The Portland daily press., 1892-07-08

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Sport.
The new kite track at Old Orchard
opened yesterday under the disadvantage
of postponement and other drawbacks
n the way of incompleted grand, judges
and reporters stands. But the track for
a new one seemed in good condition,
thought slightly wavy. 1t was very
elastic at all events, for the step of the
horses could be felt on the course for
yards, as though there was rubber
foundation.
The grand stand was filled and the
spectators scattered about the track
showed the attendance to be about four
thousand. The French band of Bidde-
ford discoursed music from the band
platform in front Of the grand stand.
The first race on the programme was
the
2.45 Class-Purse ST. 900.
There was a long delay in getting the
horses out. Six of the twelve animals
entered remained in the field. Merry
Bird was warm favorite in the betting.
1t was a quarter of three O. clock before
the horses got away for the first heat in
the 2.45 race, with Red Line at the pole.
He made bad break at the quarter,
when he was Tapped and passed by Wat
son. Merry Bird, the favorite, was on
the outside, and made bad break. The
quarter was reached in 3S3. Watson
held the head and went to the half-mile
pole in 1.154. Red Line and Merry Bird
pushed Watson hard at the finish, but he
went under the wire winner in 2.34.
The finish was Watson first, Red Line
second, McKusic third, Merry Bird
fourth, Kittie R. fifth, Rosewood sixth.
In the second heat Watson had the
pole. Red Line made bad break and
Kittie r. followed suit. They went to
the quarter in 80 seconds and to the half
in 1.173. Watson seemed to tire. There
were several changes of positions around
the long upper turn of the kite and the
favorite, Merry Bird, emerged from the
bunch in front and held the lead to the
end. They finished, Merry Bird first
McKusic second. Watson third, Rose
wood fourth, Kittie r. fifth, Red Line
sixth. Time, 2.34.
In the third heat there was considera-
BILE tedious scoring-the first of the af-
ternoon-by reason of the unsteadiness
of Kitty R., who finally lost shoe,
which necessitated wait to have it re-
placed. Watson soon showed to the
front, trotting level and strong. A great
deal of skipping was apparent and Mer-
ry Bird went to pieces by knocking off
quarter boot. Watson won easily, in
2.314, Rosemond second, McKusic third,
Red Line fourth, Kitty r. fifth, and
Merry Bird (the favorite) last
The fourth heat in this class proved
a deciding one, though Merry Bird still
remained a favorite in the betting. Wat
son went ahead from the word, while
Merry Bird was a little behind on the
outside, trotting steadily, and Bowen
nodded for the word. Watson went
along steadily, and at the half mile had
long lead. Merry Bird made fine
squirt and was gaining rapidly when he
went into the air and lost his chance for
both heat and race. Watson won handi-
ly, Red Line second, Merry Bird third,
Kitty R. fourth; Rosemond fifth, McKu-
sic sixth.
Watson, the winner, was never in
race before. He is from the Prospect
Stock Farm, Freedom, N. H., and is
grandson of General Wilkes, and Pilot
on the dam side
The $1,000 purse in this race was divid-
ed as follows: $500 to Watson, $3.50 to
Merry Bird, $3.50 to Red Line, and 800
to McKusic.
2.27 CIass--Purse $1,000.
Five horses of the field of ten nomina-
ted appeared for the word, and it was