Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-04
[By telegraph TO the Dispstch.l

lBy telegraph to the Dispstch.i
New YORK, September 3.-Nesrly 49,,
600 people we're present at Sheepshead
Bay race-track to-day. Not one fourth
of that number saw the horses start for
the great Futurity stakes. SO thronged
was the grand stand. lawn, infeld, and
every other place commanding even
partial view Of the track that hundreds
only got an occasional peep at the track
or the contestants. Never before has so
great a throng been seen within the gates
Of this most popular OF American race
courses, and never in the last twenty-five
years has so much interest been mani
tested in a horse-race. Ii was n red
letter day for the American turf As
such it will be set down in his
tory. The day was perfect for racing.
A very large proportion of the early
arrivals were ladies who were anxious to
secure seats. Their foresight was COM
mendable for many a tardy daughter OF
Eve had TO stand all the afternoon, getting
only a glimpse of the course and the
horses now and then over the shoulders
in front of them. The private boxes
were occupied mostly by the families Of
subscribers. Eighty-four bOok-makers
were doing business under gigantic
she'd There were also three straight and
three place mutual machines in operation,
AMI the American auctiOn-pool-selle had
more men assembled about him than be
ever addressed before 1t is safe to say
that not far from a million dollars
Il. I,,..I. Ab-,,,r-l thna, Ii lf.r,y,f
wagering lnstrumentalitles this after
noon.
First race-three quarters of a mile
Britannia won Sam Harper, Jr., second,
Laredo third. Time, LII 4-J.
Second race one and one eighth Of
mile rank Ward won; Bordelaise
second Leila May third. Time, $50.
Winner paid S61.S0 straight, and S30.2j
place
Third race-one and one quarter OF
mile-Egmont won Badge second, Lee
lex third. Time. 2:0S.
The Futurity was the fourth event on
the card, and but little interest was dis
played in tho three contests which pre-
ceded it. At last the third race was
over, aud at 4:10 p. NJ. was announced
the time of stake. A rush was immedi-
ately made for the betting stands, and
the bookmakers, although prepared for
a crowd, were somewhat astounded at
the'waye of human beings that flung it
self at their heads Many Of the stands
were in danger of being knocked over.
One penciller in fact, was thrown from
his box to the ground. The cards on the
various stands announced that Proctor
Knott WAS the favorite at 2 to | TO win,
and 10 on for place, with Auricoma
second choice at to 1 to win, and to
2 for place. The money of the crowd
was very freely put at these odds, and
when the bells rang for the horses to go
to the post the best odds which could be
obtained on Proctor Knott were to )
straight, and 2to on for place.
Contrary TO the expectation OF the visi-
tors the horses were not paraded, and
the majority Of the contestants were not
seen at all until the race was well under
way. All the horses were finally at the
post, but no one could see them, aud
the only way by which the people could
tell that the struggle had commenced
was by the dropping Of a red flag held
In plain view at the head of the home
stretch. After twenty minutes waiting
a start was made so perfect that fourteen
horses were we'll into the stretch as
evenly as soldiers on parade. Proc
tor Knott and Salvador soon forged
ahead, and ran a grand race to the
finish, neither gaining on the other, and
passed the wire in the same order, Proc
tor Knott winning 10y neck and shout
ders, with Salvador second, a length and
a half before Galen. Time, l:l5 l-5.
Ii was fast considering the condition OF
the new track. Immediately after the
last horse had gone by the crowd in the
field broke through on the track, and it
was with difficulty that the police re-
strained them from Selling Barnes, the
saJe-hued Jockey, who had just won
the grahdest race of his life. After all
had dismounted Hamilton came be-
fore the judges and claimed that
Proctor Knott had fouled Salvador
1t was not allowed. The winner paid
Sl2.10 straight and Sl1.40 for place.
Salvador paid 1854. There was far
less enthusiasm over the race than there
would have been if the spectators had
been able to view it from beginning to
end. The timers were unable to take
fractional time, which was two and half
seconds slower than the record-time
made on an eliptical course III Louisville
five years ago. The actual value Of the
stake was S43.375, but the second and
third horses get large shares out of that.
Fifth race-one mile-Niagara won
Pasha second, Kaleidoscope third. Time,
1:43 2-5.
Sixth race-three quarters of a mile on
turf-Strideaway won Volunteer second,