Kissing Cup's Race - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
KISSING CUP'S RACE. By Campbell Rae-Brown. 
You've never seen Kissing Cup, have you? Stroll 'round to the paddock, my lord; Just cast your eye over the more, sirYou'll any that, upon your word, You no'er saw a grander shaped 'un In all the whole course of your life. Have you heard the strange story about her, How she won Lord Hillhoxton his wife? No? Well, if you've got a few minutes, I'll tell you why Kissing Cup, here, Has lived in this lazy grandeur Since the first time they let her appear On a race-course-to run for a wife, sir, The loveliest girl in the land. By gad! 'twits a heart-thrilling moment For them as stood on the stand, And knew the high stakes that were pending On Kissing Cup's winning the race-She ran for a woman's heart, sir, To save an old name from disgrace. 
Here she is, sir;-now look her well oyer-There isn't a fault to he found; See her going-magnificent action! You're right, sir: the mare is as sound As she was on the day I rode her, Just ten years ago last June; I'll never forget how they cheered as, The mare and her jock, Dob Doon. 
He was always a reckless youngster, My master, Hlllhoxton, you know; And when the old Marquis died, sir, He seemed-somehow or other-to go Right fair clean away to the had, sir; And, being a fresh 'un, you see, The "bookies" just fleeced him a good 'un. I knew, sir, quite well how 'twould be: I saw he would go down a mucker-Be rained, sir, sure as fate. In his careless, boyish folly I saw that the fine old estate Would be gambled away, the title Be sullied, perchance, with shame. I Said to myself: "Bob Doon, boy, You must save your old master's name." He loved a quiet bit o' racingI'd been his head jock for years. I remember the night he died, sir; His bright eyes filling with tears, He told me to mind the youngster, To see that he didn't begin To gamble-and always remembered The Hillhoxtons rode to win. He told me above all to see, sir, That no scandal e'er touched the stud. To be sure that our stables harbored Nought but the purest blood. He took my rough hand as he finished, In the same old well-known grip, As hundreds of times I'd seen him A-grasping the ribbons arid whip. 
He didn't last very much longer
I stood by the bed as he died. And watched my old master's spirit Start on its last long ride. 
One night-I remember it well, sir, It must have been just nigh four years After the old Marquis left us-Very heavy at heart with fears, I was sitting in one of the stables, Not dreaming as no one was near, A-thinking of how things were looking A mighty sight too deuced queer. I had turned 'round my head for a moment To see as the nags were all right, When I saw the young master a-standing Behind me. I started-the sight Of his face, pale and haggard, Sent a rush of cold blood to my heart, I knew, sir, that something had happened. "Doon, Doon, my boy! why do you start? Don't you know me?" he said, "Have I altered? Have I changed so since yesterday? No wonder, good God! I am ruined! I've gambled the old home away. But the worst-the poor girl, Lady Constance-You know how she loves me, old friend-What will she think of me now, Bob? For pity's sake, Heaven defend And keep her," he cried, "true as ever! But no, no: I never can wed You now, God bless you, my darling! Forget me as if I were dead." He wept like a child in his sorrow. "Be a man! be a man, sir! "said I; "Trust to me, I can yet pull you through, sir. There's a mare in your stud that can fly; I've kept her-I knew you were playing Too fast, far too reckless, a game; But there's Kissing Cup ready to run for And save a Hillboxton's name." 
When I saw that the lad was collected I asked him to turn and look At the very first bet he had entered On the very first page of his book. He looked at me-eyes full of wonder"That's three years ago: what d'ye mean?" " My lord, you'll forgive me," I answered; "Forgive me, I know you have been Too hot, aye, too heedless by far, sir, In your youthful and reckless career; You've forgotten-just read for a moment The words that you see written here. The foal, Kissing Cup, here, is ready And fit, en, to run for a life; In the big race next week she will save you, Will win you a fortune and wife." The boy couldn't speak for a moment His pallid lips moved in a groan; Then he rallied, and grasping my hand, sir, Held it just like a vise with his own. 
The day of the race was a grand one, But few knew the issue at stake; We'd tried hard to keep it a secret For the splendid old Marquis's sake. As we cantered away past the stand, sir, To give the "big swells "all a view, Hardly one of 'em dreamt what 'twould mean, sir, If the Hillhoxton "Chocolate and Blue" Were beaten-none knew that the girl there, 
With her beautiful face, worn and thin, Was murmuring a low prayer to Heaven That her young lover's colors might win. 
"All ready! "-a beautiful start, sir; The line was as straight as could be; "They're off!" the shout rang for a moment Around us, and then seemed to me As dying away in the distance, While we scudded along the course At a pace that was far too killing To last: so I kept, my horse Well back in the rear to "the Corner." Then I let the reins loose on her mane. She passed through them all but just one, sir, Lord Ratthngton's colt, Sugar Cane. Then I saw there would be a struggle; I had Known it for months lung back, That all us I need he afraid of Was the old baron's fast-flying "crack." 
'Twas a terrible moment for me, sir-The colt was three good lengths ahead. I whispered a word to the mare, sir; 'Twas enough-she knew what I said. Sweeping on down the hill like a rocket, She got to the girths of the colt; My heart gave a great throb of pleasure, I made sure that he'd "shot his bolt." But no! his jock hustled him up, sir; His whip swishes fell like rain; And the cry ran like Are up the course, sir: "It's thousands on Sugar Cane." The stand was reached, Sugar Cane leading; Two seconds, And all would be o'er. " Lord Rattlington wins! "No, not yet, though We're neck, sir, to neck-two strides more. I saw in the great sea of faces A girl's-pale, white as the dead; I cried: "For her sake, Kissing Cup, now!" 
'Twas over-we'd won by a head.