Comic Title: Detective Comics #157
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: March 1950
Approx. On Sale Date: January 18, 1950 Copyright Date January 16, 1950
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1950
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 48
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Race of the Century"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Penciller: Bob Kane
Inker: Charles Paris

Reprinted In:
Batman Archives Vol. 8 HC (2012)
Batman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 7 HC (2019)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #156; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #45)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Star Spangled Comics #102; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #45)
• Vicki Vale (last appearance in Detective Comics #155; next appearance in Batman #61)

Villain(s)

• The Masked Highwayman (Bart Gillis; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Atkins (a canadian mountie; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Rocket (a horse; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Batman and Robin track down the Masked Highwayman that has been at large in Canada. The Highwayman, Bary Gillis, murders a mountie, but the bullet cannot be located after he is apprehended. Without the bullet, the murder case against him cannot be proven.

While Gillis begins a prison sentence for robbery, Robin finds the crook's horse and takes custody. He stables the horse at Bruce Wayne's stables, but it doesn't like the Boy Wonder. Robin names the horse Rocket and plans to race him in a steeplechase.

Meanwhile, Gillis escapes from jail and tries to kill the horse. At first Batman thinks Gillis is out for revenge, but he soon realizes that the missing bullet is lodged in Rocket's neck. With the bullet found, Gillis is sent to prison for murder.

Robin then rides Rocket in the race. He also realizes that his mask is upsetting the horse, so he removes it and uses dirt to hide his face from the crowd. Rocket and Robin win the race.