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The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.

More Than Somewhat (1937). This quotation is associated with Runyon, but the Chicago Tribune, 10 May 1936, printed the following: "'The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that is the way to bet,' as Hugh Keough used to say." Keough was a Chicago journalist.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.