The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-05
A BIT Of A FARCE
RACE BETWEEN FAIRMON AND
LAWSON DEVELOPS INTO A
HIPPODROME.
LAWSON AN EASY WINNER.
GRACE TO ANY AMBITIOUS
AMATEUR.
LAWSON AN EASY WINNER.
SHARP PROTEST IS MADE.
Judges Refuse to Pass Over the 3d.
OOO Prixe-ExpuIsion from l..
A. w. Demanded.

oils Driving clubs summer meeting at
Minnehaha track was marked by the
largest attendance of the season. At
a conservative estimate there could
not have been less than $500 people on
the grounds. The great grand stand
was alive with people, and every avail
able seat had its occupant. In addi-
ton to those who came on bicycles and
street cars a large number drove down
to the park ia carriages, and the in
field presented a creditable array Of
vehicles. among which many hobby
turnOuts were to be seen.
The horse races were close and were
watched with interest and frequent
bursts of enthusiasm. Lady Nutwood,
owned by the Oakland Stock Farm.
Menominee, Wis. won the 2:20 trot
in three straight heats. Billie Gaines,
j. K. Wheat & Company, Cannon
Falls, got second place, and Tempter,
w. d. Wright. Window, Mimi, third.
Time 2:25A. F'lorette Wilkes, H W.
Fagley. st. Paul. got first place in the
2:22 pace: Arrovanne, Frank v. Weav-
er, Knoxville, Ia, second; Bashaw, G.
E. Clarke, Minneapolis, third. Time,
2:241s.
The interest of the day centered in
the final heat of the $4,000 match race
between John Lawson. 1.-THE Terrible
Swede." and Homer Fairmon, both Of
Chicago. Each rider had already won
a heat and great deal of interest had
been aroused la the final struggle for
supremacy. Very good showing had
been made in the two heats run and
fha 111h1ic hod rouc0y RI hafioxra
the third one would be as fine an ex-
hibition of hot riding as had been seen
on the track.
But it was not to be. Before it was
over the race had deyeloped into a
miserable fiasco. The two much her
aided riders hardly made the showing
in the matter of speed that would be
expected of amateurs, and the third
heat. won by John Lawson In the ex-
ceeding slow time of 3S:0S. had all the
flavor of
~ ~ AHIPPODROME. ee=
When it appeared that the riders were
loafing Manager Norton. who is sup
posed to look after Fairmon, but who
appeared to champion the interests of
both riders, explained that the fault
was with the pacemakers. who didn't
know their business. Then when the
pacemakers tried to hit the time UP
little. he declared that the track was
slow; that 1t was in an abominabie con-
dition. All this would have appeared
perfectly reasonable had 1T not been
for the extreme exhibition of brotherly
love which the two riders later mani
Tested toward each other. after the
public has been led to believe that they
were after each others scaips In the
most deadly earnest. Half way be-
tween the quarter and the half in
the twelfth mile the cry went up from
the grand stand that Fairmon had
fallen. and 1t did seem to take him a
long time to regain his mount The
Swede had pedaled on after the tan
dem. but at the three-Quarters not
withstanding that $1,000 was at stake,
he very accommodatingly and mag
unanimously waited for his rival to
close up the lost ground and take his
Wonted place behind him. In the thir-
teenth mile Fairmon commenced to
drop behind again and lost one-quarter
of a mile. Just before completing his
mile he changed wheels and was after
Lawson again. This time the Swede
contented himself with letting Fair
mon make a creditable showing and
then the men began to ride like mad.
to keep up appearances. evidently. AT
any rate both Of them came tearing
across the tape at the finish in regular
race-horse style. notwithstanding that
Lawson was an eighth of a mile ahead
AT the conclusion of the race Norton came
into the judges stand and asked the starter
TO announce that the poor riding was duo
to the miserable condition Of the track.
which, by the way, seemed passing fair
Il want you to understand. said sSecretarv
Jones. of the driving association. ssthat I
WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS RACE.
What the - do you means" demanded
Norton. assuming a threatening attitude.
Il have everything ct stake here I want
you to understand that I'm running this
race. not YOU
III ask you to expel this man from the I.
A. w.. exclaimed Mr. JONES' turning to
the l.. A. w. man who was conducting the
race according to the rules OF the assecia-
tion The referee refused tc act at that
time. and simply said that he would consider
the protest which had been made Norton
left the stand in an angry mood. 1t seemed
rider could be so indignant over the pros
pective refusal of the race The winner
was the man who would lose the most. But
Norton declared that 1t was fair race and
should be allowed.
The 5000 which will be q bone of contain
ton from now on. is In the hands of C. s.
Miesse. of the Franklin Publishing company
of New York and Chicago who Is the stake
holder. Mr.. Miesse when seen at the con-
clusion of the race said that he would hand
over the money to the winner when SO directed
by the officers OF the course and not until
The first even of the day was the 22e trot.
The starters were Billie Gaines. J. X Wheat
Company. Cannon Falls: Tempter. w. D.
Wright. Window, Mimi: Belle W. Weber e.
Stringham, Fergus. Falls. Mien.; Lady Nut
wood. Oaklawn Stock Farm. Mecouinee. Wis.
The horses started ten times in the first heat
before they got away. Lady Nutwood led at
the quarter. Belle w. second, Billy Gaines
third. and Tempter fourth They maintained
their positions to the half when Billy Gaines
closed up the space between him and the
leader In short order and came into the stretch
neck and neck with Lady Nutwood. He was
slowly passing her and looked like winner
but went into the air $50 yards from the tape
and Lady Nutwood went under the wire first
Belle w. got second place; Billy Gaines third,
Tempter. fourth. Time, 2:35H. s3s
In the second heat Lady Nutwood and Bell
W led at the quarter Billy Gaines followed
close third, but broke and fell hack City
yards. He regained ais teet and closed up