Smyrna times., 1896-06-03
BELMONT TRACK RACES.
The Opening Season Held With Great
Success Before 0ne Thousand People.


The Opening Season Held With Great
Success Before One Thousand People.
The opening races of the Belmont
Driving Association were held here
last Wednesday before large and in
teresting crowd of spectators. Ar
rangments for the opening day had been |
going on for several weeks. The track |
henceforth was in fine condition and |
all that remained was the carrying out |
of the program. Fully thousand
people were present and IN this num-
Der were represented Middletown,
Dover, Clayton, Marydel, Hartley,
Centreville, Sudlersville, Warwick,
Townsend, Blackbird, BrenfOrd, Leip-
sic, Cheswold etc. 1t was made gala
day in this town. Even before din
ner the hacks were driven to and fro to
| the race track and the impression was
not unlike that which is seen at
| State fairs. The Diamond State Band
| of Middletown had been engaged to
discourse popular airs between heats
and in going through town on their
| band wagon to B Belmonttrack they drew
a large crowd of followers.
1t was o'clock before the manage
ment had everything in condition for
start. By this time the grand stand
was filled with an eager crowd OF
spectators, the ladies forming happy
contingent on this occasion. The
band struck up popular air and the
program was put into effect. John B.
Wharton, of Dover, was starter with W.
G. Smith, of Marydel, VIM. Price,
Camden, David Reese, Clayton, as as
sociates in the Judges stand. There
were no purses offered, it being the wish
on the part of the management to make
the opening races a free for all trial
with no given records.
The first on the program was a colt
race, three best out of five: N.
Bowen's "Jim B." of Marydel out
footed the field in the first heat, fol-
lowed by a close second in W. B..
Bigg's, "Happy Start of MiddletOwn.
The second heat was won by Frank
Pierce's, "Lizzie' of Middletown after
an interesting trOt. The third heat
= was called off by special agreement
- of parties concerned.
? William Biggs had everything his
S own way in the $50 class, "GrOver'
e carrying off honors in both heats. r.
S Sparks ebay Bliff'' of Smyrna and G.
= F. Crockett's ''AvonmOre Jr." of Mid
e dletown tied for second position after
e a hotly contested heat.
. D1llY N WAS bu6 ldNOIlI0 III JAAS
, 2.4O class and by judicious manage
# landed q winner in the first heat an(
o could have easily won the second hea
y but pulled in on the home stretch t.
le allow first honOrs to E. Sparks 'Jacl
Morgan" By agreement the thirC
heat was not trotted.
lie The Free for all class was fine ex
r. hibitiOn of speed and it was in thi
t, race that the fastest time was made
er "Happy George" owned by E. b
re Emory of Centreville was the sta
SIS favorite of this class and easil
at showed his superiority in OutfOOtini
he the field in straight heats the best tim
gs being 9. 26. In this class w. B. Bigg
er "Garrett Jr." took second hOnOrs.
IS, The program ended with an exhib
IS, ton trot by G. S. VanBurkalO's 2 yea
,ir old PAGER. Following is a summary {
n the races:
lie Colt lace.
he W 3 Biggs g. g. Happy Start..
n Bowens b. <. Jim B.............
Frank Pierce'S r IN. Lizzie .S
. o class.
W. b. Biggs' g s. Grov
ak Ezekiel Sparks x. Bay Bliif..................2
n O. T. CrOcketts b. AvOnmOre Jr................3
ut. D. Dawsons g. m. Gypsey Queen ..............4
II FranS HancOcks b. N Tip Tov ..................5
Ou J. H. r eds b. 5. Belton jr..
he 240 Class.
lse W. b Biggs' blk. G. Billy N,...................1
- L Sparks &. Jack MOrgan.....,,,..,..
'ao K. FTaZier'S g. Geo.
IT. John Billiards. b. m Lizzie B.................t
nd H I uttOn's 2 m Lady Tindae..................5
90 Frank Hancock's b 6. Happy C.................O
CD Free for all.
q Il Emury's b. s. Happy George.
On W. B. BggS b. g. Garrett ..2
o Dan Haydens 5. Dan Russell.
ra- The above races were so prOnOunc
zen q success that the Association feel !
aoe paid for the efforts they have take
vas Surely no track in the State is bett
eli laid or in a better condition than b
roe mont. With small capital in hand tn
have made beautiful park, just
enough out of town to make it easy
access to our citizens and in direct Ii
lelr to all points on the state road.
9st other feature about last Wednesda
the races was the excellent order kept
II the ground. Drinking and gambli
ana ana was not seen on the grounds and
DuT management are to be oongratulai
and on this feature Everything NOV
ests along smoothly and quietly and
EN-, afternoon was enioyably spent. I
lere Belmont Driving Association hope
en- give two or three days races ab
re- the middle of July.