Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-25
RACING IN RAIN AND MUD.
BAD WEATHER. CAUSES SLOW
TINE ON THE TRACK.

wood, DR." of Savannah, tho winners
at the First Days Events MT the Gen
tIemeu's Driving Park Death of One
of the Starters in the 2:37 Glass.
The june meeting at the Gentlemen's
Driving Park opened yesterday under a
weeping sky. During the forenoon the
sun shone brightly and the track was in
Hrst-class condition. The attendance pro
missed TO be large, ana fine racing was
looked for.
AS the hour for starting drew near,
black, threatening clouds doomed up in
the west. At3 o'clock the horses for the
first race were brought out. Before time
was called drops of rain began pattering
down on the root of the grand stand, in
which the spectators had sought shelter
The weather appeared 10 affect the bet
ting. ana those who had money did not
put il up with as much eagerness as is
generally the case.
The first match was 3-minute class,
mile heats, best three in five. Eight Were
ready to start. In the pools Honest John
sold for So Garsed 3d. Lady DOrcas 49,
Lucy Belle 81. Hancock -, and the field.
Gold Dust, Claymore and Susong, sold
Tor 81. Honest JOhn was decidedly the
faV0rite. one reason for which was his
LEGAL reputation.
The rain drops were falling thick and
fast when they all came up for the first
time. There was some trouble in getting
Of as they did not come mp we'll together
After three or four trials, however. the
Judge shouted go" and all went of in
a bunch, with "Claymore" in the lead.
The others apparently expected
10 be rung back, but Gay
more's driver luckily sent him 10 the
front. Garsed and Dorcas bad "a squirt for
q little way, with 8 good gap between
them and the leader and the rest stray
CLING behind. Honest John and Dorcas
were soon side by side, and tr0tted To-
gether all the way around, making
IA very pretty race. ClaymOre
maintained his lead twice around and
passed under the wire a good two lengths
in front Of Lady Dorcas, who was only a
neck ahead Of Honest John. The rest
We're well spread out, Susong being dis
tanced. Time 2:46l%.
The rain kept getting harder and it was
feared that the rest OF the races would
have to be declared of for the day.
The cloud soon passed over though and
the horses We're brought on for the second
heat. The most of the wafer soon ran Off
IRON or soaked into the track. Enough
WAS left TO make the course sloppy and
heavy.
The result Of the first heat was such
surprise that everyone was al sea. Those
who bad backed the favOrites were natu-
rally blue when one Of the field 80 easily
took the race at the start and showed the
rest the way around. Claymore stock
took boom, and s. was bid for him
against 50 tor Honest John.
The latter was the first to get away on
the second heat. DOrCas came next, Lucy
Belle third, Golddust fourth. ClaymOre
was less fortunate in scoring and started
of fifth. John put five lengths between
his sulky and Lucy Bellies nose, and won
easily in 1858. Lucy Belle, DOrcas and
Golddust came in in the order named. The
other three were distanced.
The field was now narrowed down to
four. John again got good lead, and at
the first turn was three lengths ahead of
Doreas. The latter broke and drew up
close to the bay gelding. She soon
dropped back, and was passed by Lucy
Belle, who came in second. GOlddust
was distanced. Time 300.
In the fourth heat all started of nicely,
Lucy Belle leading and DOrcas second.
At the quarter pole DOrcas forged ahead
length, John five lengths behind Lucy
Belle. This was the most exciting heat
OF the day. The trio worked hard. Dor
cas- trOtted smoothly for three-tOurths OF q
mile. In making the last turn she broke,
and was passed by both of the others, who
came down the home stretch at a good
gait. Belle was length and a hat in the
lead, Doroas six behind. Time 2:62k.
In the fifth heat DOrcas got away first,
and took the fence. Between the first
turn and the quarter pole she slipped.
Lucy Belle, the Charleston mare, went
by, and for the rest OF the heat stayed IN
front. When Johns driver saw that there
was no show Of winning the heat he
pulled his horse after passing the distance
nag, and went under the wire at an easy
pace, seven lengths behind. Time 900.
In the last heat Lucy Belle, who had
come up from seventh place in the first
heat 20 the first place in two consecutive
heats, now TIED John, ne having also won
two. Lady Dorcas not having won aheat
In the five was ruled out. Even money
was bet on the two starters. John was
away first and apparently had the race in
hand. His hackers We're feeling good as
DO kept a fair gap between himself and
the mare. At about the three-eighths pole
he lost his legs. and before he could
be pulled down Lucy Belle was three
lengths in the lead. There was little hope
for him, as the mare cut IN next to the
fence and held good lead for half d mile.
just as she passed under the wire she
broke, but 1t was too late to lose the race
70 John, and she Was ACCORDINGLY declared
winner Of the heat and race. Time 300.
Boan's bay gelding Billy. entered in this
race, died during the morning from indi-
RestiOn. he was valued az $40O or $500.
james +. had been withdrawn, and there
were only two to start-A. b. Cooks Nut
wood. Jr., and W. y. Birch's Belle b.
The former got the pole, hut Belle b. was
the first away. She broke before going
far and fell two lengths behind, and lost
the heat, which was very pretty one
from start 20 finish. Time 2:lI.
Scarcely aAs difference was noticeable
in their positions in starting the second
time. AutwO0d was the speediest but
WIS hard 10 hold down.
A break allowed the mare 10 catch up,
but NutwOOd would not give up tha lead,
and won in 2:4Gls.
Once or twice during the third and last
heat the mare came up and tried 10 pass,
but q break at the last turn threw her too
far behind TO recover. The heat was not
particularly interesting, and made the
third straight won by Nutw0Od, Jr.
Time 2.5ll5.
Tue result by heats was as follows:
FIRST RACE-rrotting. 3-mnute class: mile
heats, best three in i've; purse $3.50; sic 70
trst, $40 20 second.
EFi: :s55 s 5: 3:ss / ! ! / ! !
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