Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-30


Prospect Park" Montpelier.
The August meeting of the Prospect Driv-
ing Park Association, which was held on
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, is
without dispute the most successful meet
ing ever held since the organization of the
Association. The track was in splendid
condition, and the "clerk of the weather"
seemed to have arranged his department for
the especial accommodation of the Park
any slight showers passing this way. were
carried around over tho neighboring hills,
and gave no trouble to those assembled to
witness the races. The entries and summary
of the races. have already been given in
your columns but some incidents connect
ed with the meeting deserve more than a
passing notice.
Prospect Driving Park Association was
organized In Montpelier. in 1875, for tho
purpose of giving to this town. and to the
county as well, frst-class driving park.
with track that would compare iavorably
with other tracks in the State. Tho
Association is composed OF gentlemen
of ample financial ability, with j.
Warren Bailey as president, J. W. Brock
as treasurer. and l.. Bart Cross as
secretary. the names of the three principal
officers being sufficient guarantee to the
public that whatever programme the
Association may offer for this entertainment
ui the public will be scrupulously and
faithfully carried out. The Park is COM
posed Of about thirty-five acres of land.
situated on a table land some two miles
southeasterly of the village of Montpelier,
commanding fine view Of the surrounding
country, and has been fitted up at su ex-
pcn,o ui over st. 600. and the track is pro-
nounced by traexmen to be one OF the best
in the State. The Association is a member
of the National Trotting Association, and
all races on the park are governed by the
rules of the National Association. The
free use OF the grounds have been granted
for five years to the Washington County
Agricultural Society. and the annual ex-
hibitions Of that society will hereafter be
held on this Park.
Az financial Investment, the Prospect
Driving Park has not thus far proved
paying institution. partly from the fact
that the excellent facilities it affords for
trotting sports have been too little known
by horsemcn and partly from the fact that
the people in the immediate vicinity of the
Park have too little appreciated the
efforts Of those who have had
it in charge to furnish first class
entertainments. and almost ut their imme-
diate doors. Some of these most anxious to
ha avI . h.. h.,t l. L. O., >
ronize them, are best pleased to steal their
pleasure from a distant hillside, rather
than come in at the front gate and pay man
fully for what costs others money to offer
for their amusement. Perhaps, too, the
management OF the park has not been en-
tirely free from criticism but time and ex-
perience will right all such matters, il only
those really interested in trOtting sports
will aid tho Association by their patronage
and councils. The Objectionable features of
such races can be removed only ic response
to popular demands, for we are sure that
the managers OF Prospect Park desire first
of all to please and satisfy their patrons
and if. in doing that. it results in profit to
themselves financially, they, too. will be
pleased.
Tuesdays races embraced the $50 purse,
open to horses that had never beaten
$50: and the $500 purse, open to
horses that had never beaten 2:35.
The trotting in both these races
was very fhe but especially notice
able was that of "Gray Friar" (entered BY
ii. s. Town, of Morrisvile), in the first, and
"Droyer Boy" (entered by John Utton, of
Morrisvilie), in the second. both horses tax
ing their three straight heats. with scarcely
a skip or a break from the commencement.
Lady Morrill, from Stowe, Bellevue
Boy" from St. Albans, and Volunteer
Girl" from Concord. N. Ii in the first race;
and Gamma Low" from Concord. N. H..
and Village Boy" from St. Albsns. in the
second race, each showed themselves to be
good. square trotters. and failed of winning
the first money in their respective races
only because there were better horses in
their company.
The Wednesdays races comprised purse
of $50. open to horses that bad never
beaten three minutes; purse of $500, open
to horses that had never beaten 2:3S; anda
purse OF $3.50, free for all. The horses en-
tered for the three-minute race were prompt
ly called at 3 o'clock, and with very little
delay in scoring were sent to the word
60. Gray Friaf" having the pole. In
this race nine horses started; and before
they had reached the first quarter man
named Joseph Pearsons. from Calais, who
was too badly intoxicated to know what he
was about. attempted to cross the track i'm
mediately in front OF "Gray Friar" as he
was leading the race at a $50 gait, and was
struck by "Gray Friar " squarely in the
breast. Pearsons was knocked to the
ground nearly insensible, " Gray Friar "
was thrown upon his side and his sulkey,
with its driver. Mr.. Ii. s. Town, making a
snmmersault over his head. Volunteer
Girl. from Concord. N. H.. being next 20
Gray Friar. her sulkey struck that of
Gray Friar and threw the driver, Mr..
Ii. q Smith, leaving the "Girl to run
wild, which she did, leaving the track and
running in among the crowd of people and
teams. loapinR completely over one wagon
before she was stopped, - strangely enough
hurting no one, and causing but little in
Jury to herself. The driver of" Gold Dust I"
from st. Johnsbury, Mr.. Horace PECK,
was also thrown from his sulkey, and the
sulkey turned completely over sideways,
both shafts being on the near side of the
horse, with ono tug broken, and in that
condition Gold Dust made nearly two
complete circuits OF the track, before he
was stopped. The other six horses escaped
the accident all right The strangest part of
the accident was that, with the exception
of Poarsons, who was the cause
Oh IL, no person on tne PrOunu was mhterlal-
ly injured and even Pearsons was able to
be carried home before night. Mr.. Smith,
the driver of Volunteer Girl" was pretty
badly lamod. but not sufficiently to prevent
his driving his fay0rite mare Anna Low :"
and winning first money in the 2.35 race
Every horse, in tho accident. came to the
stand for q sendCf in the second heat, ex-
cept Volunteer GIRL" and she was alter
wards found not to be much injured. Ii was
a most miraculous escape from what at first
looked to be an inevitable calamity and all
the result o. the drunken recklessness OF the
man Pearsous. Fortunately it was the only
thing that occurred to mar the complete
success OF the " meeting :" and If Mr.. Pear
sons will learn from it that clear head and
steady nerve are to be preferred to tho brief
fuddle Of whiskey and lager beer, it may do
even him some good. After the accl-
dent. ;" Gray Friar" easily won the second
third and fourth heats in the three minute
race, with Tim. driven by Tierney. of st.
Albans a good second
In the 2:3s race "Abbio p" from. Morris
viile. took the first two heats, but, laming
herself in a bad break, was compelled to
give way to "Anns Low" from Concord,
who won her lsurels in fine style.
/ In the free for all race " "Quecheo Maid "
WAS the feyorite at thu start hut IL WAS oue