“Baby born with two heads...” “Must be from Brooklyn...”

Okay to start when I first watched it I'm not sure what it was but I just kind of saw him and my brain decided he was the one

I think a big part of it is how much I can relate to him? I think I act a lot like he does and we have similar thought processes and speech and I think I really latched onto that. Also the fact I apparently have similar expressions, body language, etc so I think a lot of it is me relating and finding traits of myself in him personality wise too.

I also think it was general interest; he's always got a quip or comment to add and blurt out and his overall presence and attitude are noticeable and relatable

I think I mainly gravitate towards him out of everything because of relation, I usually fixate on characters I relate to on some level or another because I love having character I can see myself and take a level of I guess comfort or familiarity from that(?) which drives my interest for them

and now for what I like about race!!

literally everything, I feel like he can be dumbed down to being the "goofy" or "energetic" guy but I don't think certain people understand his character and underestimate or make him the stupider one in situations

He is a gambler, so he is going to have a certain skill set and range of traits and it will affect the way he thinks, perceives things and acts. He gambles and makes bets so he's going to be strategic and clever, probably thinking things through and running scenarios and possibilities through his mind. Essentially saying he's more witty and quick than people can make him seem. He is clever, he isn't dumb and he seems like he sees things differently and analyzes more than people give him credit for, he probably thinks all kinds of things through and maybe notices details or facts people wouldn't normally consider. For example, in 92sies when they're passing out the Newsies banner he is one of the only ones who asks if the people can read. Maybe I'm reading into it too much but I think it's a neat detail because everyone else just hands them out but he notices maybe some of them can't read and considers it enough to ask if they can or can't.

Back to him seeming clever; he makes a lot of quick comebacks or comments and maybe this is just him blurting things out but I like to think it's because he is a quick thinker, he processes and understands fast and can comeback at lightning speed. Not just with speech but I think he's just sharp and astute. An example is in the Broadway when he says "Hey, ain't we the hoi polloi?" when Les mentions having parents and hoi polloi is a Greek saying that means "the masses or common people" he likely means by this that the Newsies are the more "common" people for not having parents and maybe he is "less normal" or the odd one out for having parents. Essentially that's pretty damn smart and an interesting thing for him to pick up on throw out there.

Overall I think it's unfortunate how people can dumb him down and underestimate his character because is in fact very quick-witted, bright and can notice small details and things that others may not and good at picking up on things quickly. He's got a lot of layers and things that make him more complex and interesting as a character

I also like just his personality; his overall confidence along with his intense and unyielding loyalty to the Newsies. I love his sarcastic and quick humor and his overall presence, I love how he carries himself and acts, also him sticking his tongue out as much as he does (me core) is so great. And how he isn't afraid to stand up against someone (even if it isn't always the smartest choice) especially if it concerns the other Newsies, like when he tries to protect Medda at the rally (92sies) and there's little moments like that where he just shows his true dedication and comradeship for the people he cares about. HOWEVER he does seem to know when to consider backing down, while he isn't afraid to stand up against someone he also seems to know when to take a step back. I think he seems like he can be impulsive sometimes but also think it through and voice his opinions or thoughts (not sure how accurate this is but I noticed it a few times). I also love how he is unabashedly himself, he is confident and doesn't mind putting himself out there or being known and he's always cracking jokes or comments or hanging around with the other Newsies, I literally just love his energy and charisma he brings to the group.

