The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-14
A THRILLING HIPPODROME.
Exciting and Curious Contest of Speed
Upon Quarter Mile Race Course.

Exciting and Curious Contest of Speed
Upon Quarter-Mile Race Course.
There is something or other in the
very word "Hippodrome," that conveys
the idea of magnitude. 1t can be prop
erly used only to indicate or describe
something big-something immense
something that will thrill the mind and
arouse the appreciation. A horse race
may be a great contest of speed without
being hippOdrome. A dozen spirited
racers may test each others metal in
one grand burst of speed and yet hard
ly be akin to Hippodrome
1t takes great cavaIcades of daring.
dashing antoginists, desperate and deter
mined horses, with fearless riders and
drivers; one cavalcade following another
in quick sensational succession. There
must be chariots, four in hand female
drivers in rich equestrian garb resorting
to bold and brilliant coupes in order
to win the contests. 1t takes all of
these and more to constitute a "Hip-
podrome." 1t can all be seen and en-
joyed in Raleigh next Tuesday, the 10Th,
at the great Robinson and Franklin
Brothers Shows.
Nothing so sets the blood tingling
1t does not matter whether the con-
testants be men or animals. One will
naturally take sides with some one of
them, and his 'side'' is his own just as
much as though he was himself one of
those engaged in the struggle for supre-
macy. So it is that the hippodrome
forms one of the most thrilling, gener-
ally exciting and principal features of
the modern big tened amusement. Con-
Sequently, the managers have paid spe-
cial attention to this important depart
ment. They have imported more than a
score of the finest blooded racing stock
ever brought to America, including
many full-blooded Arabian steeds, noted
for their fieetness of foot. The enorm-
Gus canvass is absolutely waterproof,
and is the largest ever constructed, max
ing 1t possible to have a race course
fully uaqrter of a mile in length, or
four laps to the mile. Around this
splendid course the men and horses dash
along at the very feet of the spectators,
and its great length enables them to at
tain and maintain the highest possible
rate of speed. There are races of all
kinds, ancient and modern, between
horses, men, animals, and when they
are not terrific they are very funny, lu-
dicrously funny, exciting rounds of ap-
pause and continual laughter.
One special feature that we desire to
call attention to, and one that is pre-
sented by no other tented amusement
enterprise, is race between an elephant.
ridden by the only riding lion oval
lacker," and man on foot. 1t is not
only decided novelty, but the most ex-
citing of all hippodrome races, whether
ancient or modern. The magnificent
street parade is solid mile of glittering
golden tableau wagons, chariots, mount
ed knights and ladies, and numerous
novelties never before seen in this count
ry There are ten kinds of music.
steam calliopes, Scottish bag-pipers. a
herd of elephants, camels and led ami
mails. Vedock makes two backward
dives daily from the top Of a web-like
structure that is one hundred feet high.
and is free to all. Taken all in all,
these shows are the grandest and best
the world has ever known, and their
visit to Raleigh on October 10Th, will be
the most memorable event ever known
in the history Of Wake county.