Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-09
rHE HAmILroN PARK RACES.

Entries For To.Day's Races.
 The opening day of the fall meeting of the New Haven Driving association at Hamilton Park yesterday was all that could be desired. The weather was comfortably cool, the track ance was much larger than was anticipated. All of these things had a tendency to raise the spirits of the enterprising officers and managers who have exerted themselves to the utmost to make the meeting a success and one that would command the counte- nance and respect of all good citizens. There were at least one thousand people at the park and not only New Haven, but many surrounding towns were well rep resented by To Vers of the horse. There were not far from one hundred teams also on the ground, one very noticeable fact being that very many of the owners of these turnouts were accompanied by their ladies. The grand stand was also graced with a number of the fair sex whose presence tended to give an elevating tone to the meeting There were no wheels of fortune or thimble rig games about the grounds to catch the unwary "country cousins" but the peanut and fruit vender and the ''cane" man were there, although they did not appear to be doing very thriv- ing business. John Dorman is there too. Probably no man in the State has catered for more hungry people at fairs and races than he. L. H. Johnson, the Whalley avenue horse shoer, has charge of the forage for horses this year, which is guarantee that they will be well provided for. In fact everything has been done to- make is now necessary is for the pub lie to do their share by giving the asso- citation generous support and they will then be encouraged to do even better next year than they are doing this.
 THREE MINUTE CLASS.
 The races yesterday opened with the three minute class in which there were twelve en- tries; five of the horses, however, were drawn before the race, leaving only the fol- Dare, Harry G., Linda, Belle, Jerry, Lizzie F., John w. and Frank. When Charlie Downs invited bids for pools on horses in this race the buying at first was rather slow, but the crowd soon began to gather and the bidding became more lively. The horses sold about as follows: John w., $20; Harry O., S10: Frank, $10; Dare, $8, and $6 for the field. John w. was the favorite from the start and held his position against all com CTS to the end.
 Promptly at 9 o'clock the horses were called and soon appeared on the track. The judges selected were William R. Tyler and F. D. Buttricks, of New Haven, and R. B. vining, of Wallingford. In drawing for po- sitions in the first heat Linda took the pole, followed by Jerry, John w., Belle, Frank, Lizzie F. and Dare. After scoring number of times the horses came down the track in good form and were given the word to "go." The trotters had gone but short distance when Linda was crowded out of her place by Frank, who took the lead and went down the track at 8 rattling gate. The little chest nut was closely pressed by John w., how ever, but managed to hold his position to the end of the heat by about length. Time 2:39.
 >G, l,r the advantage of the inside and many thought that he would hold it to the end, and few even bets were made about this time that he would win the race, although John w. still continued to be the favorite in the pools. Frank kept the lead, trotting in good style until the three quarter pole was reached when John W. made 8 squirt and came to the front, and down the homestretch came the two horses nearly neck and neck. The excitement ran high, and as the two horses passed under the wire at the finish, John W. about a neck in advance, there went up loud hurrah from the thou sand spectators. John w. time in this heat was 2:42 In this heat Belle and Jerry were distanced.
 The positions of the two favorite horses were unchanged in the third heat. Each had now won heat and the question was, which will win the other two? The odds, however, seemed to be in favor of John w., and as the sequel will show he did not disappoint his owners and packers. The horses got good send off after few attempts, and there be- ing but five horses remaining it left more room on the track for them and made it less troublesome for the judges to keep track of them. On the first half Frank passed John w., and it was then a question which of the two would win the heat. But just after passing the three-quarter pole John w. made rush for hia old TOaifiOT1 and uaina6 if hnldinO if to the end and winning the heat in 2:43. This made two heats for the bay and one for the chestnut.
 - The fourth, and what proved to be the last heat, was watched with much interest. The relative positions of the horses were un- changed and bets were freely offered on John w. winning the heat and race, but with few takers, although heavy odds were offered. After several intellectual efforts to score the horses finally got away. John w. kept the lead, being closely pressed by Linda until the quarter was reached, when the mare broke badly and fell behind; but she gained her feet again soon and pressed John w. very closely to the end of the heat, taking the second place away from Frank. John w. won the heat and race in 2:47.
 The purse for this race was $200 divided as follows: S1OO to first, $50 to second, $30 to third, $20 to fourth.
 Following is the
 SUMMARY.
 James j. Wells HartfOrdi rdiI b E k John W V, G1aSa EssS9 bHsIdiEsPegs Hi5s3Gxs Hfssy psy. e.
 Time, 2:39, 242 s:43, 2:47.
 THE 2:30 CLASS.
 Of the eleven entries in the 2:30 class only seven appeared on the track when the race was called. Harry B., Dan W. B., Dick Loomer and Bergin were drawn, leaving the following trotters to contest for the $250 purse: Old Judge, Rosa O., Lady Finch, Westchester Girl, Copeland, Duroc Maid and Lady Independence. Before this race pools sold about as follows: Westchester Girl $20, Old Judge SIP, Lady Independence $12, Copeland $8 and $6 for the field. The confidence in the Westchester Girl by her friends remained unshaken to the last and just before the last heat was trotted bets of ten to two and ten to three were freely offered on the favorite with but few takers The result shows that the confidence of the Girls friends was not misplaced. ''1
 In drawing for positions in this race Vest chester Girl took the pole, Lady 1ndepen- dence 2, Copeland 8, Lady Finch A., Old Judge 5, Duroc Maid and Rosa c. T.. Con siderable time was taken, scoring for the first heat and while this was going on the sulky of Lady Finch collided with that of Rosa o, and the former was badly broken Another sulky was obtained and the scoring was re- sumed At last good start was obtained and away flew the trotters, Old Judge com ing rapidly to the front, taking away the Westchester Girls position and holding it to the end of the heat, winning in 2:311a.
 In the second heat Old Judge broke badly at the first quarter and the Girl again took her old position in first place, trotting splen- didly throughout the heat. On the home stretch, however, Lady Finch came gallant ly to the front and making bold spurt pass ed under the wire neck ahead of the Girl. Time 2:331l.
 In the third heat Lady Finch having first place struggled hard to hold it, but before the first quarter was reached she had to give way to the superior speed of Old Judge, who then took the lead, but did not hold it but a short time. The black mare Westchester Girl was there to win ii possible and she came rapidly to the front, leaving her competitors behind her and pass ing under the wire at the finish in 2:31. Three horses had now won a heat each and it was evident that at least five heats, and perhaps more, would have to be trotted be, fore the race would be decided. After z twenty minutes rest the horses were again rung up for the fourth heat. The Girl came ! on to the track looking as fresh as at the start, and the hopes of her packers ran high. Large odds were offered on her win 1 ming the race, but there were no takers. The start was good one and the heat was