The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-08-07
The following is summary Of the race:
TWENTY-FIVE PACE.

The interest Of the afternoon, however,
centered in the 2:25 pacing race. The horses
in it were ell good ones, and there was de.
termination on the part Of the drivers to
drive good race. Minnie X. sold favorite
in the pools, with Riley good second. Flora
Wilkes was supposed to be very fast, but at
the outset gave little evidence of speed
Walker, who is a favorite with Ottawa race
attenders, drove "Leo," but the horse was
too slow for the company he was in, and on
the second heat succeeded in getting dis
tanced.
! The first heat was bad one for the favor.
lite. AT the very start she broke and fell to
the rear, but by good pacing down the last
quarter came in almost neck and neck with
Riley who had taken the lead She was fol
lowed by Sam Sharp and Leo. Time-2;25l
Paris mutual pools paid twelve.f forty for two,
and the boys who had bought field were de.
lighted
The second heat was paced in 2;23l, and
was won by Minnie X, who, however, was
led to the third quarter by Riley. At this
point Minnie K doubled her speed and came
under the wire an easy wsner. The excite
ment at the finish was very great, and when
Minnie X. was declared victor the crowd
raised their voices in prolonged cheer,
"Leo" failed to get past the danger signal
before Minnie X. passed under the wire and
was declared dstanced. Riley came in Sec
ond and Sam Sharp struggled by third.
The third heat was again victory for
Minnie X, though at the start it looked as
if the drivers of Wilkes and Riley had com.
bined "to pocket the bay mare. The
"pocket" effort was successful until the
turn near the judges stand, on the first half
mile was reached, when the mare got out of
the close association Of her companions and
paced away from them at q rapid gait. The
lead then gained was maintained until the
wire, on the second half mile, was passed
Over pleased by his success, the gentleman
Of color" who was driving the winner, look
ing back, as the mare came down the quarter
stretch, grinned at Rileys driver as if he
had very good joke on him. This slight
indiscretion almost cost his mare the heat,
the judges feeling inclined to set her back
for swerving. Time Of heat-2:234. Posi-.
tions-Minnie X, first; Riley, second; Sam
Sharp, third.
At the word "go' being given in the 4th
heat Riley, unnoticdd by the judges, was run
ming, and Flora Wilkes forged ahead Of
Minnie r., maintaining good lead until
the third quarter stretch, when she passed
her rival, but in so doing her driver inter
fered with the driver of Wilkes and in con-
sequence, though she came in first, the heat
was given by the judges to Wilkes The
heat throughout was pretty one, and the
time made was 2:25t. Flora Wilkes, first;
Minnie H., second and Riley, third, Mr.
Smith announced when the heat was finished
that he had made mistake in giving the
word ego"
As neither horse had won the race in
the first four heats fifth was necessary.
1t was close throughout. The crowd showed
it sympathy with the driver of Minnie X,
and when he sent the mare past Wilkes and
then by Riley, his effort was greeted with
great applause. The mare won by good
steady pacing and good staying qualities,
and her negro driver, for the time being, was
considered good deal of a hero, though not
much of driver. Time-2:3ji Minnie K,
first; Riley, second; Wilkes, third. The
purse went to them in the same order.
The following is summary of the race: