The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-01
THE FAMOUS KITE TRACK
The Ono at Independence. Iowa,
Whore Records Are Made
ana Broken.
Iusiuuations ana Innuendoes of
Mastern Papers Totally
Unwarranted.
The Meetings Held In Regular Manner
and the Track OverA Mile
@ In Length.

Az some Of the eastern turf journals do
not appear to be satisfied with the reports
Of the records broken on the Independence
tracks and their innuendosa to their hon
ssty have caused honest doubt and discus
sion in the public mind, the Chicago Horse
man sent a representative to Independence
10 investigate them. The representative
makes the following report:
The trotting here is conducted in every
way in as strict compliance with tho rules
as at the great regular meetings. The rec
ords have not been made privately or after
dark. These matinee meetings are duly
advertised in the town, especially by hand
bills, and races are provided in addition to
the specials against time, the entries are
announced and entrance fee is paid, ad-
mission is charged at the gate, and on each
occasion there has been \ fair public at
tendance. There is a great army of horses
in training At the Independence track, and
class races can easily and quickly b ar
ranged. On Saturday last. for instance,
the programme was unfinished, the wind
up being on Monday afternoon, when Aller-
ton equallsd his Saturday performance.
The record books Of the Independence as
ISOLATION are models Of clearnsss and COM
pletensss, and, in 30 far Is they can, they
show method and regularity. The same
regulations and precautions are thrown
around all the performances, 90 that by
citing the conditions under which Aller-
toms two fastest miles were trotted that
branch OF the subject is covered.
On Saturday there was a fair attendance.
The judges were DR.. d. w. Howard, mayor
of Independence, who also acted ss starter, |
and L. N. Stevens and w. NJ. Bisbes. of
Independence. The timers were B. w. Ia
Dor. a leading druggist of Independence,
r. E.. Carsey, = breeder, and +. S. Trask. a
trainer. Abortion started at about six
o'clock when the wind had died away, and
the official tims was given as 2:09199. Up
wards OF n score of outside watches are
quoted as showing faster than 2:094, and
registered the time slower. Among the out
side timers, Major Du Bots, of Denver, gave
the time as 2:O8I: A. F. Elliott, breeder, of
Friendship. N. Y, made it 2:09; Presi-
dent Barnhart, of the Commercial State
bank, had it 2:09; w. W. Donnan, cashier
and Charles Thompson, trainer for II.
I. g.. F.. d. stoat, made it 2:09l. On
Monday the Judges were j. F. Martindals,
breeder, Greeley, Iowa; o. A. E. Laurie. of
Jesup, Iowa, and Q. O. Tsbbitts, breeder,
OF Independence. Tbs timers were Maj. j:
Denver. Col, F. B. Ballou, Independence,
and +. f.. Driver. Helena, Mont. Allsrton
broke after going nearly a quarter of his
first trial, ana was pulled mp and immedi-
ately started again, trotting in 2:094. Out
side watches agreed with the official time,
except in cases where they showed a shade
faster. Stop watches about Independence
are "thick AZ leaves in Valanbrosia,'' az
one gentleman put 1t, ''evsn the women
and children carry them" On the track
are many trainers who time every move,
and 1t seems impossible to conceive how,
even if fraud was contemplated, it could be
successfully contaminated under the pre-
vailing conditions. But this aside, mono
will care to impugn time to which the sig
natures of horsemsn of the standing of
Maj. Dubois and others named are at
tached.
In short, there appears nj ground for
suspicion ~ to the correctness and honesty
of the Independence records. Allerton has
fairly won the stallion championship; let
not envy seek to tarnish his ~laursls. The
same track on which he started and the
Same conditions are open to all other as
pirants. That the Independence track is
lightning fast none can doubt, nor need
any one after driving over it seek for the
reason. We doubt whether Mr.. Williams
10 aught astray in his estimate that the
nAApS VI "a tIACA aCCOuutn lOT MOI moro |
than half a second advantage in speed; the
rest is attributable to the soil and the con-
dition in which the course is kept. Il re-
csives thu most constant, persistent and
Asslduous care, work on it usvsr ceases,
and as q consequence it is smooth as = bill
lizard table, and yet springy and elastic az
if it we're cushioned in rubber.
In response to a request from the editor
OF the New York Herald asking for the
exact length OF the now famous kite track
at that place, County Surveyor D.. s. Deer
ing Thursday surveyed the course with a
corps of assistants Of his own selection, all
expense being borne by the Herald. Mr..
Deering found the course to be 5,2S1 feet
and one inch from wire to wire, three feet
from the pole, making it one foot one inch
over one mile. Mr.. Deering made affidavit
OF his finding and forwarded it to the Her.
aid. This accorda with the result obtained
by four other surveyors, whose afidavits
have been on file in the Office of the record
OF OF the county since July 2, 1890.