the races he 'd run ; his prize as victor of the footrace at thebes , the fine tripod he 'd had to leave in corinth when he escaped ; the time he 'd come second in the chariot race , but only because the axle worked loose during the race , and that - he always thumped the table to drive home the moral - was why you had to check these things , gods damn it , and you could n't trust a slave to do it for you .