The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-09-12
FL CAPITAL.
The Attendance Larger than at Any
Previous Exhibition.
Space Set Apart for the Fort Benton
Exhibit--An Account of Some
of the Races.

A Choteau County Horse Wins a Great
Trottlng Race.---A Bicycle Race
Among the Exciting Events
of the Fair.
Special to the River Press.
HELENA, September 8.
The territorial fair at this place open
ed under most suspicious circumstances.
The weather is splendid and a great
number of outsiders are present, with
many more expected tomorrow. The
association hgve erected a mammoth cir
cular tent for the agricultural exhibits,
and the lower part of floral hall will be
given up to miscellaneous exhibits. The
Benton and northern Montana show Of
minerals and agricultural products will
find a place there. The track to-day
was fair, though not as good as it will be
the middle OF the week.
The first race of the programme was
the Helena stakes for two-year-old trot-
tiers, $50 each, half forfeit-$100 added.
Eight subscribed, of which three came
to the post, viz: Larabie's Drama, Ray
mond's Excel and Stuart's Mimic. The
first named was a big favcrite, the pools
selling about thus, Drama, $40; Excel,
81; Mimic, So. In the first heat MINI
ic got a length the best of the send off
but broke and dropped SO far behind
that he was never again in the race. Elk
Gel broke before reaching the quarter,
but quickly recovered and kept a lead OF
a length near the half, when he broke
again, and before he got down to trot-
ting again Drama was leading three
lengths, the latter trotting through the
heat without a break. Excel was three
lengths behind under the wire. Time,
3:47. Drama took the lead in the second
heat, and before the quarter was reached
Excel broke badly, and before be settled
was more than q distance behind. From
this time out the race vas a mere pro-
cession. Drama trotted at a good rate
to the finish, Excel running to keep
from being d%istanced. He would not
have done it had not the driver OF
Drama pulled his filly to a stand still a
few feet beside the wire and waited I'M
til Excel was inside the flag, when he
started again and walked under the
wire. Time, 1888. Had Drama kept
on the time would have been 800 or I'M
der. The bets on time in'this heat Were
declac red off.
The second race was the homestakes
for two-year-olds bred in Montana, run
ming, five furlongs, $25 each. There
were eight subscribers and three starters
Bakers SundayAand Palmer's Pride
Of the Dell and Maybud. Sunday was
a strong f~avorite and sold for S25 to S.
for the other two. Sunday got a little
the best of the start, Pride of the Del
second and Maybud falling behind. u
was quite a pretty race between the
leaders for half the distance, but was
never in doubt for a moment, and aftel
they got we'll under way Sunday left his
competitor with ease, winning by abou
three lengths, Maybud a long distance
behind.
The third race was the race Of the
day. and the pool box was well patron
lied. There were six horses i'll this race
which was a dash of three-quarters OF 8
mile, with the following entries: Humid
lev & Preuitt's Asteroid, 80 pounds
Palmer's Gypsy, 11S; L~awrence's Her
mine. ia: Woolman's Boulis, 118; Asst
ley's Billy Spanker, 1l8; and Pankup'
Gilt, ia. The betting was the livelies
we have seer for several years. Boulls
sold favorite, and the average in tn
pools was about $12O. Hermine ~
Spanker 33, field %. The start was
wretched one, Spanker coming from tn
rear under full Roadway and getting
big bulge on all except Boulis, who go
off about a length ahead Of him, an(
Hermine, who got off a length behint
Spanker, the others having at least hv'
lengths the worst of it. In this way
they ran to the three-quarter pole, Wher
Spanker was tapping Boulis, Hermin
a length and a half behind Spanke1
with Gilt four lengths off and the othe
two hopelessly behind. At this poin
Spanker began to fall back and wa
passed by Hermine, who was tapping
Boulis as they turned into the home
stretch. A few cuts Of the whip brough
her uD to Boulis, and for a few jump
they ran together, but the rider of tn
fayorite was seer to raise his whip ar
began Furnishing, and the crowd yelle
aHerninen =, The rider of the latte
sat still on his mare, winning by a shol
length from Gill, who came down th
homestretch at a terrific pace and bee
Boulis in the last few Jumps for secon
n The race was a splendid one t
witness. and had Gilt got off with til
leaders she would have made it trouble
some for Hermine, if she had not beate
her. -
HELENA, September 4.
The second day of the fair was marke
nv greatly increased patronage, til
crowd being greater than at any pr
vious fair. Floral and agricultural hal
are getting into shape, and by to-mo
row there will be a creditable display.
The first race of the afternoon was tl
4x@<snc~ hacf fuyn