The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-24

Match Between George Wilkes and Lady
Thorn for S2,OOO-A Compromise After
Five Heats Were Trotted.

Glrl trotted match at the Union Course TO wagons
for 600 and that the stallion beat her after very
close struggle at the finish. After Wilkes had won
the match, Mr. Marshall Of Providence X. L. who had
acted as one OF the judges in the race having AS he
supposed, discovered weak spot In Wilkes, offered
to match Lady Thorn against him In two races for
$1,000 side EACH at mile heats best three in ye and
at two mile heats, both in harness. The first race
had to be play or pay, and to come or the following
Monday, the two mile trot to follow in five days az
forwards The match was accepted and every prep
aration made FOR II.
The match created quite sensation In sporting
circles as soon AZ it was publicly announced and q
great deal of speculation arose to VINO would be
the winner. Owing to the successful career of Lady
Thorn throughout the season-having lost but four
out OF fifteen races, and those by one horse only,
Mountain Boy-sporting men were generally DIS
posed to regard her with extreme favor and were
willing to back her at any reasonable amount Of odds,
without taking into consideration the fact that she
must have become somewhat stale after such
lengthened campaign as she had undergone. When
brought upon the track yesterday she looked quite
as well as usual and apparently just as capable OF
doing as fast work as at any time during the season.
The sequel, however, showed that she was not quite
SO fast as she had shown herself to be during the
summer, and that she was unequal to herself the
she seemed to lack that energy and spirit which
have always characterized her efforts at the nsn OF
heat. Whoever mad seen her IN her previous races
to discover that there was something lacking
IN her, either That she had become very
stale from excessive training or was otherwise out
Of condition. She disappointed many OF her most
sanguine frlends-those who had seen her In her
most brilliant efforts, and were quite confident when
they saw her enter the bomesretch side and side
with Wilkes that she would be the victor in the con-
test. Lady Thorn won the first two heats-the first
very easily, on account OF Wilkes breaking up as he
entered the homeStretcn and not rceaining bis trot
until he had passed the score. In the second heat
she seemed to labor as she came up the homestretch
and evinced strong inclination to break, but by the
skill OF her driver was brought to the score winner
by length. On the third heat she did much worse,
as she broke into g run on the homesretch, when
losing the heat Even this evident lack OF
speed and energy In the mare did not dampen
the srdor OF her hackers and they still offered toay
100 to thirty on her. The fourth heat was very close
for nearly three-quarters OF mile, when the mare
lower turn and ran well into the homesretch before
she resumed her trot, she being a. the time half
dozen lengths behind Wilkes. When near home
Wilkes also broke up and the mare again leaving
her feet came after him on clean run, but not
fast enough to oyertske nun before nc crossed the
favor OF making It q dead heat and as the ma
jority rules, It was 50 decided much to the aston
ishnent Of all present and to the utter disgust Of
those who had laid their money on the stallion
many OF whom expressed their dissatisfaction
n terms not Yer. S TO two OF
similar in its characteristics to the third,
both horses again entering the houesTetch side and
until she broke mp tired and ran In behind him
the score. To account for the loss OF this heat by
the mare charges were immediately brought before
the judges against the driver OF the stallion, stating
that he had used unfair means " win the heat and
had repeatedly struck the with his whip the
The judges entertained the charges ana after con.
sliltation among themselves, believing them to be
ers OF the mare now became alarmed for the safety
OF their money and proposed compromise or draw,
not only Of this race but q the one o. two mile
party acceded aad the race terminated.
With respect to Wilkos we may state that his con
di;ion was very suitable for . protracted race
although his speed manifesty not 80 great 1t
was when he trotted against American Girl on last
Thursday. lie, too, has gone through pretty hard
campaign particularly la the latter part OF tile
son. lie was very unsteady In the first heat with
Lady Thorn yesterday, and IL WAS with diniculty
ever discovered the cause Of 1t to be an liberated
mouth, which had escaped the observation OF his
trainer, and which had rendered his mouth 80 sen
stive to bI that he unable 70 bear the pres
sure. After this had been rernedied as much pos
sble, under the circumstances, he did better and
trotted satisfactorily throughout the race, and In oil
probability would nave won IL had IL been brought
10 Conclusion.
The weather was nnc, the attendance was good
but the track was heavy. Now for the detaiis:--
THE pgrTIs0 BEFORE THE RACE.
Lady Thorn. $50 IS 10 so 20 SO 100 80 $50
George Wilkes. aSs 80 10 70 70 ~ ~ - 10
rHh RACE.
FIRST Henf.-Thorn won the pole. She had nearly
length the best OF the send-on Before they began
TO make the turn George Wilkes broke up and lost
two lengths more. lie trotted fast after he recov
cred Qnd closed rapidly. The mare, however, led
nlm 10 me gnar'er pole Two lengths in thirty
the backstretch the mare did not seem
to extend herseif in her usual manner
tw lengths ahead at the hafrnile pole IN l:IsK As
they entered the lower turn Wilkes began 10 close up
the daylight gradually and At the three quarter pole
head and head with her. They swung into the
ho'nesrcieh yoked. but almost soon rs Wilkes got
into straight work he broke up and never caught
AGAIN IN the neas In fact be ran past the stand and
continued to ope until he was haif way around thc
upper turn. The mare won the heat BY several
lengths in 2;3oh. The driver OF George
Wilkes unable ~ account for the break
OF wilkes and hts stubbonncss in not trying
TO catch after he had broken. ruade close nspec.
ton. among other things oil the horses mouth when
nc discovered large cancelous sore on the inside
ol TIE check. which the bit had been pressing against
ana " this was attributed all the mischief. lie had
The bit weA wrapped with muslin, TO make Il easier
for the
Ssond HedL-Tie mare was now the favorite at
one hundred TO twenty, with few takers The horses
scored several times before they started. when
they ret the word Wilkes unsteady, and he soon
afterward broke, and the mare went around
the turn Two lengths and half ahead OF
nina. As they approached tie quarter pole
wilkes closed tribe and the mare passed that point
two lengths IN front In thirtyseyen seconds. The
backstgetch, closing slowly, and when Lady Thorn
reached the hai-nile pole she led one length. Time
laA The slsllion lay al her wneei around the lower
turn aud IN thai way came on the homestretch
Lady Thorn seemed TO labor az she came up the
stretch and appeared so determined 70 break that 1t
was as much as pnief cou.d do to preyent her. lie,
however BY mastery handling kept her on ner icxs
amt brougigs her In winner by q length In z:28k
THIRD Heat.-TheTe was no betting now "A the
hackers OF the horse were under Tie Impression that
he was not himself and thai II useless TO lny on
him any more. Wilkes got haf length the best OF
the send OIL and, going away at q very rapid mace
he took the pole from the marc about half way
around the turn and led two lengths and a half 10
quarter pole In thirty seven and half seconds. me
mare closed gradually on the backstrech AMI when
Wilkes passed the hanmhe pole In i:ie she was
bnt half length behind. Going around the
lower turn the stallion outfrotted n adv
Thorn aud showed daylight between thor,
before he reached the three-quarter pole. and he
came into the homestretch two lengths In front OF
her. The mare was then squared away for one OF
her home brushes. which are generally successftll
but the faster she came after The stallion the more
he seemed able 20 beat her. ami at the distances
stand she broke up and came running over the score
alohgsids OF the stallion. The time Of the heat was
2.2ss. aa 49, -
y FOURTH Hsas.-Thc hackers OF the stallion were
willing to Law thirty against 100 and they got N a.