The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-17
RACES DECLARED OFF
MEETING A FINANCIAL FAILURE,
WITH A Loss OF $1,000.
Some Fine Races Yesterday-Two
Heats Paced I'm 2sO5 1-4-Bunalo
Loses $4,000.

end yesterday afternoon at the close OF the
days programme. the directors OF the club
having decided 10 declare off the events OF
to-day. The meeting has not been success
full one in respect to attendance, although
members OF the club and visiting horse
men express themselves as satisfied with the
races given and the time made. Yesterday
afternoon was advertised as the red letter
day, and yet not to exceed 1900 people were
present. while upon the big day of last year
fully 5000 were present. The attendance for
the week has been small, compared to the
class of races offered. The Indianapolis
club seems to be suffering from the same
conditions which have affected other meet
ings. The Buffalo horsemen are reported TO
have lost $4,000 at their meeting last week,
while the meeting at Terre Haute was not
successful. The indianapolis club comes out
over 5000 short. The events which were
intended to be given this afternoon included
the $40 trot for three-year-olds, the 2:30
pace and the Grand Hotel stake, Of $1,000,
for the els pace. After the experience OF
the week the club has no assurance that
there would be any sort of an attendance,
and it was decided to withdraw the events
end end the meeting last evening. A driving
association has the right to withdraw an
event at any time.
Another reason is given for not continuing
with to-day's programme. The stake money
offered to-day Is larger than is usually Of
fered for one days racing. The club would
continue at loss by the forfeiture system
of entries. Only few of the owners in the
$40 pace and trot and 2:30 pace have paid
their entry money. Many of the horses first
entered have been withdrawn, and the own
ers, rather than pay the forfeiture. have
that when they come along with a first
class horse they will have no trouble get
ting back If this forfeit money had been
paid the races could continue, but as II Is
the members of the club would have to make
up the purses for the two events.
Thomas Taggart. president Of the Driving
Club, was asked last night If the experience
of the club the last week meant that there
would be no more first-class trotting and
pacing in this city. He replied:
question. We have tried to get good horses
here by offering purses as large as any as
the Indianapolis public has not patronized
them. We have no complaint to make, and
next year matters may look more hopeful
posed ed Of Thomas Taggart' Sterling R. Holt.
Smith Graves, II. Nj. Lafollette and X. j.
Robinson. These five gentlemen have taken
all the responsibility OF conducting the
meeting since the organization of the club.
But once, and that was last summer, has
the club come out financially even. The
members do not feel at present like con-
Quoting another meeting at loss to them
selves. Last night the members held a
| consultation and talked regarding run
ming meeting this fall. Popular appetite
| at present does not seem good for trotting
| and pacing, and two or three members of
| the club think perhaps the public would
| like running races better, where six or
| seven horses furnish more excitement by
coming to the wire in a fight for the race.
| No experiments have ever been made here
with running meeting and there is a
strong probability that this fall there will
| be a weeks meeting for runners.
THE RACES YESTERDAY.
The crowd that attended the races yes
terday afternoon was given an afternoon
of good races. The finishes were close and
the time was fast. Fidol. a bay horse, by
| IDOL. went two heats in the 200 pace in
2:0514. He made the third heat of the race
in that time. which is most excellent
| performance. Coastman finished close
| second to Fidol in the second and third
| heats, going the mile in 205%. In this
| race the horses were all we'll up at the
| finish, except in the last heat, and great
| fight was made for second place. In the
| two-year-old pace Ananias brown colt
| by Patron, went mile in 2:131a. This time
| has not been beaten but twice this season.
| Sulphide holds the record at the wonderful
| time of 200. The ZIG trot took four heats
to finish, which were gone in 2:lSA, 2:12a4
| 2:12A and 2:1214, being four very fast heats
| for a race of the class.
The crowd yesterday was not disappont-
| ed at the exhibition offered. A great deal
| of interest was taken in the results and
nearly everybody remained until the last
oppressive. The dust n hung in wa the np Betting
! Enclosure like dense cloud. Looking from
! the grand stand long white clouds could
roads and indicating how dry and dusty it
| was. The street-car company did the best
| ever known in furnishing accommodation
for a large crowd, but there was some
| complaints after the races when persons
| were packed and crowoed for standing
| room. Lemonade, soda water and beer
were consumed In vast quantities Water
| a drink. The women famed and sought
breezy places in the grand stand while the
men went about with their coats on their
arms and handkerchiefs around their
| necks.
The first race of the afternoon was the
two- ~ ,roa pace which was not interest,"
bition whereby .Ananias could be exhibited.
but neither could keep the pace set by
Ananias. There was no betting upon the
auently. On the stretch Ananias was pulled
| so as not to distance Asa s.. and May
Queen. In the second heat the distance flag
make q fast mile. The fast colt led from
the start. making the quarter in .32l5. the
half i'm 1:06&. the three-quarters in 1A1L.
| and the mile in 2:13ia. Ananias went with
out skip or break and May Queen and
| the crowd had forgotten them.
Interest centered In the zoe pace. Cole
ridge. being an Indiana horse. was a great
favorite in the crowd. In the betting Fidol
was the favroite with Frank Agan and Cole
ridge even money. for second place Ethel
| A. sold at 10 to for second place. The
horses started off well together. with Cole
| ridge at the POLE He broke after an
| eighth. and allowed the others to get that
distance ahead OF him before he regained
his feet. Then he began to 90 forward, and
made wonderful fight bv keeping from
getting distanced. Fidol led by short dis
tance all the way round, with Gazette and
Atlantic King close up. Down the stretch
| the flyers came. and 1t was noticed that a
little gray shot from the bunch ard came
forward rapidly. The little gray was Ethel
A.. who BY her squirt finished second. half
length behind Fidol and the same distance
ahead of Atlantic King. Gazette was
fourth. Frank Agan fifth. Colonel Thornton
sixth. Coastman seventh and Coleridge
eighth The finish made by Ethel A. was
one of the best ever seen on the Indanapo-
| lis track. and many believed that had she
started sooner she would have beaten Fidol
out.
Before the second heat Fidol sold as IA
vorite. with Ethel A. Frank Agan and Cole
ridge even for second place. II remained
for Coastman TO furnish the sensation for
this heat He crowded Fidol the full mile.
and finished second by a neck. Coleridee
lengths after the half mile was passed and
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