery if you can. If not, have him shot.'
"Hamilton's standin' there a-shakin'. His eyes has the look you always sees in a hoss just after he's ruined.
"'What'll you take fur him?' I says to Ike.