Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-25
BOUND TO HAVE FUN.
A Gay Crowd at the Homewood Track
Determine to Have Some
SPORT In SPITE OF THE WEATHER.
Hot Race Between Mustangs Ridden by
Police officials.
TIE BAT BEATS THE GRAY By A NOSE

Threatening skies and a humid atmos-
phere could not crush the spirits of the ], SOC
good fellows who went out to Homewood
yesterday afternoon to witness the events OF
the third day of the Grand Circuit meeting.
The track was muddy and slippery, and the
monotony of the yellow soil and the gray sky,
while it was broken, was not relieved by the
bright hues of the Stars and Stripes futter-
ing from the flagstaff, or the cheerful strains
of the Great Western Band.
Nevertheless, everyone was happy, while
anxious that the sport should 60 on. The
countenances of the association officials were
closely scanned, but their features showed
nothing but a moody thoughttulness that
was not encouraging. The track was being
smoothed of, and two or three trotters,
driven by dyspeptic-looking individuals,
were slowly moving around the circle.
Herdic leaned over his auction stand and
conversed cEeerfully with friends, the fact
that he would have no pools to sell not
worrying him In the least. He realized that
for one day he could give his nimble tongue
a rest, and would not have to furnish bail
for pool-selling before be ate his breakfast in
the morning.
HAD SOME FUN.
Mavor Gourley, of Pittsburg, and Mayor
Wyman, of Allegheny, were at the track;
the former because he is fond
Of horses, anyway, and the latter
to see his former property, Kinsman, pace
in the 2:23 race. Among the others present
were W. d. Porter, Esq, ex-District At
torney; City Solicitor Elphinstone, Chief
Murphy and Health Officer Bradley, and
Councilman William Bader, of Allegheny.
In fact, it appeared to be Allegheny's day.
well, we've got to have some fun, any
wsy-races or no races, said one man to
another, and the sentiment was quickly
taken up and passed around This may
have acted as an incentive to Detective
Fitzgerald and Inspector Whitehouse, as
they Immediately challenged each other to q
mile race on mustangs. Inspector White
house owned one Of the animals with a wicked
eye, the backbone of a snake and q bay coat
A gray mustang. owner unknown, was tied to
q fence, and Fitzgerald mounted it and rode
out on the track, closely followed by White
house.
RIDING TO WIN.
They started on even terms, Fitzgerald keep.
ing well on the gray's neck to keep him from
rearing, while Whitehouse sat well back, SO
that in case of his horse bucking he might be
able to get hold before he passed over its
ears.
Bay and gray ran side by side to the quarter,
and at the half both we're whipping A man
who had stop watch said the half was done in
lO234, but later confessed that his watch was
out of repair and could not be relied upon to
n a fhrpe-OUarforS ha ha lod
the Inspector taking his seat amidships on the
animals back, and thereby securing a more
even keel. Fitzgerald was pushing the gray,
which was throwing up clods of mud until the
horizon had the appearance of hammered
brass.
The racers wheeled together into the stretch
SIDE by SIDE and made brilliant race to the
wire. The band left McGinty at the bottom of
the sea and Joined the throng that rushed to
the fence. Excited individuals with fat pocket
books offered g to on the bay, bucking
barred" which was accepted by men whose
countenances were crevaSsed by emotion as
they made the proviso that IF the gray falls
dead before she reaches the wire this bet
don't go.'
A TERRIBLE STRAIN.
On they came Strong men held their breath,
which was in itself test of strength in many
cases; small boys yelled. and Officer Crossan, the
embodiment of calm suavity, unbent for once,
and cheered the riders At the last furlong both
horses were coming under the whip, the bay a
nose ahead Fitzgerald was riding the gray to
win, and fearlessly kept his horse from falling
down by taking firm cinch around its neck.
The Inspector had no time to get hold on the
bay, so simply used the whip in the hope
that the animal would the sooner run down.
Just as the horses reached the wire the bay,
which had apparently been there before,
stretched its neck and thrust out its tongue
winning by so inches. Several hundred dollars
changed hands on the race.
Just about this time President Kerr an
nounced that the races were of for the day, the
track being so heavy that the drivers refused
10 bring out their horses. The races would be
run to-day (Friday) regardless of the weather
Then the crowd prepared to go home, but
gay crowd who wanted action for their money
determined to have one more event before they
went They got together eight or nine boys
and entered them in a 60-yard dash. The son
of Driver Pridmore was at once made fa-
vorite against the field, and sustained his
hackers judgment by winning handily. Several
hundred dollars were staked on the result.
Then everybody went home, but none ap-
peared to regret that they had gone out