Based on the Papers

Local newspapers always get involved in rivalries. One small town weekly reported the results of a horse race at the county fair. Only two horses were entered. The first was owned by a man named Brown, who was a local friend of the editor. The other horse belonged to a man named Colburn who lived across the county. Colburn's horse won, but the paper told the story this way: "Brown's horse came in second. Colburn's horse came in next to last."

Source:
Concord Printing newsletter, Cape Girardeau, MO, date unknown.