Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-11
NO. 2a5
HASTINGS RACES.
'Hoopsr" Attends and Makes His Repor
Thereon.

10 Tue IultOt Inc
The recent fair of the Hastings Industrial
association developed one of the most closely
contested and interesting trotting races On rec
ord, trotted on Friday, the Sth. The entries
were the bay gelding Chester, bay marc Vivian
dere, and the gray gelding Frank Hull, tie
last named horse trailing behind throughout
the race for third money. will therefore omit
hi N in describing the incidents of the contest,
| as all the interest was centered on the two 9th
er horses. That the contest between Chester
and Vivandiere was 'for blood" was generally
known when the entries were made on account
| of bitter feud existing between the drivers OF
the horses, besides they being very evenly
matched for speed, as well as both being reso-
lutte and level headed trotters. The horses ap-
peared on the track in fine condition and
the track itself being an ex-
cellent half mile circuit was III fine
order for fast work. Vivandiere drew the pole,
Hull second, Chester outside. They got away
on the fifth attempt at rapid rate, the mare
taking the lead around the turn with Chester
clCse up, which positions were maintained
throughout the heat, the mare winning with
the bay gelding On her wheel. Time 2:3O.
The second heat was an exact repetition of
the first, with like result. Time 2:30.
Both horses in warming up for the third
heat showed increased speed and determine
ton, apparently partaking with their drivers
of the animosities of the contest. They took
the word on the first score head and head, hy-
ing from under the wire like twin bullets, the
mare showing slight lead on the back stretch.
Around they came with rafting pace, Vi
vandiere passing the stand first with the horse
on her wheel, where he continued to hang like
ghost that would not down, the
fleet and gamey mare straining every
muscle to rid herself of the weird spectre
that was pursuing her. But the plucky geld
ing hung to her like shadow, persistently, as
| tender to locomotive. 80 they continued
| on to the three-quarter pole, noc break or
skip by either so far IN the race, the noble
mare struggling heroically to maintain her
lead. 80 they continued to the three-q quarters,
but the grand geldings persecution was too
much for poor horse-human-nature 10 en-
dure. 1t was the ghost of imported Messenger
pursuing her, impersonated in the Eon of the
great HambeltOnian, eager to add another laurel
to the brow of his sire, by scoring heat with
| in the charmed circle. She broke; the geiding
passed her quick as thought. Then shout
went up from full four thousand throats,
quickly followed by another as the mare re-
sumed her gait length in his rear. On they
came for the winning post, the mare getting
her head t. Chester's wheel, in which position
they passed under the wire amidst thunders Of
applause. Time, 2:32.
Fourth heat-Excitement ran high. Ches-
ter on being stripped for this heat appeared
as eager as a quarter horse, and Virandiere
showed no signs of distress. Again they took
the word on the first trial, side by side, trot-
ting the entire heat as if in double harness
passing under the wire as even as two parallel
bricks. This was declared dead heat. Time
2:29L.
Fifth heat.-Botn horses appeared in even
better condition when stripped tor this heat
and both equally displayed determination to
do or die. Increased speed was plainly visi-
BILE in both as they passed TO and fro before
| the grand stand, preliminary for another strug-
| gle for fame and vengeance combined. They
| took the word as before On the first attempt,
| the plucky gelding rushing to the first turn
with lead of length of open daylight, which
he gallantly maintained throughout the heat,
the mare hanging on TO him with like deter
minatisn As he did to her the first two heats.
Chester passed under the wire length in adj
vance. Time, 2:2011.
| Excitement ran wild, notwithstandingsTh:c
| good feeling prevailed, good order being OBJ
served by all. 1t was now getting dark, and
postpOnement was declared until the follow
| ing morning at 9 o'cloCk.
The whole town was excited ever the great
race, crowds througed the hotels and street
corners during the evening, discussing the
| probabilities of the morrow. The general
opinion was that the one that would best sur
| vive the brusing contest of that day, would he
the victor on the morrow.
Sixth heat-A delightful morning greeted
! the crowds of people vending their way 20 the
! fair ground to witness the deciding heat. The
horses were brought out promptly on time,
| both showing fully much speed and anima-
tion as ut any time in the earlier heats of the
race. After being warmed up they met and
| turned above the distance stand for the final
| effort for victory. Rapidly they came side by
| side, taking the word with the geding slightly
| in advance, which on receiving he darted out
| from under the wire with the speed of an ar
row, showing two open lengths between him
and the mare, but she nObly closed MP as
to have her nose to his wheel as they passed
the stand, which was reached in l :l3, on they
sped with unabated velocity holding the rela-
tive positions until the three-quarter pole was
reached, when the gallant mare was compelled
to yield to the plucky and iron hearted gelding,
which she did by bad break. lt
was then and there she died
with broken heart. She again
| went up on the lower stretch but quickly re-
covered; her driver seeing that Chester was
we'll on his way down the home stretch, pulled
her up and gave up the contest On nearing
the distance stand the driver of Chester looking
over his shoulder took in the situation, and
slowed his horse, comparatively jogging under
the wire. Time 2:27.
Thus ended one of the most closely contested
and gamey contest that ever occurred
in the history of thu trotting turf. 1t was one
of the most earnest and exciting of all races
ever witnessed by the writer. 1t was a right
royal race for "blcod," and blood won it. IL
brought to mind some of the hard fought
battles of thirty years ago, between Jack
Rossitor and ST. Lawrence in western New
York, as well as between other old time trotters
OF that day, when horses were matched to trot
for money, put up by their respective owners
when the art of fixing things 60 rob outsiders
had not been generally introduced.
Chester, the winner, is medium sized bay
gelding, bred in Orange county, New York,
and is now fifteen years old. His sire was the
now dead Hero of Chester and his dam Julia
McCree, by American Star. being
full brother in blood to the renowned Dexter.
He was long driven on the road by New York
gentleman, besides occasionally competing for
the honors of the turf, where he obtained a
record of 2:32. That he should now score the
last three heats in six heat below 2:30,
the sixth with ease in 2:27, and that on a half
mile track built from cornfeld within thirty
days past, is one of the wonders il the history
of trotting horses. Chester was started again
the same day in the 2:32 class, which he won
easily in three heats, during gale of wind
accompanied with clouds of dust. Time 1862
2:32, 2:31. Blood will tell.
The account of this race would be uncom-
plete without recording merited tribute TO
the ability, nerve and skill, displayed by the
drivers thereof. The utmost frmness was dis
played throughout; no undue advantage was
sought by either. Not loud word, not whip
raised, not swerve from straight line. but
business from beginning to end. MIR. Parker
| especially received the commendation Of all
for the consumate ability in which he plotted
the hero of Chester No. 2 to victory; his horse
not leaving his feet once during the race.
There was a running race during the meet
ing which brought together two most excellen,
horses, one of which was Athelstane, vel
known in this State. His competitor was the
bay colt Wakefield, by Wanderer, he by Lex
ington, dam by imp. Australian. There
was q number of other starters, but all interest
centered on the two above named. 1t was
race of mile heats, best two in three. 1t re
suited in rattling race between Wakefield ans
Athelstane, the former winning in two heats il
excellent time. The winner, Wakefield, is
, rather small sized bay colt, bredIin Kentucky
where he was lately purchased by Mr.. Georgt