Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
KENTUCKY TROTTERS.
Good Work of the Present Season in
the Blue Grass State.
A VERY SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING.
Great Speed Shown by the Blue BIooded
Racing Youngsters.
TURF EVENTS FROM EAST AND WEST

been lively in Kentucky this week. The
Nicholasville meeting began Wednesday,
and the great Nancy Hanks made monkeys
of her high-class competitors and won the
4-year-old in straights, doing the last heat
in the remarkable time of 21S without
being pressed at all. A short review of the
seasons trotting in the blue grass might Dot
be out of place, as it will show the breeders
of other States what strains of blood are
going to the front here this season. The
first four of the meetings composing the
Blue Grass Circuit have passed into the
trotting history of the year, and each OF
them was successful, both financially and
from the horseman's standpoint. The Shelby
vile meeting showed up several excellent
horses including the good gray mare Nellie W,
the bay stallion. Colonel Tom. and the 2-year-
old filly. Cleo.
Notwithstanding that rain interfered with
the trotting at Eminence, the sport was good,
there being three split heat events, which
brought into notice Colonel Tom, Lizzie Mac
and Maggie F, and field of good 3-year-
olds in the race won by Stella Belmont. The
first circuit meeting that was held on full
mile track was at Harrodsburg. Here the num-
Der and quality of the hores were greatly i'm
proved and the association is to be eongratu-
lated on the character of the performances
made on their track. The 2year-old colt,
Sternburg, secured 2:30 honors by winning the
2-year-old stake. taking the second heat in
Shelbyville, was again winner here. taking
the three-mnute class from Pan in 2:2S13, 1854.
2:25x. She was also winner of the green race.
BATTLE ROYAL.
The event of this meeting was the battle royal
between Nancy Hanks and Bonnie Wilmore in
the 4-year-old stakes These two fought several
battles last season, in which the mare was every
time the winner. She was again victorious,
securing record of 2:l94 in the third heat.
Minnie Cassell secured blue-ribbon victory in
the 2:25 pacing class, taking a mark of 21S11 in
the first heat and winning the next two "hands
down." These two races were. both won in
straight heats by the rising young reinsman, B.
B. Kenny, both of his mares entering the 2:3O
list the same day. 1t is worthy of note that
both of them carried the stout blood of Die
tator. he being the sire of Minnie Cassell and
sire OF the dam of Nancy Hanks.
On the third day DR.. Sparks had walkover,
practically, for the 3-year-old stakes. and the
2:35 class fell to Mimic, half brother to Prince
Wilkes, after losing the first heat to McAlister.
Mimic entered the 2:30 list, obtaining record
of 22S14. Matte Wilkes. who secured a mark
of 22S13 over the track last season, but which
was disallowed because the track was "lapped,"
won the first heat of the 2:27 class, securing
after hard fought struggle, in 2:2S14 2:2613
2:29
Danville lays claim to the fastest and safest
half-mile track In the State, and, judging from
the performances of the horses that tr otted
there last week, it would appear that the
claim is well founded. Notwithstanding the
fact that it rained Monday night and Tuesday
forenoon. the track was in fair condition when
the 2-year-old race was called, and Stern
6ergg> berg tool took ut it in in straight heats in
2:3S54, 2:35 The 221 class was tive-heat
affair, in which three horses lowered
their their reeords-Cheyenne to 2:274, Billy A to
z:2SA and Poem to 225. Poem is a handy little
horse and one of the kind that improves with
each successive heat In the pacing race La
verne reduced his record to 2:23A and Bunco.
Jr:. lowered his to 22aE. and then Minnie Cas-
sell beat both in slower time. She is a game
mare. but neither of the other two could carry
the speed they showed in the first two heats.
Pan, by Pancoast, entered the list in the 230
class, which he won in 2:2S11S 2:29, 2:2S15
THE CLAY STAKES.
The C. F. Clay stakes for yearlIngs was an in
teresting event of half-mile heats and was won
by Cleopolitan in 1:25A, 1:23 This is the third
year this stake has been trotted and it has been
won each time by colt driven by Mr.. A. E.
Hutchings-in 1888 with Cambruno. In 1889 with
Clorine and in 1890 with Cleopolitan, the first a
son of Gambetta Wilkes and the last two by CT.
Clay. The stake this year showed up six as
good yearings as ever met in race. DR..
Sparks again had things his own way in the g.
year-old race, in the third heat of which he
lowered his record quarter of a second, trot-
ting in 2:2f4, quarter better than the record
made over this track by Nancy Hanks. at the
same age, last year. Jeremiah and Sallle B
had most interesting contest in the 2:23 class,
in which the former was victor in three hotly-
fought heats, winning each OF them In the
homestretch.
The 4year-old race was quite an event at
Danville. not less SO because of the failure of
on1rof Il
heat, reducing his mark to 2:23L. Bonnie
Wllmore won the second heat in 2:22 the fast
est mile ever trotted over the track. Bonnie
also took the next two heats and the race,
every heat being won after close finish.
Another performance of note was that of the
2year-old flly Cleo, by Gambetta, in a stake
for Gambetta foals, years old and under. She
distanced her competitor, Rosetta. in the first
heat. securing a record of 2:29s4. This was quite
a remarkable performance, and. If we mistake
not, is the fastest record ever made over half
mile track by a 2year-od. Cleo was never
harnessed until this spring, and has developed
wonderful speed ip a very short time. 1t is to
be regretted that she is not entered in the
stakes throughout the circuit, as she should
prove worthy competitor for Sternberg. Bay
Wilton, Land and other promising 2-year-olds
that are booked to meet at Maysville, Lexington
and other meetings down the line.
THE FAIR TRoTs.
Everything is in readiness for the comiag
fair trots here. The track is very fast and the
working of the horses very interesting.
Grafton, by Star Almont, went a mile the other
day in 2:29; Cammie L, by Harold, went around
the track in 22911; Sprague Wilkes paced
mile in 225; General Wilkes, in a trial trot,
showed a milo in 2:27; Ben Hur went O mile in
&2i3l, while Pilot Russell, full brother to
Maud S, showed 2:44 gait, and Time Medium.
a 3-year-old stallion, trotted mile In 1929.
Jerome Turner was driven a mile by Pat
Higgins in 2:3S. Egwood, by Esbert, and
Presto, went a mile together, and the first
heat was declared draw In the second heat
when nearing the pole, Presto broke, and
Egwood finished in 2:25h. The second event
was watched with much interest.
On Friday night of last week Levi T. Rodes
aged 60 years, died at his home in Lexington
of Brights disease. For years he had been en-.
gagged in the insurance business, but when a
young man he was devoted lover of the horse
Among the horses bred by him was the noted
mare Lady Thorne. whose performances in the |
early sixties startled the trottlng horse world,
and whose brother, Mambrino Patchen made
it possible for breeders to produce AxteII. |
Alerton, Walter e, Jerome Turner, and host |
of other noted performers. Mr.. Rodes was a |
gentleman of the old school, courteous, mild |
hammered and beloved by all who knew him, |
and in his death Kentucky loses another link |
in that rapidly shortening chain which binds |
her to the past. d. T. BAXTER.