The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-06

huOuedhu POOPlOs many VI LucIu uhtluk COuc
from Massachusetts and distant parts of
Maine to see the phenomenal trotter, did not
appear so clear.
The story Of the engagement of the horse
Nelson to appear particularly for the benefit
of the Portland public and vicinity, as stated
by Mr.. Dresser-and his word has never
been impeached-and substantiated by docu
mentary evidence in the form Of written
and duly signed agreement, is substantially
as follows: That after an exchange OF letters
as to the engagement of the horse, Mr..
Dresser offered $500 for Nelson to appear
and make al exhibition heat at Woodfords
Park. Not receiving any response, Mr..
Dresser. having business In Wateryille a
little later. took occasion to cali upon Mr..
Nelson, the breeder, principal owner and
manager of the horse, meeting him at his
stables Mr.. Nelson asked Mr.. Dresser II
he meant to insult him by Offering him $500
to make an exhibition of Nelson. Mr.. ID.
dlsclaimed any such intention and explained
that he understood that to be the sum he had
received last year for showing the horse on
the tracks conducted under the rules OF the
American Association.
AtbCk oOulO 1uItucA thlh dUOub pckCoubdSo
of gate receipts that usually entered into an
exhibition of Nelson they separated, but met
at the hotel that evening by appointment,
and an agreement was duly drawn up and
witnessed. Henry X. Dresser signing for the
park. and G. II. Nelson for the horse, the
conditions being that mile should be shown
In 2.20 or better, and in consideration there
for Nelson was to have 0ne-half the gross
receipts for admission to the track. and so
Nelson was advertised In Portland. Bangor,
Boston and elsewhere to start to lower his
half mile track record of 2 154
Mr.. Nelson and horse were duly on hand
last Friday. The animal was in superb con-
dition, apparently, for the opening Of his
campaign for '9l, and took an exercising
heat under a pull and coaxlng to keep him
back In $50 No effort was made at speed,
that being held in reserve for the Fourth Of
July But trouble came that afternoon by
reason Of Mr.. Nelson driving Mr.. Whitten's
horse, Col Osgood. of Boston, a Wilkes ami
NAL that Mr.. Nelson has had In charge. 1t
Is said the track managers were at fault in
this matter In allowing him to start aud are
liable to fine Of 500 for the track Is under
the National rules, an association which has
not yet relieved Mr.. Nelson or his horses
from the disability imposed by the confessed
ly prearranged race at Boston between Nell
son and Alcryon by the respective owners.
Nelson and Noble. The difference between
the respective associations Is that theNation-
al.is prominent In the Middle and Eastern
States, while the American occupies a cor
responding position In the Western and
2authorp fofa n. T.o n
this city. former driver of the great stall
lion, was pitted against Mr.. G. H. Nelson
Woodbury. up behind Mr.. L. P. Hawkins's
fine black mare Dlnah, aud Nelson holding
the reins over Colonel Osgood. In very
close heat in which Osgood went under the
wire neck ahead, the judges awarded the
heat to Dinah. setting Colonel Osgood back
for running. This produced a vigorous
"kick" from Mr.. @. FL. Nelson and he noti-
fed President Dresser that IL Mr.. John
Head was on the stand as Judge on the
following day he would not start Nelson.
Well, the Objectionable gentleman to Mr..
Nelson was not there. being quite willing to
be relieved OF the disagreeable responsible
ty.
Mr.. Nelson. after notifying Mr.. Dresser
about o'clock that his horse would not ap-
pear upon the park, departed. Mr.. G. O.Whit-
ten Uf Boston, who was understood to repre-
sent fourth interest In the ownership of
Nelson, was present, and was appealed to to
have the horse led In front of the grand stand
but he declined to interfere with the direc-
tions Of Mr.Nelson. The man in charge of the
horse took the same position, though liberal
Inducements were extended by the manage
ment Of the park. The concession was final
ly made that those who wished to see the
horse could do so by going to his stall. The
announcement was made from the judges
stand, but was received with groans and
Kisses from the crowd. Later the horse was
unblanketed and led for moment or two In
front of his quarters, and the few who hap
pened to be present at the time had chance
to see him.
These are the facts of the case. Mr..
Dresser and the management of the park are
free from all blame. The entire RESPONSE
bllity rests upon Mr.. Nelson and the wealth
or. Perhaps 1t would not been prudent con-
sidering the condition of the track to have
started Nelson to break his record, and il
Mr.. Nelson had merely declined to do that
he would have been pardoned. But his re-
fusal to let him appear upon the track at all
was inexcusable, and shows that he is still
Just as regardless of the public as he was
when he entered into the fraudulent arrange
ment with the owner Of Alcryon, which led
to his exclusion from the tracks Of the Ma
tional Trotting Association. Nelson, the
horse. Is magnificent animal.
The Races.
Two races were booked for the afternoon,
SO and 2.27 classes. for which, two fields Of
good trotters had been entered, but such was
the condition OF the track horses were drawn
until but two contestants remained for each
purse.
The judges in the stand were Messrs. ii.
E. Dyer of Cape Elizabeth Station, @. +.
Swasey of Standlsh and CHI. Illsley of Port
land.
The horses reporting were X. b. Stan
woods Gray Dick of Portland and L..
Leighton's Mary Ann OF Deering Noun
taineer, Dinah, Col. Osgood and Saxon were
drawn.
The race calls for little description. Gray
Dick won the first heat handily and Mary
Ann the next three and the race. This Is the
summary:
Il, Il. StanwoOd, Portland, gg Gray
DICK. .......... ...............l 2
Leander leighton, Deering, m Mary
Time-2.4Ss4, 2.4614, 2.501s, 2.52.
The 2.27 race possessed more interest by
reason of well fought contest between two
Of the six trotters entered. These were Selp-
10. entered and driven by Noah j. FOss Of
5h aWaA
Wescott of Falmouth. Louise p, Resolute,
Rfrd ond Kavstnro d;d ,,ok o....o Il