Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-07

The grand inaugural opening of the
Maple Valley Trotting Associations
kite track at Kirkwood, Del, on
Monday was pronounced success from
the start to finish.
AS early as 1045 o'clock there were
two lines of perspiring, putting, pulling
and pushing humanity extended from
/. the window of the p, w. & b. ticket
office clear to the outside entrance of
the depot, all in mad rush for tickets
10 the opening of the kite track. Long
before the published time for the de-
/ parture Of the train the special printed
tickets covering the round trip, in
Gliding admission TO the track, were
exhausted and the ticket agent was
compelled to fall back upon his regular
Fourth of July excursion tickets, sub.
shutting which, as a consequence,
caused some confusion at the trotting
park gates. But this was soon
Strengthened by the efficient manage
ment of the association.
The first section consisted of 10 cars,
carrying at least 1000 people. The
second section, of eight cars, followed
In sight of the first to Kirkwood, and
was equally crowded. A third section
of six cars followed in half an hour.
On reaching their destination the pas
sengers in the first section made rush
for the 60 or 10 hacks or carriages of
every description, filling them in short
notice. The second section pulled up
to the station as soon as the first had
unloaded Its crowd. The four or five
hundred unfortunates of the first train,
who were looking in vain for some kind
of vehicle to transport them to the
grounds, AT length took up their line of
march towards the trotting park gates.
The spectacle of such an immense con-
course Of people suddenly pouring out
al the little wayside station was the
cause OF continued astonishment TO the
natives, who stood gazing in wonder as
the second detachment of over one thou
sand pleasure. seekers crowded from the
train and loudly clamored for hacks or
carriages. But they, too, had to march
to the park.
4 AT the trotting park was witnessed a
sight probably unequalled in the annals
OF horse-racing in Delaware. The grand
stand, with its seating capacity of from
$500 to 5000, was packed to its utmost
limits. Within sight was gathering OF
5000 people. Both sides of the track td
half its distance were crowded with
spectators. Several hundred carriages
were tethered all along the south side OF
the grounds.
Nearly all the prominent horsemen OF
the State of Delaware were seen on the
grounds, as well as fair sprinklina
from Philadelphia and New York. Bud
Doble, the famous trainer and driver
whose stables are at 1erre Haute, Ind.
was an interested spectator from the
judges stand, and in an interview with
him by representative of THE
GAZETTE as to his opinion of the Kirk,
wood track, he said he thought it the
best appointed, regulated and probably
the fastest track in the world. Ed Geers
the driver of G. j. Hamlin's double
team, Belle Hamin and Globe, and OF
Hal Pointer was also asked his opinion
prior to appearing on the track with his
celebrated team. He said "This track
is the best have ever driven over, and
the fastest in the world to-day" And lie
proved his words by driving Belle
Hamlin and Globe double to the mile in
2l2 without skip, thus breaking theii
worlds record of 213 made on the kite
track at Independence, Ia, last year.
The efforts Of Belle Hamlin and
Globe and Hal Pointer to lower thcil
records was the browning events of the
day, and the announcement of the start
ing judge, Joseph II. Wenderoth, thai
Hal Pointer would appear on the track
for exercise prior to her race against the
record of 206. held by Direct, was me
with applause. The great demonstra
ton was reserved for the double team
Belle Hamlin and Globe, for when the
judges hung up to the gaze of the wait
fV hn f,,I 6 n n
the people went wild in cheering The
team as their driver returned to th,
stand to learn the result of his race,
Such team and such race is worth
going hundreds of miles to see and thu
lovers of horses who did not witnes
this event missed one of the finest unC
greatest double team trotting ever bcfor
seen in the world Some watches (un
Officially in the judges stand made TIL
time 2.119.
The $50 class was well contested
May S had the pole in the first heat, bu
made bad break just after getting tn
word and did not get her feet unit
passed by the other four horses, Wilt
Edge coming in first in the first, secont
and fourth heats and winning the rae
in 2.45.
The 2.45 class was another fine exhi
bition, Forest Boy broke as he wa
passing the first quarter pole and wa
passed by Kate who kept the lead to til
finish winning by at least three length.
The second and third heats were repi
tition of the first, Kate winning the rae
in $50. Bright and Fred Ensign wer
distanced in the second heat.
The 1928 class, was won in four heat.
Miss Thompson, the pole horse, winnin
the first heat and Gipsey Girl the las
three heats in 2.24t, 2.24s, 2.26t.
Doc, the wonderful canine trottei
and his owner and driver, Willie Ket
chum, were the admiration of hundred
who made rush and surrounded TIL
dog and his master whenever the
appeared on the track. Doc was al
immense drawing card to the days en-
tertainment, and when he trotted unde
the wire in his quarter of mile race il
as seconds, going II seconds faster thai
ever before, he and his little maste
were the idol of the crowd. During
Commute wait for the horse in the 20
race to blow, a race of quarter of
mile, between Doc and local sprintei
Walter Murphy, of this city, wa
arranged. The dog won by at least 5
yards IN ass seconds. Master Willie
father states that the dog has earnet
over $4,000, and that his engagement
for the balance of this season will
amount to nearly $4,000
The half mile scratch bicycle race wa
ridden in LA, the fastest half mile eve
made in the State of Delaware nv lOcn