Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 67

# "The Boy Jockey" by Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

This story depicts a horse race at a prestigious sporting event, featuring a dramatic rescue and subsequent competition. At the starting line, a mysterious young man in rough frontier dress witnesses sabotage—handlers deliberately mistreating the favored gray filly Aphrodite to secure her defeat. He pursues her on his mustang, manages to mount her mid-flight, and delivers her safely to the finish line.

Impressed, owner Henry Blythe recruits him as a replacement jockey after the original rider is injured. Despite having ridden only a dozen races before, the young man confidently accepts and competes in the two-mile race against the black favorite Midnight. Using careful tactical judgment rather than immediate aggression, he gradually positions Aphrodite to challenge for the lead in the home stretch. The narrative ends as both horses sprint toward the finish line, neck and neck.