The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-08
THE BEST DAY OF ALL.
Fine Racing at Rigby Park Yes.
terday.
EXCITING HEATS IN THE 2.15
AND 2.1O PACE.

The Trot After Five Heats Unfinished
with Three Heat Winners-Ret,na
Jack Bowen's Fast Mare. Took 81.
Pace After Hard Fought Battle.
The few hundred people who journeyed
out to Rigby park yesterday afternoon
saw two as interesting and exciting races
as have occurred on this fine track this
summer 1t was an afternoon of surprises
in one way and almost every heat was
marked by sensational features.
The beauty of the races yesterday was
the spirited way in which every heat was
contested and not horse finished in
the lead without having to fight for the
victory over every foot of the mile. The
drivers were out for all there was in the
purse and If horse did not finish in the
position where he belonged or where his
driver wanted him to finish it was owing
to lack of speed and nothing else. From
two O'Clock until the sun had set behind
the Scarboro hills and night was fast
|
went on fast and furious and as it was
one of tho events of the day, the 2. trot,
was carried over until this morning I'M
| finished after five hot heats and with
three heat winners.
AS has been the case during the entire
week the attendance yesterday was small
and the few enthusiasts present had the
acres of seats in the big grand stand all
to themselves. But every one of those
present had his fill of sport and even after
sunset the crowd held on bravely, facing
the cold wind in hopes of seeing the de-
Gliding heat in the exciting 215 trot. But
they were doomed to disappointment in
this and today will settle the division of
the big purse in this event.
| Six horses came out for the word in the
ais trot and among them was Dexter K.
belongin, to Patrick Kane of Deering
Centre. This horse although be was in
pretty fast company yesterday is worthy
| to travel in it and he made as pretty a
| fight for share of the purse as any of
the flyers on the track. Louis Victor
was selling decided favorite and when
the field was called out for the first heat
1t was predicted that he would take the
race in three straight heats. But there
were few other good ones in this COM
pany and Louis Victor found this out be-
fore the first heat was ended.
| Good fortune favored the Deering horse
in the drawing for positions and he got
the pole. Hardly had the field received
the word before Dexter K, was off his
feet and Louis Victor at once sprang into
the lead and squared away for an easy
thing to the wire. Glenmere Boy who was
trying to follow the fast pace set by Louis
| Victor went off his feet before the turn
| into the back stretch and this gave Dex-
ter K. the third position. The others of
the bunch were crowding up close behind
and the gait was by no means slow one.
| Close behind Louis Victor was Record
| trotting along as smoothly and easily as
If he were not travelling at. furious
pace. In this position the bunch turned
around the three-quarter mark and hard
er and harder Record pushed Victor
horse. Now he was neck and neck with
him and the two horses dashing on like
mad were fast leaving the others in the
field behind when up went Louis Victor
into the air and Record sprang into the
lead as he rounded into the home stretch.
The Victor horse quickly recovered and
found himself at it again with Dexter
K. who had come tho last quarter at
great pace. Here was as pretty a set to
as ever was seen Record was tearing
away for the wire as if he were chased by
tornado and right behind came Dexter
K and Louis Victor too near to make
things easy for Record. Dexter K. won
out the place from the Victor horse by
only nose and was in turn not very far
behind the Record horse who won the
heat. The time was ala 3-4, but it was
to be faster yet before the race ended.
Dexter X s friends were hopeful of his
landing the next heat, and it did seem as
if he might land something pretty good
in the event, he was going along SO east
ly. But the moment the word was given
in the second heat Dexter K. went to a
break again. Louis Victor now sprang
into the van and headed the procession
once more. The rest Of the field was well
closed UP and of course Record was not
half length behind the Victor all the
way round. The Victor horse took this
heat very handily and Dexter OK. having
made noble recovery from his break sue
ceeded in beating out the General and
finishing third. The time was 2. 12 3-4.
The finish of the third heat was the
most wildly exciting so far of the day.
Nicola had led half the way around but
grew tired of the pace and dropped lit
tie in the rear giving Louis Victor, the
General aud Dexter K. up in advance of
him. The four turned into the stretch
well punched and from there to the wire
it was horse race and no mistake. The
whips were simply wore out with service.
the drivers shouted themselves hoarse
Dexter K with Jraut I'm I,ab;p3 h -,