Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-27
The Montpelier Races.

On Wednesday and Thursday Of laa weel
occurred the first of what will doubtless prov,
long and successful series of races, upon III,
old Gilman track, in this town.
The races were FIVE in number, and the pur.
ses amounted to the sum of ten hundred and
fifty dollars. The town was carly thronged
with horse men and spectators, who, about on,
O'Clock, wendell their way toward the race
ground
FIRST DAY.
low estimate of the number Of people
present the first afternoon would be fifteen
hundred The races were two in number one
Tor purse Of two hundred dollars, for horses
that had never beaten three minutes, and the
other fora purse Of $3.50. for horses that had
never beaten 2i0. For the first purse there
were twelve entries, but Mr.. Tabor's horse
"Modcsty, very modestly withdrew the better
to accommodate those horses that had come
from @ distance. A protest was handed the
judges against permitting Mr. Hopkins mare
" Ida to trot, on the ground that she had a
better record. Mr.. Hopkins denied all know-
edg of the matter, but finally concluded not to
trot, as he discovered that his sulky was not in
proper condition. This left ten horses TO trot,
and they were arranged to start by threes, but
1t was q very great mystery to us how ten
horses could start, and have any chance to
show their relative speed among such a crowd
Happily all fears on this score proved Unbound
ed, and the race was made, and the awards de-
clared, for all we could see, with as much JUS
tice as if each horse had trotted singly, and
been timed. In drawing for the start a" Storm
King had the last choice, " Sleepy Dick" the
sixth Colonel the tenth, and " Birdie
the eighth. There was no tapping during the
entire race and the only accident occurred af.
ter The close Of the last heat, when the gig of
i Sister Johnson" was run into and badly
but no further damage was done
This race was won by i" Storm King" in three
straight heats, the time being ESQ, 2is and
LAO. " Sleepy Dick" was awarded the sec
md money, " Colonel" the third, and " Biz
lie" the fourth
The second race bad ten entries, but Dag
yer, who was beaten in the first race, was drawn
without trOttlng. ms race was closely CON
csted, and finally won by " Barney Kelley
n four heats, the second being awarded to
Nellie, on the ground that -" Barney " ran
Turing the heat, and so no time was given for
bis trial. Is Barney's time was 2. l05, 2425
nd Pa. Nellie " won the second money
md " Gambler - the third
On the third heat, near its close, the axle to
he sulky in which Seth Jones was driving
Nellie, broke in two spiling out the driver,
nd giving rise to the gravest apprehensions of
erious results, as the mare ran furiously |
luckily, however, the drivers ahead we're not-
led OF the danger from the stand, and, looking
round, perceived that they had time to trot
,ut the heat before they would be in danger.
This they did, leaving clear track for Nellie, |
who ran out Of the entrance, overturnng one
wagon hitched outside the gate, but doing no
urther damage. Jones was somewhat rough |
: handled, but was so little injured that be
rotted the mare the next heat, coming in sec
nd.
The following is a summary of the first
lay $ racing