The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-08-07
THREE MINUTE RACE.

cellent.
THREE MINUTE RACE.
II was Just schedule time, two o'clock
when Mr.. Smith, from the judges stand,
tapped the bell and ordered out the horses
that were to trot in the three minute class.
Originally fourteen we're entered, but eight
appeared on the track, Though it was rumor.
ed ninth horse WAS somewhere around.
However he failed to appear, and the race
went on without him. Prior to the start the
drivers were all called to the judges stand
and obliged to listen to very clear expls-
nation ON the part Of Judge Smith as to
what the laws Of the National Trotting As
ISOLATION were upon the subject Of imposing
fines for jockeying, crooked work and the
like; that the judges were net anxious to
fine any one, hut would undoubtedly do so
IL it became necessary. The gentlemen who
sat on the sulkies and wore the various
colored caps all yielded assent to the posi-
ton assumed by the judges, and then drove
up to the scoring point to assume their Pc
sitons They came to the wire so evenly
at the very first that tho word "go' was
given to the eight horses, with fair pros.
pect of close race. Lottie w. leading, but
before the second quarter had been reached
she broke badly when Illinois Egbert took the
lead, holding it to the finish coming in at
a jog with Billy Mack who sold fsvorite in
the pools, Lewis r., IKE Sheppard and the
others trailing behind Time, 2:40. The
first heat of the race was unsatisfactory, and
the men who were about the pool boxes were
in a quandry to know just how to invest their
money. There had been talk about the
hotels the evening before Of a LOB" in the
race, and the first heat evidenced the fact
the everything was not as it should be.
The second heat of the race, as far as time
was concerned, proved more satisfactory, it
being trotted in 2:33l. More trouble was
experienced in scoring for the second beat
Smith had called out "don't come ahead;
don't come ahead great number of times
that the word "go' was given. Illinois
Egbert led at the start, but only for an in
slant. Lewis X. proved too fast for the bay
stallion and quickly passed him, the others,
too, pressed him close, and the four of them
went by before he had reached the half
mile. At the finish a number were only
saved a distance by the driver of Lewis r.
holding in his horse until the cred flag" had
been safely passed by the last horse. Illinois
Egbert, who had won in the first heat, came
in sixth, and Lottie W., who had been first
dropped back to fourth, while Ike Sheppard
advanced from fourth to second, position
held by him in the two succeeding heats
Temp Elliott advanced from eighth to third,
and Albion took eighth position instead of
sixth; Elenora held seventh, and Billy Mack,
no longer favorite, retained the fifth position.
When the horses were ready for the third
heat, it was to be seen that Billy Mack was
deserted by his friends, and Lewis r. was to
the front in the pool box. The judges. in
the belief that Mack was not being driven as
he should be, changed drivers and when the
word Ego" was given the sorrel went off at q
fast trot, pressing hard upon the favorite,
and at one time passing him, but Lewis II.
g., ha "
came in winner, with Ike Sheppard, Billy
Mack, Albion, Temp Elliott, Elenora, Lottie
W. and Illinois Egbert following in the order
named. Time, 23l4.
The fourth and last heat of the race was
won by Lewis r. in 2Sl4, but not without
struggle. The driver of Ike Sheppard was
given to understand that he must drive his
horse to win if possible, and that all jockey
work must quit. The result of the lecture
was seen in better trotting on the part of the
horse, though at the finish he had no better
place in the race. Lewis X. was passed as
before by Billy Mack but quickly regained
the ground lost and again went ahead, Billy
Mack taking second place only to yield it to
Ike Sheppard, who pressed close upon the
winning horse to the passing Of the wire.
There was no material change in the position
Of the horses as compared with the third
heat. The first money was awarded to Lewis
R.; second, Illinois Egbert; third, Ike Shep-
pard, and fourth, Billy Mack.