footrace

in the early days of civilzation footracing  was a populer entertainment.  it made a short resurgence in the early 70 s around the rodeo and jackpot roping community. the big gun was ray, he was fresh back from vietnam, had a little money and liked to gamble. before i met ray he had already out ran the backfield of the asu football team, and was working on any other suckers who would step up with cash in hand.  as time went on and ray out ran more people it became harder and harder to get a match. so he started  giving up distance at the start. his favorite race was the length of a roping arena , giving the  oposition a head start of one third the arena, then with ray in the catch pen the race was started. ray had to jump the fence into the arena, then go catch his opposition. a few of those races were close, real close but i never knew him to loose.    
    at mormon lake  fourth of juley ropin, ray was ropin, and tryin to get a match up, no takers, he gave up half the arena, no takers, he offered to smoke a pack of cigarrets and drink a six pack of beer before the race, no takers. finally in desperation he offered to match his new wife against any other woman there and when he couldnt get a match on that offered to match his six month old boy against any other kid the same age at crawlin!! never got a one.
     the last race i saw ray run he about did himself in. we were at the old 35 th and baseline arena when some how he matched bill roer a race. now bill was 60 plus and ray was in his mid 30 s. bill was a hell of a athlete for his age and loved to gamble.  the terms were ray started in the catch pen laying on his belly, bill got two thirds the arena start but had to run backwards, this was for a thousand a man.  at the drop of the flag bill was off trottin backwards watchin ray jump the fence flat footed then come on like a house afire! bill was nearing the finish line and those of us who bet against him could see our money flying away. it seemed there was no way ray would make up the distance, that old man was running backwards as fast as some people ran forwards!! just as bill was in reach of the finish line he fell! it knocked the wind out of him and he was laying on his back wheezing for air as ray ran by. now all bill had to do was reach back and put his hand over the finish line to win, but he told me later he wasnt sure where he was. as far as i know there wasnt any footraces after that one. but ray said he would never gamble with bill roer again