Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-24
Three Thousand Persons Defy the
Weather and Enjoy a Good Days
Sport at HOmewood.
LOTS OF MONEY CHANGES HANDS.
Hal Pointer Carries Off the Purse From
Some Good Horses in the
Free.For-All Pace.
A SLIPPERY TRACK STOPS ONE RACE.
The Long and Varied Programme to be Carried
Out To-Day.


people sailed forth to witness the sport al
Homewood as on the previous day. Every
accessible approach to the driving park was
crowded. Vehicles OF every description and
age were utilized to convey the admirers Of
horse flesh to the scene of action. The
throng that went out to Homewood was moi
confined to men alone, but the ladies con-
tributed largely to swell the attendance.
The man with the wagon was on hand to
meet the people at the depots to carry them
to the track. Much rivalry existed here be-
tween the jehus to secure patrons. Every
man who owned a conveyance of any kind
had a capper or two right at the depot upon
the arrival of trains to extol the good quail
ties Of theirrespective wagons or buses and
solicit trade. They used more persuasive
arguments than singing out "Here you are
now; right to the track in five minutes"
and they were not slow about grabbing hold
of man and making it almost compulsory
for him to take their bus or cab.
A BIG CROWD.
By the time the races were we'll under
way about g. 900 people were scattered over
the grounds. They were not to be daunted
by the threatening weather and came out 10
defy the elements.
Many wellknown faces were there and
men of some note pushed and jostled with
the commonplace citizen. Mayor Gourley
was on hand yesterday, and seemed to enjoy
himself W. S. Stahl, the Liberty street
stock broker, was among the gentlemen sit
ting on the club house verands. A score or
H. !
tinguished in the crowd. Ex-Collector of
Ports D. o. Barr has been present since the
opening day, and takes much interest in the
races.
No excitement occurred to mar the
serenity. The police were not called upon
at any time to restore order. Notwithstand-
ing that the bar was literally patronized,
the crowd was not in that fighting mood
which characterizes many gatherings of this
kind.
A drizzling rain set in about o'clock,
and as the time few by ii seemed as if it
would continue to drizzle, but before the
last heat in the second race was finished 1t
came down strong enough to put an effectual
stop to the days sport. The races would
have been continued in the rain if the track
had become thoroughly soaked, but, as it
was only the surface became wet, which
would not permit the horses to run without
entailing more or less danger from Shipping.
MAKING FAvoRITEs.
A peculiar feature about the betting ring
is that at the outset when rank outsider
happens to win heat they Immediately
make him favorite. Before the race has
been finished the real favorites show up, to
the disgust of the crowd. This has been
demonstrated in the past two days in every
race.
The Judges are having some little diff
Guilty with the drivers. On the first day and
yesterday the starters called the drivers up
and told them that thev would not tolerate
any pulling Of the horses, under the penalty
of expulsion. This has had great effect with
the drivers, and before the meeting is over it
is expected that some horses will lower their
records materially.
John Splan refused to drive Argyle in the
fourth heat, as he claimed that the horse
was hooked up in way which was detri-
mental to his chances tor winning. Tobey
was put up, and succeeded in making q good
showing until he reached the three-q uarter
post, when Argyle went up and never re-
gained his feet during the race. The contin-
ued breaking of Argyle was topic Of some
little discussion. The horse was not success
ful in pacing one heat without breaking
three or four times.
as the previous day. The bookmakers did
not suffer TO any great extent, as they estab- |
lished odds on which the talent were not |
overly anxious to take.
THE FIRST RACE CALLED.
There were two events on the card for the |
days sport-the 2;27 trot and the tree-for-all |
pace. The 2:27 trot was called first, with |
six starters. In the pools Buckskin Dick
was the favorite at S35 Present selling at
S23 keokee and Honest George at $40 each and
Mikagan and Vaspasian at s. each. After
scoring several times the horses got away to q
good start. AT the quarter M1kagan, Vaspa-
sian and Honest George were Tapped, the others
trailing. They kept this position into the
stretch, where they closed up, but Mikagan
pasian, with Honest George third. Time. 2:251z
Before the second heat Mikagan favorite at
slraggling, Buckskin Dick in the lead. with
Vaspasian second. Mikagan broke at the
quarter, thereby losing his chances for the
heat. Buckskin led to the three-quarter pole.
but on entering the stretch they all closed up
At the distance pole Dick left his feet and
Vaspasian, Present and Honest George made
the play for the heat, which was won by half
length by Vaspasian, Present second, Honest
George third. Time, 224N.
TOO MUCH RAIN.
Buckskin Dick was the favorite in the third
heat selling for SIS while the field brought $40.
the one-quarter, all three whipping. At the half
Present broke. losing three lengths. Dick
closed in on Vaspasian, and they trotted to-
gether to the three-quarters, the rest being
well up. Upon entering the stretch Keokee
put on a burst of speed. and soon had the front
ones In trouble. Dick was the first to give
way, and made a break, keokee passing Vas
pasian and winning the heat, Buckskin Dick
third Time 2:25N
In the fourth heat Keokee sold at SIS field
S35 Vaspasian led at the start but was soon
Tapped by Buckskin and Present. At the quar-
ter Present broke, Keokee taking third place.
From the quarter TO the half Vaspasian and
of Dick had tc use his whip 20 keep him
mp. Keokee was third, but broke at the half,
losing two lengths. Upon entering the stretch
th1re was a general closing up. and from that
Dick Vaspasian and Keokee, the latter winning
by half a length from Naspasian, Buokskin
Dick third. Time, 2:29.
The rain. which had been falling heavily for
some time made the track so heavy and slip.
perry that the race was postponed until to-day.
Summary, first race, 2:7 class. rrottlng, purse
SlO00-
Keokee, ch m, William B. Fasig,-
vaspasian, b 9, J. J. Titley, Millers-
MiRsgsn. rs s. John i. Ross. Madison,
Present s&i bay g. xippi:ion Webb, Wat:
Buckskin Dick, d g, Aaron Nil, Pho,
Honest George. g, j. NJ. Petit, Phil :.
Ti@epaaa5H Taqglpnlaa aiiii a:a5ji. aas
In the second race, the free-tor-an pace, Hal
Pointer was the favorite in the pools, selling
from 2 TO to to against the neld. The
start in the FIRST heat was delayed by Jewett
acting badly. Jewett led at the first quarter,
(1osain second with Monkey ROlla lapped on