The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-26
PRES UMPsCOT Park.
Phil Sheridan Beats Messenger Knox.

fair crowd gathered at Presumpsoot Park
yesterday to witness a match race between
Phil Sheridan and Messenger Knox, the here
toiore champion Of the state. There was an
intense interest manifested from the start as
both horses are we'll known aud their friends
felt very confident that each could beat the
other. So confdent.in fact were they that
large sums of money were staked on the result.
Thanks to George f. ..Hitchns, ESQ, chairman,
D. W. Gardner of lewiston, and j. Shannon,
of Bath, the judges, the trot was well conduct
ed, with no long scorings or jookeying on the
part of the drivers. In fact, it was model
race, and;if Mr.. HItchins will continue in this
position there need be no further complaint in
regard to the. way the races are conducted.
Every one went away satisfied that the fastest
horse won the purse.
THE STALLION RACE.
Messenger Knox had the pole in the choice
of positions.
First Heat-After scoring twice, the word
was given and the horses went off neck and
neck. Messenger broke on the first turn and
ran clear to the back side when both horses trot-
ted squarely until reaching tho upper end. when
Messenger Knox broke again and lost. On the
last time round Messenger skipped several
times, while Phil trotted square, winning in
234a1.
Second Beat-The horses were sent off the
first time they came under the wire, neck and
neck. Phil gained slightly soon after passing
the first turn. At the close of the first half
Knox broke in front of the stand and ran to
the turn, losing his position. Phil kept steady
to his work until he reached the last turn and
was about to come on to the home stretch, when
he shook his head telling those who know him
best that he was not going to win. The throw
ing of shoe was what disturbed him. At
this point Knox came up to him and at the
wire was neatly length ahead, winning the
heat in 2.35,
Third Reat-Both horses had now won
heat and the excitement ran high as to the re-
suit. The word was given without scoring and
both horses went off well, but Knox took his
usual skip before making the first turn. He
did not make up the lost ground til at the up
per turn when they were neck and neck. Sher-
idan threw another shoe at the end of the first
half, but he still continued to plod on and
kept length ahead nearly all the way round,
winning in "a, amid intense excitement in
the grand stand.
Fourth Heat-The horses came up in good
order and were sent off promptly. Sheridan
trotted squareiy, while Messenger broke and
Mr.. Bailey appeared unable to keep him steady.
Each time he left his feet (six in ally he lost
ground. Sheridan trotted the mile without a
skip, winniDgithe heat and race in 2 Al. This
er and the track was in bad condi ton.
The following is the
SUMMARY.
PREsUMPscoT PARK, July 25th.-Match stallion
race for purse of $500.
VIM. H. Irish ms blk Phil Sheridan. 2 1
George III. Bailey ms Messenger Knox. q l 2 2
Time-2.343, 2.3I, 2.4.
SCRUB RACE.
To fill up the time between the heats of the
main race, race was gotten up between four
horses that were beaten at the juno meeting,
for purse of $50; $40 to first and $40 to Sec
ond. The horses appeared and were given
positions in the following order: Pratt, Ivan
hoe, Nellie Carleton, and Riverton Knox.
First Heat-After scoring once the horses
came under the wire together and got the
word. Ivanhoe led for the first half when
Pratt passed him and led the field several
lengths, winning easily 10 253t, Ivanhoe sec
ond, Riverton Knox third, and Carleton in the
rear.
Second Heat-The horses were sent off the
first time with Carleton ahead. She soon fell
back, however, and Pratt took the lead, hold
ing it throughout and winning in 251. Ivan.
hoe pressed him hard nearly all the way and
bid fair to win, but he made bad break OF
the home stretch and felt back. Carleton was
third and Knox fourth.
Third Beat-After scoring three times the
word was given and all four horses broke into
a run soon after leaving the wire. Pratt soon
took the lead and held it to the finish winning
| the heat and race in 2504. Riverton was sec
| ond, Ivanhoe third and Carleton fourth.
The following is the
SUMMARY.
| Same day-Scrub race for purse.of $50, $40 am