Morning journal and courier., 1889-09-21
RACING IN WIND AND RAIN.

A Chill Rlustering Wind Makes things
 Feel as If Winter had Come as a visI-
 tor to the State Fair-The Mud quick Ny Hardened-A Tedious Day Of Rac- ing - Four Races Finished and a
 FifthsHalf Done-A Smashup on she Track - Drivers Thrown to she Ground and a mad Runaway Race Around the Circuit - To-day's Big
 Kacing-The Attendance About 8, 1000 Finances SuGer-Last Night at Town Hall.
 MERDEN, Sept. BOA chill, clustering wind swept over the State fair grounds at Meriden to-day, and overcoats and caps were in demand. The stiff wind made good tedious, and but little interest was taken by any but the 2:35 class. The first heat of this promised an interesting race. Lady Rix de- layed long time in appearing upon the track for the second heat. When everything was ready the wheel of Little Maek's sulky was broken by short turn which his driver, Hielie Helevan, made in scoring. The dri- yer was thrown to the ground and a new sulky obtained after some delay.
 Before the heat was finished. collision and smashup occurred, which caused much
 
 Little Mark was leading, with Wonder half 8 neck behind and Happy Thought following closely, G. E. Tripp, who was driving the last horse, refined his stallion in suddenly to the left and it's foot struck the wheel of Lit- tie Macks sulky. The force of the blow smashed the wheel, and Little Mack's driver, Hillie Helavan, was thrown heavily to the ground, while his horse started on a mad run around the circuit, banging the remain {pr, uhoo1 nd x,k of 0f kv against the fence, now on one side of the track and then on the other.
 Driver Helevan was thrown under the heels of the flyers close behind him, but luckily escaped with but few injuries. George Purdy, driven by J. H. Lewis, became un- manageable in the confusion and threw his driver to the ground, while he furiously tie Mack, Judge Holcomb thumped his call bell and shouted to the people on the track to stand aside and let the horses run to the wire. Here they slackened their speed and were caught. N. w. Hinkley, the driver of Wonder, turned aside from the track when he heard the judges bell and did not follow the other flyers around. Driver was seriously hurt in the pelvis and about the right shoulder. The judges, after some deliberation, decided that the heat should count and that Happy Thought should be thrown outside for unin- tentional foul driving. Positions were given as in the summary below. 0. E. Swan took Driver Lewis'i seat behind George Purdy. Happy Thought took the two next heats and the finishing of the race was postponed till tomorrow. Little Mack was noticeably ner- vous and unsteady after this smashup, but his trotting on the first heat was admirable for it's steadiness.
 The winners in to-day's races were slow. They were: In the special professional race, owners driving, the fine bay mare Kit tie, owned by J. A. Doolittle of this city, in the 800 class; the chestnut gelding E. L.. w. in the 2:45 class; and Halo, by Haldane, in the two-year. old colt stakes.
 To add to the disagreeableness of the day, heavy mist began to fall early in the after nosn. This soon merged into rain and the last races were trotted in wind, mud and rain.
 SUMMARIES.
 MER1DEN DRIVING PARK-State fair, Friday Sept