The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-30
GALA DAY AT THUNDERBOLT.
sALOME MADE NEW RECORD FOR
HALF-MILE TRACK.

Class-StcIla Ii. Captured One-Thc
Event to BE Finished TO-day-Miss
Modred Walked Away With the
Ffve-EiEhth HeHts-Seven Hundred
People Witnessed the Opening RAJ
ces of the Mid-Winter Mcet-The
Card for New Years Day.
An afternoon of perfect sunshine greeted
the race horses yesterday at the Thunder
bolt Driving park. 1t was ideal weather
for racing, but the track, owing TO the
recent heavy rain, was slow, and conse-
quently the time was not so fast as it
would have been under more favorable
conditions.
Fully 200 people saw Manager Doyle's
card and enjoyed some exciting races. The
programme was a long one, and it was
impossible to carry it through before dark
ness set in. MIR. Doyle should call his
races earlier, so that the patrons of his
park can witness his entire card.
The judges for the afternoon were
Messrs. Lawrence Kelly, NJ. A. Morris and
bell was tapped for the entries in the 2:24
class and four candidates responded to
the bell call. The favorite, Belle
NJ, was the first to appear, with
A. B. Cook behind her. AS the handsome
sorrel morse moved through the stretch
in the preliminary work before the race
she was greatly admired by the crowd.
Stella was next 60 show up with Jockey
Barnett in the sulky. Then came Tom
Kerr with Nusqueton and Dick Egan fol-
lowed, with his owner driving him.
In assuming positions Belle NJ was given
the pole, Musqueton second place Dick
Egan third, and Stella B the outside.
After the fourth attempt for the word
the four candidates were sent away at a
lively clip. Musqueton and Dick Egan
left their feet on the first turn and the
two visiting horses Immediately went to
the front and the race was between them
for the balance of the mile. Belle M and
Stella 3. made a good race of it, and Belle
NJ. finished first by a little over a length.
Stella B. second, Musqueton third, and
Dick Egan fourth. Time 1904.
The second heat was much faster and
the two visitors treated the crowd to an
exciting contest. The horses got away
well together, and were punched until they
moved into the back stretch At this point
Belle NJ. broke and fell to the rear, fully
fifty yards. Stella B. was out in front
with Musquetoon second and Egan in
third place. At the three-quarter pole
Stella looked like a possible winner. No
one thought that the Augusta mare stood
any show for the heat, having lost so
much by her break. TO the surprise of
every one Belle ". covered up the gap she
lost, and when the party moved into the
homestretch she was holding a hot argu-
ment with Stella B. for first place.
The finish was close and exciting, and
after hot drive Cook landed Belle NJ in
front by a half neck, which called forth a
storm of applause for the handsome mare
and her driver Stella was second, Mus
quetoon third and Egan fourth. Time, 2:27.
In the third heat the Augusta mare was
not on her good behavior, and made an
other break which lost her several lengths.
Stella b. took the lead on the turn and
trotted pretty mile of it. Curley Hud-
son was behind Dick Egan this heat. and
the gray PAGER and Musquetoon made a
splendid race of it as far as the quarter
pole, but the home horses We're unable to
capu stella. At this point Belle NJ.
had sotten squarely to work, and she
soon passed Egan and Musquetoon and set
sail for the leader, Stella 3.
The race for the last half mile
was a splendid exhibition Of trot-
ting. Both drivers used every effort
to win, and the game horses responded
with more speed to every call When the
were on equal terms. At the distance
stand Stella B. was a half a length ahead
of Belle N. Cook was making a desperate
drive Tor the heat, bat it was too much for
him. Stella never lost her stride, and
after hot finish Barnett placed her d
winner by half neck. Time 2:2715.
This was by far the best harness event
ever seen at Thunderbolt. 1t was too
dark to finish this race, and the event was
postponed until this afternoon at $3.50
o'clock There will be no admission to
see this race
The 2:90 harness race will take place
New Years day, and will be called early
on the programme
The running races were sandwiched be-
tween the heats of the harness event and
they were highly enjoyed by the spectators.
The five-eighths-mie heats brought four
good runners to the post, Lucus Blossom,
Santa Marie, Jerry Mack and Miss Mod
red They got a good send off from Start
err Jordan and ran punched together for
the entire distance.
Miss Modred. the speedy little mare OF
the Reedy stable, captured the event by
winning two straight heats, with Santa
Marie second. Time 1:O6A and 106
The fve-eighths-mile dash proved to be
the most exciting race of the afternoon.
Six thoroughbreds lined up to the post
for the word and six more evenly matched
horses never faced a starter. 1t was al
most dark when the flag fell which
sent them on their journey for
the heat 1t was a fine contest
from start to finish. The starters were
Lucy, Hands-Off, Salome, OVaretta,
Islander and Mulatto. When the flag fell
Hands-Off with Ovaretta close UP, set
the pace for the party. The horses were
punched the entire distance. and when
they passed under the wire a blanket could
have covered all of the starters, they were
so close together. Salome won by a head
with Ovaretta second. Time, 1:O5
Old-timers regarded this event as the
best running race they had witnessed in
years. The time is new record for the
distance over half mile track.
Manager Doyle will have an excellent
card for New Years day. which will end
the holiday meeting The card will in
cude the 2:S0 class pace and trot, the 2.1s
harness race and 4hree running events.
The horses will be called at 2:9O o'clock, SO
that the patrons of the park can see the
entire programme.
WILLIAMS TO MEET SMITH.