The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-06
RUNNING RACES.
Auspicious Opening Of a Bril-
liant Series of Events.
Big Crowd at the Park Today as II Is
Governors Day.


track, ID. Higgins, owner OF two horses
entered In one event at yesterdays meet
ing, made no declaration" On the other
hand, 10000 people who tbronged the
Branu stand and quarter stretch at Mar
ragansett Park made very emphatic de-
ciarations TO the effect that horse racing
Is great sport and tnat the running meet
inaugurated by the Country Club is an
attraction as stimulating as 1t is
novel 50 far as Providence is con-
cerned. The first race was scheduled for
S:3o p. M, and for an hour previous there
had been steady downfall OF rain.
Things looked blue at the track. A slim
Attendance nr.dic,.S and heavy track rack were
come shower. But it proved
only blessing in disguise just enough
water To lay the dust, and the crowd
was there ON time. Cars arrived at the
Park entrance every five minutes.
steady stream of carriages passed
through the arched gateway, and
conspicuous among them were tally -ho
coaches and handsome private turnouts.
The grand stand and boxes were rapidly
hlled with a representative assembly of
citizens and brilliant array of
iashionably dressed women, while
hundreds OF the more curious
made their way across the field To the
back stretch for the purpose of cate ching
glimpse OF the flyers. But they had
no reward for their trouble for
which they were indebted TO the jeai-
Gus care of the trainers who kept
their favorites closely blanketed until the
summons To the starting point Mean
time the American Band took their sta
tion in the center OF the grand stand and
kept the waiting crowd in good humor
until the first they're of, was shouted
by the bookmakers.
An Animated Scene.
The scene from the quarter stretch and
paddock was an animated and pleasing
one. The restive thoroughbreds had been
summoned to the starting point
hurrying back and forth to
weigh in and owners and trainers were
running after them TO give last |
instructions. Prominent owners and turf |
men were present from all over the coun- |
try. AT 2 O'Clock the names of the jockeys |
who were TO ride in the first race were |
posted up and the business OF Ia /
energetic bookmakers began beneath the
grandstand. The betting started off with
out much coaxing, and favorites were
picked, in great many instances, with
good Judgment, and in other cases on the
strength OF " tips y found between the
covers of " dream " book, which a
fakir was disposing of at cents per
copy al the outer gate. Half an hour
later the starter dropped his yellow flag,
ana fourteen horses answered to the whips
ana spurs OF their riders. In I'M 1855 |
the race was over, with Wilmer at the
lore. His hackers in the pool room real
lied 10 to I on their favorite. Wheeler
finished close second and Berwyn, third.
There was an interval of half an hour
before the starting of the second event
ny this time the crowd had caught on to
the way things were done. The
women had mastered the mys-
teries OF their score cards and their escorts |
knew Just where to look for notices of
scratched horses and weight corrections.
Everyone had also learned the way to the
noisy reception room of the book makers,
ana many. CT them We're for the first
ton of what the newspaper
dispatches from Guttenburg mean.
kienzia sold favorite in the pools with
odds OF three and four to one. There was
= small army OF hackers who pinned their
faith upon her and they fell victims Ito
he uncertainties of race track specula-
tion, for Lodi, whose chances OF winning
were rated as only one in 10, won The race :
In :Oi l-2 by half length over Treasure
with Asia third
An Exciting Diversion.
, There was oue,exciting diversion at the
pocket took advantage OF the crush near
Inc judges stand, snatched v
diamond stud from the shirt front | c
ot an enthusiast named Place and =
made desperate effort to lose him. I
self when the victim shouted to the by- a
ng was forgotten and foot racing was in a
)rder. The thief was soon captured by he | n
Irsnston police but he had thrown away d
covered. 81
There were eight entries in the third q
ace and three year-old Watch Charm Il
ct the pace for the first half, and | 81
hen he was overtaken by George Il
Dixon and DIR. Garnett. The trio | h
anne down the quarter-stretch almost Il
k-an M do q h.. 1
iting finish OF the day, Dixon winning b
a :l6A by half length in advance OF cl
Dr.. Garnett. Frank Nc abe's Ascot. who ca
as frst fayorite, failed to get place. IL
Ihe result OF the fourth race created b.
lore disappointment in the sporting fra Sc
ernity than that of any other event. r
'ur Maggie was quite generally 81
:cked for a winner, and the odds In
to- swere readily ac- r
epted. She kept close company N
,nce and then dropped back to fourth 10
lace, leaving the struggle to Lou Rhett,
eedmore and Gloster. lou Rhett ran pI
ne race in :52 3-1, Needmore second. 81
loster third. r.
The Event Of the Day. 8.
The fifth race was the event OF the day. ne ne
was the climax of the big open air ar M
low, and the crowd went wild with en- "A.
usiasm. Ii had been awaited with the as
7eliest interest i'm consequence of its ~
'velty and the variety offered by the ~
lrdle jumping of the steeple TN TN
lase. IL proved, however, to iiu'
I'VE more features than were adj IN
rtised. After the first Jump, one Jockey ~
Y on the ground with n broken leg and ~. ~.
oxen shoulder and his riderless horse IN
Hoped over the two-mile figure "s' ~ 1n'
urse, taking every jump and finishing ~
cond in spite of the ct that he ~ ~
d the encouragement OF neither voice. ~
nip nor spur. The horse which per- ~
rmed this remarkable feat was NJ. j. IRA ira
Iley's Max, and the unfortunate jockey 5i' ar
Is Michael Coffey. The horse was the ure
'ond 60 clear the first hurdle, but MI MI
imbled In recovery, throwing Coffey from ~, wv
saddle. In remounting, he was struck w,
I the head by the hoof OF the third horse Sal
-pical attention and his ininriss thoneb ant
ious are not regarded No necsssorsi,. IIo