The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-14
FINE STEPPERS COMING
NEXT WEEKS RACES PROMISE
OME FIRsT-CLASs
Many of the Best TrOtters and PAGERS
fin the Country to He ~Here-Track
in Fine Condition.

A member of the indianapolis Driving
the big day during next weeks races.
Every day." was the reply. Look at
that programme He picked up the long
poster on which are printed the various
events for each Of the five days racing.
Tuesday is the opening day, and that is
usually looked upon as not a very impor-
tant day. But look at the card. There's
the 2:20 trot, with the unbeaten Derby
Princess, a horse that has been doing sem
sational work everywhere she has started
this year. But she is in company now that
she has not met before, and the question is,
can she continue her work. There are nine
teen entries in this race, and there are sew
eral horses that have been winning right
along.
Then there is the 2:1s pace. AS good a
race as has been had anywhere on the turf
this year. There's w. Y. Roots Dan T., a
horse that can make a mile in better than
2:l0. Ira Band is another one that has
shown a mile in better than 10. And there
are others of the same class in the race,
fourteen of them all together. 1t is a stake
race. and it is safe to say that the field
that will start will be about as large as the
track will take with comfort.
1.-The other event for the opening day is a
$50 trot. Of course, this does not sound
like a very great race. but you must re-
member that all the horses that are en-
tered in it are youngsters whose mettle is
unknown. They have made no records.
Their breeding, however, them
as animals which are able to put up a
race that will be interesting as an en-
tertainment and attractive as a track
event.
II could go on down through the pro-
gramme and point out strong features in
every days card-in almost every race.
Take, for instance, the PIP pace, which
comes off Wednesday. Here are eighteen
horses entered for a purse of s., 900, and
they are horses from the best stables in
the United States and the best horses of
the stables. There are horses there which
bave shown miles in less than 2:07. and
which will do better than that if pressed to
win the money. Then there is the Grand
Hotel purse. the PIP trot of Thursday.
This is by all odds the best race that has
been arranged for on any track in the
United States this season. Among the
horses entered are the great Newcastle,
owned by John Spiann. of Glendale, o.; Pat
L., by Republican,; Baron Rogers and
Baron Dillon. two sons of Baron Wilkes.
owned by different men, each of whom
thinks his horse is the better of the two;
Rife, by Elyria. a horse that sold a few
days ago for $4,000; Kentucky Union, the
horse that made the sensational finish ana
dumped the books at Columbus. and Pr
letta.
Just one more that 1 will mention: The
2:l0 trot on the last day; Motto the horses
Rogers, Dandy Jim, Pa L. and McVera 1t
would be pretty hard for me to say which
is TO be the big day with such a pro-
gramme to select from. They are all big
The Driving Club has had propositions
from a large number OF men who have al
to exhibit during the week. Offers have
been made by owners of trick horses. trained
ponies, riderless horses. etc., but all have
been rejected. Members of the club are Of
the opinion that such things are not what
the people want when they go to see har-
ness races. The club has therefore con-
fined its programme strictly to trotting and
pacing races. and has endeavored 10 make
them the best that can be made by securing
for the various events the best stock that
is to be had in the country.
The track at the fair grounds is believed
to he in a better condition this year than
ever in its history. The recent rains have
tended to improve il. and. with a few days
of sunshine between now and the opening
day. superintendent Willis believes he can
above it's own past In regard to elasticity
and firmness or cushion. Yesterday after
noon uuite a number of horSemen who have
already arrived in the city were on the track
examining il. Among them were men who
nave examined every race track of any
note in the United States. They were de-
lighted with the appearance of the Indian
apolis track. One man said that If records
were not broken next week 1t would not be
the fault of the track He pronounced 1t
the finest he had ever seen.
There are already over a hundred horses
at the track Some of them are owned in
this city, and others have been shipped in
| during the last three or four days. Uncle
George Fuller has been here several days
on the Grand Circuit. but skipped Fort
Wayne in order to get a rest for himself
and horses and be fresh for the meeting
here. Dick Tilden, of Denver, Col. has
been here for two or three days, coming
direct TO this meeting with his McVera,
which is entered in the 2:l0 trot. 1t is his
intention TO give his horse about ten days
training before the event in which II is en-
tered. The rain, however, has interfered
| to some extent with his plans, but there is
still over a week before the race comes
off. He believes he WINS the best horse on
the track. but admits that there are some
| mighty fast ones entered to oppose him.
The Driving Club has received every en-
couragement both from within the city and
without. and believes il will make the meet
ing next week a memorable one in harness
| Circuit it does not have to depend upon .
few special contracts with the owners OF
| good horses to make the meeting attractive
In has the best the world affords TO draw
from. and the best are glad TO come &c
| compete against their equals from all over
1 the country for the big purses. The races
will continue for five days. beginning next