The herald., 1897-10-17

their money, and whenever there were
odds posted on the boards there were
hundreds who wantsd to try conclusions
with the book makers. The auction
pools never ceased, for as soon as one
race started the sales in the next be-
gan.
THE 2:20 PACE
First on the card came the 2:20 pace
in which there were four starters, Prim-
rose having been scratched during the
morning. Promptly at o'clock the first
bell sounded and the horses came
promptly to the post Fitz Lee was
the favorite, having been almost backed
off the boards after an opening of
to g. Belle r. was at the other extreme,
at Is to l, while Floracita commanded
to l and Betonca to l. In the auc-
ton pools Fitz Lee sold for $40 against
the field for $40, the latter figure later
dropping to 81
Disqualification for distance at finish
was waived by the owners of the entries
before the race. The start was almos;
perfect. Belle R. got the pole, but soon
gave place to Betonica, who in turn was
headed by Fitz Lee, with Floracita close.
up. The relative positions were not ma
terially changed until on the back
stretch both Fitz Lee and Betonica We're
seen to suddenly break, and the former
stopped in his tracks, while the latter
gallopeG wildly under pull for nearly
a sixteenth. Of course the others sped
away and Floracita beat out Belle r. by
two lengths in 2:1S. The behavior Of
the two horses was so strange that II
| W ha HI ,o1 h 4
happened. Just what it was was made
part of Starter Ferguson's announce
ment of the result. A large water tank
near the half pole used to fill the track
sprinkling carts had collapsed almost a t
the moment Of the start, and had cause.
the track to be flooded For thirty
yards the track was covered with water
to depth of nearly foot, and the two
| horses who broke had refused to &C
through it. The spot was the scene of
serious accident in the second heat.
| Contrary to track precedent, the ia
nous horses which were entered, in the
free-for-all pace, the second race were
allowed on the track before and during
the first race, and this caused some dis
satisfaction among the holders of losing
| tickets. In the first heat Joe Wheeler
paced Floracita aUd Belle r. to the
wire. Searchlight had passed the
grand stand several times before being
generally recognized. The appearance
of Silkwood, universal favorite among
race-goers here, was the signal for ap-
pause which was repeated several times
later as he passed the crowd in his
warming UP dashes. The pride of Santa
Ana looked a trifle stiff and his move
ment was not what it had beer, on for
mer occasions when appearing on the
same track. The three famous horses
remained out until their own race.
In the second heat of the 2:20 pace
there was almost a tragedy. The start
was made on the second trial. Floracita
getting the lead, with Fitz Lee second.
At the quarter the same positions were
maintained with Betonica and Belle r.
following. AS the horses neared the
half Fitz Lee forged ahead, closely fol-
lowed by Floracita, when suddenly ].
Sullivan and John Baker their re-
spective drivers, were seer TO go down.
How 1t happened could not be seen. from
the grand stand, but It was afterward
explained that when Fitz Lee struck the
wet place oci the track where the tank
haG collapsed he suddenly gave a side
half upsetting his sulkey. Sullivan was
thrown into the mud, and Baker, un-
able to avoid a collision, went over also
striking on his shoulder, dislocating ii
uE1d also sustaining a fractured rib