Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-03
MIDSUMMER RACES.
One of the Most Interesting and
Exciting Times ever held
on the Grounds.

The races under the auspices of the
Wood County Fair Association attracted
good attendance last Tuesday. The
price of admission being fixed at 90 cts.
great many who are usually seen on
the grounds were conspicuously absent.
The day was fine and the track in
prime condition. The grounds were
clean and looked nicely. Many of the
visitors watched for the first time a
horse race on the track. Coming to see
the bicyclers they found aside from
their tournament an interest heretofore
undreamed of in watching the eager,
| intelligent horses as they strained every
nerve to distance their competitors.
| Few can watch trial of speed without
becoming imbued with the spirit of the
| contest. The sentimental phases that
| find in racing "crueltv TO animals"
| vanish as they see the evident pleasure
and excitement of the horses as they
answer their trainers will and fret and
chafe under restraint. Racing is a sport
full of life and energy and action. 1t
inspires the physical forces and calls
out the display of power, endurance
and patience in the participants.
The Objectionable features of races in
general are side issues of principles that
are to be met with wherever oppor-
tunity occurs, and belongs to individual
characters, rather than to any class of
amusement, and in our opinion should
be met and fought with on their own
merits, or strictly speaking, demerits.
BICYCLE RACES.
One mile. Prize, silver cup and sau-
GER. Entries, II. Z. Spaulding, F. J.
Thompson, Stevens Point, and Otto
Helmold and A. n. Palmer, Centralia.
Prize winner, H. E. Spaulding. Time
2:53.
Onehalf mile. Solid gold engraved
watch charm. Entries, Ole Virum, of
Stevens Point, Otto Helmold and G. F.
Kruger, Centralia, and R. G.. Sherwood
and j. E. DAILY. Prize winner, Ole
Virum. Time 1:20.
Three mile. First prize, solid gold
medal. Second prize, solid silver medal.
Entries, H. E. Spaulding, F. J. Thomp
son, Ole Nirum, of Stevens Point, and
Otto Helmold and A. \. Palmer, of Cen
tralia. T. J. Thompson took first prize
and Otto Helmold second prize. Time
|9:1S.
Mr. Otto Helmold, the winner of the
silver medal, is graceful, easy rider,
who rode for the first time on the track
in contest Tuesday. He had only had
the wheel he rode three days, and no
no regular training, having put in his
practice in the intervals of his daily
work. Though he failed to secure first
prize against expert bicyclists he rode
well and finished less than half a
wheels length behind the winner T. n
the three mile race.
HORSE RACES. 2:4O CLASS.
Entries lime Z:4215. Heats,
~. W. Graves" owned by H. Balm s4p2
Breeze wilson owned by Fat pelapey sill
"Robt: r." oWpea bf II. Balm 2S4s
"Leto suigert" Qwnedb j. Hill 1854
"John T." owned by J. Miner 1qs5|
"Breeze Wilson" took frat money;
"John T.' secopdl ~. W. Graves"
third; "Raht R." fourth.
THREE MINUTE CLASS,
Time 2;49,
Florence Temple owned by r. Finch HI
"Tablean' 0wned by B. Wallace 5000
"BtsmaFk' owned by P, Cramer 6s33
Caesar" owned by D, ], Arpin 2222
Turk owned by O. Dennis 1855
"Jim Fisk" owned by A. Sickles 3444
Florence Temple took first money:
Caesar" second; "Jim Fisk" third; and
"Bismark" fourth.
FREE FOR ALL.
Time 2;sa
''St. Cloud Jr,'' owned by P, Delaney 1911
Queen Wilson" owned by n. Gross 2I22
The horse racing was kept up until
dark the interest never tagging, the
last race was as eagerly watched as the
first. The meeting was success finan-
clally as we'll as otherwise the associa-
ton making net receipt of S125,
Receipts from sale of tick cts, 90
hace 1S0 90
Privileges 3n ssoAnf ,>,,,,,>>..,,,..... 1900
s4s5 90
The Juvenile Band furnished the
music and showed a steady improve
mont. They are commended for the |
good work they do, considering their
youth ineNperience and limited training.
The races attracted good many visi- |