The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-28
SPORT In ORANGE COUNTY.
A RUNNING RACEIN WARWICK THAT
WAS OPEN TO am MULES.
Uproarious Fun In the Warwick Driving
Park-Fents Of Muiishness that Kept the
spectators Burstina with Laughter.

Park-fents OF NtuNshness that Kept the
| spectators Bursting with Laughter.
WARWICK, N. Y, May N.-The racing
season was inauRurated in this far famed county
Of Orange to-day through the enterprise of Mr..
l.. J. Sutton, lessee OF tho Warwick Driving
Park, nne half mile track, situated about half
mile from the business centre OF the town.
On the card we're two races-the first for horses
owned In Orange and Rockland counties, New
York. and Sussex county, New jersey, that had
never beaten three minutes, and the second a
novelty, something never before started 10 this
county, and probably never before in this part
OF tho country, mule running race. In the
trotting race there were four entries. WIN. Van
Ness's black eeiding Beecher, DR.. w. A. Smiths
brown aeidinR Bachelor, A. Il. Milers bay geld
ing bay Richmond, and Theo. wes's brown
gelding william owen.
In the mule running race. mile and repeat.
there were six entries AZ follows Charles Garri-
sons black mule Big Fellow, Robert Garrison's
black mule Lobelia, William Ada's brown mule
Handy, Samuel Graham's black mule Hand
some, James Deans bay mule Centennial Pet.
aud Dr. w. A. Smiths brown mule Ajax. Both
purses were small, the latter being donated by
the landlords Of tho hotels in this place. 1t was
open to all mules.
or course the mule race was the one produo-
tive of the most sport and amusement and
whom the six mules put in their appearance on
the track they were greeted with an outburst Of
laughter. They all appeared In front OF the
stand at the tap OF the bell. Mr.. Hamilton Bus
hey OF tbo Turf, Field and Farm, E. A. Van
Sickle OF Goshen. and John V. d. Benedict were
the judges. The mules were ridden by colorsd
jockeys, VINO wore the regal tion cap.
In starting for the 1rst mile the word Go"
was taken by all at the same tins. and each
driver simultaneously applied his whip. A capi-
tai even start was effected, and as soon as the
mules left the stand there was hardly closed
mouth upon the grounds. Inc grOteeQtIeneSs
OF the scene and the uDtractability OF the mules
caused he spectators to roar with laughter. and
| they were not quieted until the mules finished
the mile. Centennial Pet got the best OF the
| starts. but was soon overtak on, aud before tho
| nrst turn was made every one OF the racers we're
| In an indescribable bunch, each ono working
mules here showed their characteristio stuo-
bornness, snd despite the Efforts OF their riders.
who la,hed and cut them with their rAwhdes
until they were tired, the animals would not
bulge. Centennial Pet at LIST got loose from
the crowd md star ed ahead with great force.
He, however, evidently thought the track too
| bard for his feet. or the course too long.
and. despite the efforts OF bis driver. he
| circle. This lost him much time. and when he
again reacned the track ne was far In the rear.
effect upon his competitors. for before the
quarter pole vas reached Handy took 1t into his
| whrlsd several times like n top, and at length
started OF at full speed in the opposite direction
| from that taken by his competitors Handsome
also got on his ear" and just after passing the
quarter turned his head to the left and ealloped
| on III tnat ulftcllpn INTO n swamp mole, from
which 1t required great eIertion to remove him.
| These feats of muiishncss created great merr-
ment for the crowd, but II resulted disastrousiy
to the mules, for they fell way in the re4f aud
| wele then lost sight Of.
When they reached the half mile pole 1t was
ordered that the mules should turn around and
| go the ther way. This was done 20 make sport,
And rnf was entirely & slcsessia s Ajax: VINO led bis
| turn. He could have turned sooner, but. mis-
underst nding the instructions gwen he ran
ing multitude warned him that he was going
i closely ss s Ti foS so' wh sr9upa Handy
% naa Sn cone S rPa pass '0r1 at
ness He ba ked himself up against the
judges stand, and peremptorlly refused
and whipped numerically, but all TO no pur'
pose, for he did not move away from the scoring
pace until the otber runners had nearly finished
| From the half back to the quarter pole Ajax
led the. string, which was a fearfuly scattering
one. JaI, however, showed more training than
the others. was steady ami apparently willing
to obey his driver, aud came home an easy win
ner. Big Follow, Who fell behind on the hack
stretch, sLoNed good burst Of speed, but there
was too long aeap 10 close up, aud he come in
second. with Handy third. way behind. Hand
some, Centennial Pet. aud Looelia fell out, and
time al the half was POO. and 4:lS for the full
mile
for tho second mile, the crowd again began TO
roar. II was now evident that the exercise given
the mules In the nrst heat had all animatins
Il
in their disposition was manifested. Little
Ajax, the winner Of the nrst mile, had his ears
erect, aud there was nre in his eyes. Lnbelia,
who had acted poorly before, was OVERLOOKING
with irskiness, and Big Fellow felt 80 good tn {
he came down the stretch on lively trOt. There
was considerable difficulty experienced this
time In ge ting the mules OF, but, after severtl
attempts, 1t was ACCOMPLISHED, with Ajax In
front, III sndv second, aud Handsome third.
Ajax Kept his lead around the first turn In good
style. running steadil, and fast. lie also led al
the quarter. which he rc1ched In l02 Before
striking the b tck stretch, Centennial Pet
for the third time became unmanageable and
bolted, leaving the track. Handy followed suit
and brought up In the grass. AjlI vent on. and
a. the hilfmlle pole showed conClusiyey, bar
ring accidents, that he was master OF tho sltua-
tlOn. lie led Big Fellow several lengths at the
half. who in turn was four lengths In font OF
Handsome, Lobelia being a bad fourth. Hand
some stopped after turning, and with all the
vigorous lashlng his driver could give him re-
fused to 60 until the leading mule had nearly |
accom- ulished tho mile. Ajax stiii continued to |
show the way around some distance in advance |
OF Big Fellow, who was at the three quarter mile |
about siI lengths in front OF Lobe ~. Big Fell |
on the ack stretch, and pushed his mule TO "A |
good rate of speed, but AK had the want ige |
ground and proudly maintained II. Lobelta now |
also showed some OF tho yigorousness of a mus |
tang. aud pricking up his long went for Big |
Fellow, who was second, with the velocity of "A |
Kentucky bred. But Big Fellow was too far In |
advance, aud Iobelia was obliged to content |
himself with tn rd place. They came into the |
home stretch In the order named, AiaIs time |
telng four minutes. Al Il won hrst money, BIG |
Fellow second, and LoOeha third. The records |