The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-05
A DAY OF TAME SPORT.
Opening of the Last Racing Meet al
Rigby.

The Attendance Was Very Small, the
Track Was in Fine Shape but the Races
We're Very Slow and Undressing
Better Sport Promised Today.
| The last meeting of the year at Rigby
park commenced yesterday afternoon but
| it is doubtful If many people in Portland
knew there was to be a racing meet at
Rigby park yesterday. The race was NC
advertised as it should have been, and
outside of the few horsemen and some
thing like 100 other people there was no
one in attendance. But 1t was fine day
for racing and perfect October weather.
If the racing was not particularly excit-
ing and enjoyable the view from the big
and deserted looking grand stand was
certainly as fine as one would wish to
see. The foliage of the oak groves which
border the park Is ju t beginning to show
the effects of the recent frosts and the
leaves have taken on golden tinge which
adds much to the beauty of the landscape.
The track too was in excellent condition
and well-f1tted for fast trotting. but it
did not see much of it for the races on
the programme were won in straight
heats and at a very slow pace.
In the 2.3S trot, there were only four
starters, but to add some interest to this
race one of the starters was Arthur
Cleveland, Portland horse. Not that
the Portland horse was in the race at
all for he wasn't. He went around the
track in way which showed that his
owner didn't care much whether he
landed any Of the money or not, and
certainly if the owner did not care about
winning-a position he.couldn t..have been
, much disappointed. at the result. Arthur
Cleveland landed in the fourthsplace in
, every heat, but those of the Portland peo-
pie who attended the meet were glad to
, see him on the track for all that. 1t is
, something of a novelty now to see a
Maine bred horse on Rigby's track.
This lace was mild and calm sort of
! an event which might have Eeen trotted
r past a row of Methodist meeting houses
without disturbing thesinmates had they
been at pray erszmeeting. sIt.was neith-
.
knew all the time that Morale would win
3 it, but they stayed to watch the last heat
for there is always a possibility that a
horse will drop dead or go lame OF some
: thing SO that some other horse may come
in ahead. AS Morale didn't go lame or
! drop Gead, he won the race and each
time it was by several lengths. Sam L..
b nd of a I'M at n
ming heat, but the effort was disappoint-
il as when. the turn was made into the
stretch Sam L. was not counted among
the winners. aoAq
! If the 2.38 trot was not exciting, the
Q 2. 40 pace would not have even set the
blood to moving atsmore than it's accus-
g toned sluggishness 1t was settled in
o one, two, three order and Patchen Boy,
v Samaritan and George W. Lederer WAS
r the way the money went and the way
the horses finished in each heat. The
J fastest time of the afternoon was made
(. in the second heat of this race. 1t was
/ 2141-4 and shows the highly exciting
It character of the racing INDUCED in at
Rigby yesterday. Compared with the
}. game of old maid, yesterdays races were
very tame indeed, but sport of much
II better kind, and it is to be hoped a crowd
!. of much better proportions will view
d the events of today at the park.
o The officers were A. II. Merrill OF
s Danvers, starter; John F. Aaines of Old
y Orchard and Fl. z. Farnham of Port
IS land, judges. DR.. Huntington was clerk.
"a The srmma aries:
23s Glass, Trotting; Purse $4,000.
Morale, b m, by King Wilkes, Morsa
o by Woodford Mambrino, (Golden), ]
Leach Boy, b g, Cheney, 3ss
II Sam l. h, 3
- Arthur Cleveland, b s, (Woodbury), 4 4
Time, 2.15 la, 2.19 1-2, 2.18 1-2.
y 24O Glass, Pacing; Purse $1,000.
IL Patchen Boy, bl c., by Wilkes Boy,
D dam Lady Clay by Metropolitan,
If (Sam Wilson), Ii,
Samaritan, b M, (Miller), 22s
= Geo. W. Lederer, h, (Birney,) So
l. Time, 2.19 IA, 2.l4 IA, 2.16 IA
q TODAY'S PROGRAMME.
The races today will be called at
:, O'Clock. The entries in some of thu
- events include some of the best horses OF
- the circuit and there ought to be plenty
- of sport. The programme for today fol
n, lows;
as 2.34 Glass, Pacing; Purse $4,000.
e. Elf, BIN, by Steinway, Fred I. Stein
at way, New York.
m Jacks Brother, b g, by Harkaway, