Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-04
A MILLION In WAGERS
oNA GREAT TURF EVENT AT SLEEPS
HEAD BAY COURSE.

Proctor Knott Takes the Great Futurity
Stakes and Wins Something Like S40.-
900 for His Characterization Crowd
at the Track-A Big Offer Declined
Remarkable Base Ball Game.
SHEEPsHEAD BAY, l. l., Sept. a
agony is at an end, and the long-talked-of,
anxiously awaited, and excitedly viewed
great Futurity race Is over. Nearly 4OOOO
people were present on the occasion. Not
one-fortieth of that number saw the horses
start So thronged was the grand stand. the
lawn. the in-fe Id and every other place COM
manding even partial view of the track,
that hundreds only got an occasional peep
at the track or the contestants. Never before
has so great throng been within the gates
Of this course, and ne yer in the last twenty
five years has SO much interest been mani
tested in a horse race. 1t was red letter
day for the American turf, and as such it
will be set down in history.
The day was perfect one for racing pur-
poses. Early in the morning the atmosphere
was hazy and felt somewhat damp. About
II O'Clock few dark clouds lowered over
the city. but little later the sun shone
brightly, and the trains to Sheepshead Bay
were crowded with people A very large
proportion Of the early arrivals were ladies,
who were anxious to secure seats. Their
| foresight was commendable, for many a
tardy daughter Of Eve had to stand all the
afternoon, getting only a glimpse Of the
| course and horses now and then over the
| shoulders in front of them
Eighty four bookmaksrs were doing bust
ness under the gigantic shed There were
| also three straight and three place mutual
| machines in operation, and the American
auction pool seller had more men assembled
about him than he ever addressed before. 1t
| is safe to say that not far from 81 900, 900
changed hands through these different wag-
ing instrumentalities during the afternoon.
| The condition of the track was as near per-
feet as possible The old track was in ideal
condition, but there were irregularities in
| the new portion of what is now called "The
| Futurity course" due 10 the fact that it is
newly made and alternately hard and soft
| in spots Never WAS bride arrayed with
greater care than were the fourteen young
sters who were tostrive for the greatest prize
ever offered for 2-year-olds in America Eric
was the first to start for the post, and as the
others, by twos and threes and singly, fol-
lowed him, great surprise was expressed that
the contestants were not paraded, as is Gus
tomary. When thoy faced the starter they
could only be seen by those in the extreme
northern end of the grand stand and they
could not see them plainly.
When the horses were at the post Mr..
Caldwell said: "Now, boys, don't break I'M
til you are all together. Be quiet, and don't
/ -I,- ,.x~N
line Immediately after, and instantly
the flag fell and they were of, with
Forest King a trife in front of Tipstaff, with
Proctor Knott, Auricoma, Limbo, Senorita,
and Salvador together, and Eric and the
Village Maid last. Forest King and Tip
staff Immediately began racing and were
but heads apart in front at the first furlong
post. They raised tremendous cloud of
dust as they came on. with Proctor Knott
and Galen running next the leaders, Auri-
coma just behind, and the Lioness, Princess
Bowling and the Village Maid bringing up
the rear As they came TO THE bend at the
head of the bomestretch Galen was making
the pace and those along the rail were
shouting, "Galenl Galen! SIS that Galen
wins
Proctor Knott was running easy but lay
ing back bit, with Auricoms, Limbo and
Salvador punched and Mclaughlin whip
ping Auricoma with might and main. AT
the last furlong post Salvador was showing
the way and there were shouts of Saltwater
wins" At the last sixteenth post Barnes
gave Proctor Knott a shaking up. He re-
sponded nobly, and with gallant squirt he
dashed to the 'front.' and amid the cheers and
shouts of the delighted spectators he won by
a neck in lis Is Salvador, second, was q
length before Galen, third. Princess Bowl
ing lady Pulsifer. Eric, Auricoma, Forest
King, Senorita, Tipstaff, Philander, The
Lioness, Limbo, and Village Maid finished as
named
The instant the horses were past the judges
stand there was great rush to the track
and the victor was so pressed by those anx
ious 10 get near him and congratulate his
jockey that 1t WIS with difficulty that he
could get to the weighing scales Imme
diately after the race Hamilton, who rode
Salvador, claimed that he had been fouled by
Proctor Knott, but the judges did not allow
the claim There was far less enthusiasm
over the race than there would have been
had the spectators been able TO view it from
beginning to end.
The time was seconds slower than the
record time made on an ellptical course In
Louisville five years ago The actual value
of the stake was $43,S75. but the second anc
third horses get large shares out Of that
A short time ago August Belmont offered
Bryant, owner of Proctor Knott, 81, OOc fol
the horse Bryant declined it. and then Bel
mont offered $4,000 If the horse won tb,
Futurity stakes This was also declined,