New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-30
pdcJyG DECISION AT RED BIRD.

The county fair is an exceedingly useful lnstl-
+,+ior This fact makes intelligence of any
trouble in county fair association always un-
,,.oloona news But difficulty will sometimes
occur. as witness the recent discussion Ill the
Sangamon County, Ill., Agricultural Society over
what constitutes jelly-cake. There has also often
boen trouble at fairs over awards on log-cabln
mills. two-year.old steers, baby shows. and 50
forth, but never in the past. we believe III con-
naction with the horse race. This pure and pas
tora sport has always been in the hands OF capable
gentlemen and no chance has been given for fault
finding or dissatisfaction. But difficulty even IN
this innocent pastime is at last reported
II all happened at the recent fair of the Red
Bird County Agricultural Society at Red Blrd'
Minnesota There has long been, 1t appears
rivalry between Major Fullerton and captain
Hanks in the matter of horses. The Major is
owner of the celebrated trotter Pride of the
West while the Captain is the no less proud pos
SCISSOR of the no less celebrated PAGER Star OF the
North. Both horses have remarkable pedigree
and stop.watch records that defy examination.
TO settle the question which is the faster, prize
Of n silver-mounted carriage-whip was offered by
the Agricultural Society, the horses to race one
one mile heat When the hour for the race ar
rived each horse came down the track with his
head very high and his mouth opened very wide
The excitement among the spectators was intense
After several attempts the two horses were sent
off exactly together with Major Fullerton and
Captain Hanks each leaning very far forward
and encouraging his horse in loud voice
They passed the first quarter with the
Majors Pride of the West half length In the
lead At the second quarter he had increased
this to two lengths. The friends and hackers OF
Star Of the North were in no way diSheartened
however. rs their favorite was known to I've strong
on the homestrctch. Indeed. the betting
was five to three in favor OF Star of the
North. What was the CONSERVATION of ALL
however, a few seconds later to see half-doZen
rods of the fence surrounding the infeld suddenly
fall, evidently knocked over by the hub OF the
Majors sulky striking post. The Captain with
the favorite Star of the North was just behind.
and when the sagacious animal saw the opening
he instantly turned squarely through 1t, despite
the efforts of the Captain, and struck of across
the field for the judges stand at the fastest gait
ever seen in Red Bird County. lie came into the
track again ten yards above the stand with the
bit in his teeth and passed under the wire with q
swinging stride that made the spectators dizzy
lust as Pride of the West started down the home
stretch This well-meaning animal came in later
with his mouth still open and Major Fullerton very
red in the face. Time, AS Ii. or course the
Judges gave him the race, not recognizing the
crafty across lots sneak Of Star OF the North.
But Captain Hanks entered a violent protest To
this and he is strongly backed up by his friends.
lie does not, OF course, hold that ordinarily it is
right for horse to turn in on the grass and ap-
preach the judges stand from the rear, but he
claims that in this case he warned the fair man
ayers of his horses popularity, and that they
promised to see that the fence was in good con-
dition This they did not do and he demands
the prize, though he is willing to compromise on
another race, the fence TO be solid all the way
round.
We do not know that we are in any better posi-
ton this time To speak authortatively than we
were in the ease of the elly-cake misunderstood
ing, but it seems at this distance that il the Cap
tain's horse il VIGOROUSLY given To taking short
cuts when he can, and if the managers promised
to keep him headed of" with good fence for
the entire distance, the least they can do is to
give him another chance. II horse will turn
out on the grass we don't know that the driver
can help 1t. The most he eau do is to explain his