Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-15
P|TTSFIELD RACES.
Good Track and the Events
Were Very Interesting.
Great Fight in the FPS Class
Weather Simply Perfect.
Johnnie Wilkes Lowers Record from 2.271.2
to 2 20 1-4-1he Winners.

JN''fe
for for the races at the Union Driving
park, today. Nearly 20oo people were
present. The track was in the best
possible condition. and the weather
was fine The judges were j. W.
| Thompson of Canton, and G.. NJ. Hatch
of Pennington; the timer ]. A. Stewart
of Thorndike and DR.. Drake. Starter
and announcer, A. II. Merrill. Danvers.
Mass. Mr. Merrill is a starter after
spectators own heart. He don't in
tend to be imposed upon by any horse
man living down here in the Pine Tree
state, and it was refreshing to hear
Mr., Merrill imparting information to
the driver after the following fashion.
They We're called UP into the Judges
stand and had drawn their positions:
MI. Merrill-"Some of you fellows have
Il habit of scoring your horses until
their tongues hang out of their mouths
Now ! am not going to let you do that
You just pay attention to me and |
viii get you away on the second or
third score. I'll take care of the fell
lows on the outside, you need not look
around to see where they are you Just
mind what | say and pay no attention
to them whatever.
The races for the afternoon We're
those of the 80 and minnie classes.
trot and pace. The first field called
contained nine horses and they Were
let off easily. but wen together Johnnie
Wilkes dr"W the pole, Lucky Strike
second. Daud, third. Mallctt. fourth.
II. L. f. fifth. liaroldson. sixth. Ansel.
seven, Combine, eighth and Dick West
ninth
1t was just like rolling off a log foI
Johnnie Wilkes after they got away.
Mallett was very even and was inclined
to crowd Johnnie but the latter pur-
sued the even tenure of his way and
came under in the lead The time in
quarters was as follows: 35.1llA, LAY.
2.22%i
In the second heat the horses werc
OFF in good shape breaks of no i'm
p0rtanee We're frequent. but Junuir
had it coming his way and poked his
nose under the wire in 2.20ii, the quar-
tiers being turned in 80. 10, ANA 1.45.
The three minute race was not with
out considerable interest and in the
language of the horseman: Another
Nelson has gone into the list" Head
light Flashlieht and Young Nelson
were the aspirants for the honors ~
this race. Headlight crossed the wire
IF the first heat in 80 fiat With ths
quarters registered at .374i, LII. 1.15la.
In the second heat Of the above race
Young Nelson started in third With
Flashlight next above and Headlight
at the pole. They got away on the
third score in fine order. The leaders
kept Wcl w and together until the
half, when Young Nelson began t.
lessen the distance between him ana
the two Lights and assuming the lead
at the entrance of the last quarter
came under easily by two lengths
Time, -, 1.13. $50, 2.2S& putting Young
Nelson in the 80 list
The third heat of the 325 class, was
something of a surprise to some Will,
to others it was a case of Il told you
So Johnnie Wilkes having won two
heats everybody that knew anything
about Mallctt ana Lucy Strike was
looking to see some hot work in this
heat The field was off on the first
score with a snap that was pleasing to
everybody. Until the quarter Jonnic
Wilkes held the pole with Mallctt fore
ing him. Luck Strike making good
Roadway and there they continued to
the half, when jennie dropped behind
a little and let Lucky Strike up With
him. Maltett taking the inside At
the three quarters the race was excit-
ing Lucky forging ahead ana taking
the lead on the outside The horses
came down the stretch jennie under
the whip. Lucky ana Mallett neck ana
and neck, but Lucky sprintcd within
10 rods of the wire and won by neck.
Time in quarters: .34H. LOO. Lag, 2.21
Anscl w. was drawn from the fourth
heat of the 2.25 class and Spinster was
drawn from the third heat of the three
minute race.
In the third heat of the 3-minute
race. Flashlight acted like an unruly
schooiboy. breaking when he came
even with the pole horse in the scoring.
Minnie G. got the pole at the close Of
the quarter, and came under the wire
at the close Of the half amid thunders
of applause for her gallant effort but
she began to drop back before the
three-quarters point was turned
Young Nelson began to show the
the race by making some giant strides
that sent him ahead before the stretch
was reached. 1t was during the last
ha'f that j. +. d.. who had started in |
NTH position. developed aremarkable
speed, Away he went, flying past
t'lashlight and Headlight WHO hal
broken and were losing at every leap. |
the leaps being that kind where
horse makes terrific bound upward |
but doesn't make much of any head |
way, sort of d cross between a buck |
ing broncho and a college athlete MAX |
ing standing vault. Anyway. Young |
Nelson used his creepers and surged |
ahead and ahead. until he had it all his !
way easy. leading under the wire, fol- |
lowed by j. F. ID. and Minnie G. in or
der Time. IS, 1.15A. 1.53$;, 234 To !
make long story short, let it suffice I
that Young Nelson won the succeeding |
beat and race. Time. 40. Iii. 153It. |
> s4a4.
But. talking about racing. you should |
have seen the finishing heats of the Q - i
race. When that old veteran of the (