The Portland daily press., 1893-10-04
OPENING OF RIGBY PARK.
Some Of the Greatest Trotting Of
the Year.
THE DARK HORSE FROM THE
PROVINCES.

Ethel H and Thetis Struggle for First
Place in a Great Field of a,e0 steeds-
Superb Races That Were Not Attended
AS They hou1d Be.
The opening of Rigby Park yesterday
was great success as far as the enter
tainment went. President Burnham and
his associates gave an opportunity for
seeing the best races under the best con-
ditions such as was never before offer
ed to the Maine public. All race-goers
thought the attendance quite good for a
first day; in the vast accommodations of
fered the spectators looked few. Presi-
dent BuInham estimated them at two or
three thousand The general tendency
was to underestimate the attendance,
because the grounds are SO large and
will accommodate great company.
Three classes were on the programme
for the day. Col. E. S. Edwards, of
Newark, N. j., acted as starter, with
Isaiah Pompilly of Lewiston and E. a.
Greedy of Ellsworth as associate judges.
The fields of horses were large and Sc
lect, some of the finest stables in the
East being represented.
Many prominent Portland men were
present to witness the events, President
Burnham having large party of them
in the Presidents private box.
The tut fmen from other places were
extravagant in praise Of the track. ''It
is the very best insthe land" said Mr..
Thompson, special correspondent of the
American Horse-breeder of Boston. It
is far ahead of Mystic and Beacon, the
famous Massachusetts, tracks, especially
in it's appointments.
The first class called was the
Two Forty.
There were six to start. this being the
smallest field. The race was marked by
a great triumph for Provincial horse,
Gordon Sim, which among the betting
fraternity stood sixth, Dawn R being the
favorite.
Col. Edwards was very particular
abont the start, SO the scoring was long.
The pole was drawn by Jennie Rolfe,
followed by Dawn R, Oakdale Dot, Orono
Boy, Cuckoo and Gordon Sim in the or
der named. The field finally got away
in good order. In the first eighth of the
mile Gordno Sim made drive across
the head of the field for the pole, Cuok-
90 following him. and at the quarter
Gordon Sim had the pole and was lead
ing At the half Cuckoo was pressing
the Fredericton horse closely. The re-
mainder of the field swas well punched,
except that Orono Boy was falling be-
hind.
The same conditions continued to the
close, the Provincial horse increasing his
lead slightly as he went under the wire.
Time 2.21 ga.
The second heat was REPETITION of the
first. The New Brunswicker played
with his opponents, AS Cuckoo would
creep up to his head, the heavy Bluenose
driver, 36 pound overweight, would let
his horse out little, and then Cuckoo
was left in no time. Dawn r maintained
a good third, followed by Oakdale Dot.
On the home stretch Dawn r crept' or
some thought rum little, into second
place. The time was 2.20 IL.
The third was nearly repetition of
the second. The Fredericton driver
never allowed his lead to slip from him a
moment, although Cuckoo was at his
wheel for the first three-quarters. At
the half there was a splendid scrimmage
between Dawn R., Oakdale Dot and Jen-
ME Rolfe They were as nearly exactly
together as possible. Gradually Dawn r.
drew ahead, followed next by Oakdale
Dot Then Dawn R. repeated his per-
Torrance Of the previous heat, dashed
ahead of Cuckoo on the home stretch
and made bold struggle for first place
with Gordon Sim. But the plucky little
horse had committed the indiscretion of
running little over on the back stretch,
and the judges. remembering this, set
him back to third place, giving second to
Cuckoo. Time, 221.
The purse of 5000 was divided, Cor
don Sim taking first, Cuckoo second,
Dawn r. third, and Oakdale Dot fourth.
The summary:
2.4o cLAss-fURsE $500, DIVIDED.
Gordon Sim, Big, by Uncle Sim, ne by
Cuckoo, b m, by Gunard, Jr. Henry Tit. !.
Dawn eT M R br J. ~ Ma acaniara, Davis,
Oakdale Dot, blk 6, by Wanderer, F A
Maxwell Portland, Me. A
Jennie Rolf, BIZ m, BY Young Rolfe, Chas
orono Boy, blk g. by Island Chief @ 7
Page, OrOnO Me-. ........ dis.
Gordon Sim is owned by Mr.. Frank H.
Wilson Of Yarmouth, N. S., and is a bay,
gelding, five years of age. His sire is
Uncle Sim, he by Privateer. Gordon
Sim mother was Sullivan mare. This
was his fifth race, and in all of them he
has lost but one heat He has trotted at
St. John, N. B., and Amherst, N. S. The
betting was six to one against him, Dawn
R. being the favorite. His driver wss SO
pounds overweight.
The TWO Twenty-seven Glass
marked the beginning of the greatest in
terest. There was not a little admira-
ton expressed when the field of horses
appeared, for such an one is rarely seen
on Maine track.
Thirteen answered the gong, and Col.
Edwards was obliged to arrange them in
two ranks. Currier drew first place,
Eunice second, Donald third, Combine
fourth, Peerless fifth, Dan Berry sixth,
Scinio seventh Lizzie L. eighth. Laura