The Horse That Wins the Race
If you ever go to races I think you’ll agree,
In the following philosophy which oft occurred to me;
Some horses start off slowly and others make the pace,
But the first horse at the wire is the horse that wins the race.
It doesn’t always matter which jockey has your mount,
When they rally down the homestretch, one thing alone will count,
Luck often passes merit, and for better or for worse,
The rear horse gets his lashing and the front horse takes the purse,
When dealing cards in poker you are liable to find
That two pair seldom rank as high as three cards of a kind.
The King card is high card but it doesn’t beat the ace:
The first horse at the wire is the one that wins the race.
Just look the records over, and you’ll stay with me, I guess,
That really, for succeeding, there’s nothing like success;
The world will surely judge you by the things that you have done!
You will only get its pity for your battles nearly won.
Reputation isn’t always what it’s lauded up to be,
The shallow brooks are noisiest, down flowing to the sea,
Great genius sometimes hides itself within the common face;
Dark horses beat the favorites to many a gallant race.
Endeavor may be noble, but the world doesn’t care a pin,
For an ocean of endeavors unless they chance to win.
Finish what you’ve undertaken if you want to make a name
Success has filled the niches in the temple walls of Fame.
The most successful doctor is the one that most is paid,
The merchant who most prospers is the one who gets the trade,
The most successful lawyer is the one who wins the case,
And the first horse at the wire is the horse that wins the race,
I often think it’s pretty hard that things should be just so,
But you have to buy your ticket if you want to see the show.
It’s the front of the procession where you always hear the band,
And the boy who gets hot peanuts is the first one at the stand.
So make your tablets ready and jot these maxims down;
It’s the peasant does the hustling and the king that wears the crown.
The man who gets the fox’s brush is the foremost in the chase,
And the first horse at the wire is the horse that wins the race.
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