Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-10
The Great Hartford Race.

The Great Hartford Race.
The great 2:19 race at Hartford, Conn. :,
on Wednesday last, in which Director,
Fanny Witherspoon, Wilson, Clemmie G.,
Phallas, J. B. Thomas, Adele Gould and
Overman participated, attracted the atten-
ton of the best horsemen of the country
This was the race in which Fanny Wither-
spoon lowered her record from 2:18I to
2:17. The correspondent of the Spirit of
the Times has the following gossip about
the struggle:
As was to be anticipated, the 2:19 race
was the great sensation of the year, and its
result surpasses any stake race of our
times, except the grand one at Rochester,
in which Alexander distinguished himself.
Arriving at the course an hour before
the start l found that betting was very
heavy, and at both pool stands crowds of
spectators were backing the horse of
their choice. This is a specimen pool:
Wilson, S135; Phallas, $75; Director, $40;
Clemmie g., $50; Fanny Witherspoon, 500;
Overman, $40; J. B. Thomas, So; and
Adele Gould, 81. Before getting these
quotations 1 met an astute pool buyer, and
put the following question to him: "Well,
Mr.. Smith, how is the market and the out
Iook?"
His reply was: 81 think there's hen
on the nest, as Wilson sells for 500;
Phallas, $50; Director, $50, and the 9TH
ers for comparative song. 1 got Direc-
tor blamed cheap, enough to win $500;
but, as 1 have said, there's something in
the wind; Phallas ought to be favorite."
Taking my leave of his gentleman, 1
heard the following conversation between
a gentleman who buys pools haohazard,
and another who never takes leap in the
dark. The first one said: "Tve just
bought Director and thes field against Will
SON"
eyes, and you're playing on "a dead
card,' as far as the best ones in the field
are concerned"
81 wish had known that. would have
staked all on Director, as I think he is
good enough to beat Overman or any horse
that takes his part"
The horses were given warming up work,
and 1 looked them over afterwards, as they
were walked and rubbed out under the
trees near the grand stand. Wilson being
the favorite, excites the greatest observa-
ton. His coat and eye are bright, and
Mr.. Simmons, his owner, in his quiet, gen
tlemanly way, says: "He has been pre-
pared under my instructions, and if he is
beaten I've no excuses to make"
Next notice Director. He looks as hard
as nails, and Johnny Goldsmith says, 81
am going into the battle single-handed,
but they'll find Director can take care of
himself"
The third I came to was Fanny Wither-
spoon, I found Splan talking over the
prospects with Lawyer Whitehead. He
turned aside to say to me, "Fanny has
plenty of speed, but I fear she will be I'M
steady in such large party. She does
not like to be going in and out of holes
and pockets, as she will have to get through
the mob; but I think she will lower her
record, or make some other horse lower
his. My opinion is, Director is the
toughest nut she will have to crack"
During the race conversed with the
generals, and the remarks they dropped,
taken in connection with the appended
detail report of the heats, will give those
who were not there, running common
tary on its developments.
After the first heat, Mace said: "Did
you notice the send-off? They say /
trotted from where 1 started in 2:16I.
Judges ought to see that good horse in
the race is up even when they say 'Gov
Here is horse carrying a great deal of
money, and they send him off behind"
Goldsmith said: 81 finished even with
Witherspoon, but she put in along run when
she went past Gould. I'm going to claim
second place, as positions are worth some
thing in big race like this"
Conover and Splan made charges before
the judges, and the former kept arguing
and grumbling after he left the stand, say
ing: "My life is worth something, and
warn you against cutting in front of me
that way again."
Splan replied: 81 trotted by you, and
your mare broke. don't pull away and
get out of my place for every one who
shouts clay over there" The rear guard
had no remarks of interest to make.
After the second heat Goldsmith COM
planned long and loud about Mace letting
Splan through when he could not win
himself, Just because Splan shouted, "Let
me through, Dan"
"Well," replied Dan, ''that's the way the
cleverest running jocks do. If they can't
win themselves they don't stop one that
cam
When Director began to win there was
great excitement, and it grew every heat
until the race was over, when a loud and
prolonged hurrah greeted the victor.
talked with Goldsmith just before the last
heat. He said: This is a
hard race, and I've had to do the most of
the fighting. l intended to lay up the
first heat, and did not start for it until
past the half mile pole. when saw With
erspoon and Gould both on break"
81 suppose you are pretty anxious to
win this racer"
Indeed I am. gould't lose it for S1O,-
600, and 1 guess they are all more tired of
following him than he is of making the
pace"
have fully described Director in for
.mer letters. His winning performances
at the June meeting here, and at Albany,
Washington, Chicago, and, most memoir
able race of all. when he defeated his great
adversary, Wilson, at Cleveland, are fresh
in the recollection of all who have follow
ed the races, or read of the great trotters
of the seasons. The winner to-day is ev-
cry inch trotter by inheritance, educa-
ton, form, gait, and all the advantages
that wealthy ownership brings. After
his hard race at Cleveland he was not
drilled to death, both his owner and driver
being able and content to wait until he had
recovered his form, and nobly did he re-
pay them to-day for using patience and