The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-02
NEW YEARS BRILLIANT RACES
LIVELY CROWDS, BRIGHT Wealth
Err AND FAST TINE AT THUN-
DERBOLT.

FIorine Hubbard, Hands OF and
Duke of Kent the Winners of the
Running Races-The Half-MiIe
Dash the Event of the Day-A
Crash of wheels in the FFee-fOF-
AII-TOdd Crooks Showing in the
Race.
Fully 100 enthusiastic spectators wit
messed the second days race meeting at
the Thunderbolt Driving Park yesterday
afternoon. With the exception of two
light showers after 2 O'Clock, the weather
was all that could be desired for racing.
The track. considering the downpour of
last Tuesday, was in fairly good condi-
ton for the running events but it was a
little soft for the harness horses to make
any fast time. AS it was, the first heat
in the free-for-all was stepped in -2:2e,
which was regarded by horsemen as a
very good mile. considering the condition
of the track. All of the events, harness
and running were spirited in the extreme,
and many of the heats were finished
heads apart.
The betting was lively all the afternoon
and the manner in which money changed
hands on the various events reminded one
of a betting scene on any of the big
tracks. The running races were all FIN
ished and after the harness horses had
and three heats in free-for- all
it was nearly O'Clock. AS it became
quite dark these vents which were I'M
finished were postponed until Monday aft
ernoon.
Shortly after o'clock the judges for the
day, Messrs. NJ. A. Morris, j. f. Fur
long and r. V. Connerat, tapped the bell
which called the candidates in the 2:25
class to the post. Dick Egan, Mosque
toon, Barney and John Pancost were soon
on the track and began scoring for the
first heat. Egan was assigned the pole
with Pancost second, Barney third place.
and MusquetOon on the outside. On the
second attempt the four horses were sent
away on even terms. The gray PAGER,
Egan, was first to the turn and set the
pace for the party. Musquetoon left his
feet when the four candidates moved into
the back stretch and fell to the rear Bar
ney made break at the quarter pole and
lost his chances for the heat. Dick Egan
and Pancost moved on together and after
a driving finish Mr.. Egan landed his PAGER
first. Pancost finished second Barney
third, and Musquetoon fourth. Time
2:36.
The second and third heats of this con-
test were won by the handsome trotting
geding Musquetoon in fine style. Time
2:S31A and 2S4 The fourth heat was a
holly contested affair. The horses got
away fairly well together, Musquetoon
having little the worst of it. The four
horses moved in bunch as far as the
first turn. Musquetoon then made a
n rOla
this point Barney, the eccentric trotter Of
the Haight stable, lert mis- feet and the
balance of the heat was between Egan
and Pancost. Egan won after a hard
drive through the stretch. Time 2:32.
In this heat Egan crowded Pancost a lit
tie on the turn when the pair went by the
half mile post. The judges did not think
the close drive on the part of Egan was
intentional and he was not punished for It,
The free-for-all event proved to be a
superb harness race for three heats Had
it not been for the accident that happen
ed to Todd Crook, in the third heat. the
spectators would have certainly enjoyed
the greatest race in the history of the
park When the four favorites appeared
on the track for this contest they monopo-
lized all attention.
Odd Socks was the first to show up. with
Charlie Cumming driving him. Then came
Rushmont. with A. p. Doyle in the sulky
The new candidate, Todd Crook" was
next on the track, plotted by Curley Hud-
son. The favorite PAGER. Palmetto Prince,
was the last to show up, with George
Haight handling the ribbons behind him
1t was hard to say which of these horses
presented the handsomer appearance as
they logged up the stretch for the start
Each horse eyed the other as though he
were taking his measure, like a pair of
prize fighters do in the ring. odd Socks
was the lucky candidate who had the
pole. Todd Crook got second
place, Palmetto was in third position
and the chestnut PAGER Rushmont the OUT
side. on the second score down Starter
Furlong shouted go" and the start was
perfect one. They were all together until
the quarter pole was reached Palmetto
then broke and fell back to fourth position
odd Socks left his feet on the lower turn
and he was out of it.
The heat now was between Rushmont
and Todd Crook. When the two leaders
swept by the half mile pole, they We're
loudly cheered by the spectators Thev
were neck and neck and going at full
speed. At the three-quarter pole Rushmont
was a length in front When the two side
wheclers turned into the home stretch the
race was most exciting. At the distance
both drivers began to use the whip freely
The crowd began to yell and after one Of
the hardest drives ever seen at Thunder
bolt Doyle landed Rushmont winner in
2:26. Todd Crook was only beaten a half
neck and paced a magnificent heat. Odd
Socks finished third and Palmetto Prince
fourth.
with the exception of Palmetto Prince
and odd Socks, the other entries made