The record-union., 1891-09-21
-SILAS SKINNER'S TRIUMPH.
He Defeats Wanda and Frank NJ. in
an Exciting Race.
Four Remarkable Heats Trotted :
Wanda, the Original Favorite, Out
classed-Some Minor Events.

ciaSSed-SOme Minor Events.
The last day of the State Fair was
marked by the most brilliant and eXcit-
ing trotting race ever witnessed on the
coast, and one the like of which is not
seen every year, even in the big Eastern
circuit.
1t was for the 2:lS class, and brought out
the three feet nsgs, Silas Skinner, Wanda
and Frank M. Wanda was the favorite
IN turf circles up to and including the
hrst heat of the race. On Friday night
thousands of dollars went into the pool
box at the rate of $50 for the favorite, $40
for Silas Skinner and SIS for Frank NJ.
These rates were maintained at Saturday
mornings sales and at the track before
the race.
There was great crowd present to see
the race, which it was known would be
closely contested and exciting one, but
it proved to be such a sensational one
that it would have warranted the largest
crowd that ever assembled within the
limits of Agricultural Park. The race
between Goldsmith Maid and Occident,
which occurred several years ago, and
more compared with it than would a
scrub race compare with an ordinary
State Fair track event.
The weather was simply perfect, and
everybody was in the best of spirits
However. crowds that filled the stands
and Enclosures thereabouts took but little
interest in the opening race of the day,
so keyed-up were they with the desire to
witness the great event of the meeting.
President Cox presided in the judges
stand, assisted by Directors Boggs and
Gamble. The timers were Director L. IL.
DeLong, j. w. Wilson and H. j. AgneW.
Before the regular events. or sand
Wiched between heats, were two minor
ones. G. II. Gilman's local PAGER Soil
taire and DR.. Fay's Eclectic finished their
postponed race, the latter winning in
2:324.
Don L. was sent one mile to beat 2:3O
1Or wager. He did it in 2:2S4.
DOUBLE TEAM RACE.
The first regular race of the afternoon
dOuble-team contest between Killip's
Maud Patchen and Eva o.. Kingsley's
Joe Thompson and Mrs. White and
Cooks Irwin c. and Diamond.
The race was won by killip's pair in
straight heats, and in the order named,
the time being :40-2:40-2:42l. Cooks
pair were distanced in the second heat.
tember 10, 1S91-State Fair meeting Trot-
ting-EXtra race for double teams.
j. n. Kiliip names Eva o. and Maud
Patchen hullp)....-...
z. II. Kingsley names Joe Thompson
and Mrs. White Kingsley ).............. 2 2 2
L. G. Cook names Irwin G. and Dia-
Time, 2:4O-2:4o-2:421z
THE GREAT TRoT.
Then came the event Of the day. Skin
ner came on the track driven by one of
his owners, McGraw, and hOrsemen all
remarked that the great stallion was in a
condition fit to go for his life. Frank
NJ. was piloted by Heating, and Wanda
by the veteran driver, Hickok, whose
appearance behind a horse is usually
taken as pretty safe tip. The horses
We're all III great form, and each gained
many new admirers as they were being
warmed up before the stand.
Four attempts were made before an
even start was had and President Cox
gave the word to go. Frank led soon
after leaving the score, Wanda tapping
MIN, Skinner with his nose at the iatter's
girth. The first eighth of the mile found
Skinner and Frank travelling together,
with Wanda a length behind them.
They were all even at the quarter, which
was made in thirty-four ard three
quarter seconds. Soon Frank left his
feet and fell back six or seven lengths.
and keating made no further effort to
win the heat, knowing that his horse
had staying qualities and not wishing to
jeopardiZa his chances for the race by
crowding him unnecessarily.
The half-mile post was reached in I:07I,
where Wanda had slightly the best of it,
and thus they rounded the far turn, COM
ing TO the three-quarter post in l:42. The
struggle to the wire between Skinner and
Wanda was a sight. Nose and nose they
came down the stretch, and as thev
CllFf 4lnfA.x, oil =
be seen working his whip-arm like trip
hammer.
THE mares goner' came from a score
of voices; look at Hickok whipping
And sure enough the mare was gone.
Down TO the wire the horses clattered,
Skinner doing his prettiest, but without
The ald OF the whip, in his bobbing style
of going, sweeping under the string in
the lead in 2:I7, with Wanda's nose at his
wheel. The mare was apparently dis
tressed at the outcome. Frank NJ pulled
up when within the distance limit
Now there was wild rush for the pool
stand, and 1t taxed the energies of Killip.
Whitehead and their assistants to accom-
modate all who wanted TO plunge Skin
ner was made the faVorite at SlG0 against
S75 for Frank and $40 for Wanda Then
the feeling began to grow that Franks
chances were the best, as he had been
saved, while the others had been pushed
10 their best, and must have suffered
thereby.
After couple of thousand dollars had
been laid at the above terms, Frank be-
came the favorite, and when the time
came to call the horses out again he was
bringing $3.50 to Skinner's S2l0, Wanda
being in poor demand at $50
SECOND HEAT.
Again the horses made four Intellectual
efforts to get away before the word was
given, and it was quite apparent that
Hickok hoped to tire out Skinner and
Frank by scoring often and saving
his mare each time. Finally they were
given an even send-otf. At the first
eighth Skinner and Wanda were going
side by side, Frank trailing three lengths
behind them. At the quarter, in 344 sec
onds, the positions had not changed, and
up the back stretch the horses were sent at
q clipping pace. The half was passed in
1903, with Wanda leading by a half
length, Frank two lengths in the rear.
Rounding the turn Skinner eyened up
matters with the mare, and at the three
quarters, which was reached in l:423,
they were leading Frank by length, al
though he was seen TO be rapidly coming
up.
And what race it was down the
straight wayl Nearly side by side the
three horses came, and the thousands of
people on the stands and along the track
craned their neclIs to get sight of the
magnificent struggle.
Frank MS got it ~ one would shout.
mo he hasn't-look at Skinneri Why,
he's winning in walk ~
Whats the matter with Wanda as
winner? I've got pool on her! Look
at her comep'
These and other CALCULATIONS were heard
coming from all quarters. The truth was
that Skinner was leading Wanda at the
seven-eighths post by nearly length,
with Franks nose at the latter's wheel.