Also something I thought of is just how much he loves the races and gambling. He is seen making references or normal comments but throwing or referencing something like "It's a rigged deck, they got all the marbles" and different things like that which he incorporates into his normal speech. Also in 92sies when Jack is coming back from dinner with the Jacobs, Race is arriving at the same time and he asks how his day at the track was meaning he basically spent his entire day in Brooklyn at Sheepshead. There are just a lot of little references, traits, etc that he incorporates his love for the races and gambling into regular things and I love that SO much

I'm also going to talk about another thing; so it's pretty obvious but I like talking about this. So obviously he gets his name "Racetrack" from his love of horse races and the racetrack and in King of New York (92sies) he sings the part "A permanent box at the Sheepshead races" which I looked into when I first got into Newsies and apparently it was a racetrack in Brooklyn so I started thinking about it; when they're at the distribution gate in the beginning of the '92 movie he is there with everyone, but when all the Newsies leave the gate and start to sell he isn't in the crowd anymore and I don't think he's in any scenes after he reviews the paper and passes Jack some money. My theory is he must have left earlier to start walking to get a head start to Brooklyn by the track (he probably sells there) so he could get there early enough to sell his papers and see the races later. Maybe I read too much into this and maybe he doesn't sell there and maybe he just was hidden in the crowd but it just makes sense in my mind I guess. And going back to what I mentioned earlier with him getting late, it's likely because the races are not that close and he stayed late at the track later. Jack mentions "how was your DAY at the track?" Meaning he spent the whole day there and not in Manhattan which also ties in my idea of him leaving the distribution gates earlier than everyone else. In my opinion this would explain little details and expand on his mention of the Sheepshead racetrack and overall this part of his character etc. ONCE AGAIN MAYBE I'M READING INTO IT TOO MUCH BUT THIS IS JUST MY THEORY AND THOUGHTS OFF THINGS I NOTICED

ALSO adding onto that, something I was sort of sad about was certain parts of him in the Broadway. In King of New York it's Romeo who sings the "permanent box" part which I think is maybe just because Race started the song but it still makes me sad they didn't keep that line for Race. Also I do think some of his lines referenced his love for gambling but it sort of felt like that element of his character wasn't fully there?? I am NOT saying his entire personality and life is gambling and horse races but I also just think it's a big part of his life, it's something he heavily enjoys doing and references and mentions and I wish it had been used a little more. HOWEVER I did love how they did other parts of his personality, speech etc and I just love Race so much in general.

Also more about his character and cleverness; I think I mentioned earlier that he must be perceptive and observant but I realized with gambling he probably is both of those things to an extreme. He is probably very good at telling things from body language, expressions, and small but giving details that betray people's emotions and thoughts and that make him aware of whatever it is. I think him being so quick at thinking, observant and understanding is really such a cool character trait and I LOVE RACETRACK!!!!

More on his personality; yes he is energetic, yes he is loud, yes he is playful but THIS DOES NOT MAKE HIM DUMB. I can't stress this enough, he is playful with the others and louder and confident but he is still perceptive and very quick-witted. He can be goofy and fun while also being smart and sharp.

Also I love his comfortableness with the others; like constantly bumping them, grabbing them, and roughhousing etc I love how wrestles and messes around with the older Newsies BUT also some of the younger or littler ones.

I love the idea of him being the second; he is very close to Jack and would honestly be a great first and second for Manhattan. He may not always be the best leader (but who is?) but he does have a sense of leadership, care and devotion to the other Newsies and a confidence and courageousness that could assist him in leading or at least helping and supporting the Newsies as he does already. I do think he is an excellent asset to the Newsies and might make a strong and good leader for the Newsies if it ever came to that

ALSO THE HISTORICAL SIDE!!! Ed "Racetrack" Higgins was a real Newsie and the leader of the Brooklyn newsboy union for the 1899 strike. His name came from his love of horse races and gambling and he frequently visited the Sheepshead races. He was known for charisma and humor, as well his many references to horses in his speechs. He was actually elected vice president for the general union after other leaders accused of selling out. He was very well liked and respected, seen as a natural leader, leading with both charm and tenderness (especially with younger newsboys, there is actually a newspaper column talking about Racetrack being seen interacting kindly and tenderly with and I think it's mentioned it may have been his little brother??).

"Their incessant conversation revealed numerous amusing and pathetic phases of the strike. But it was when Higgins spoke that every word was worth listening to. He seems to be a born leader of boys, and may yet be of men." This is just so cool and interesting to me that he was so highly respected and intensely loyal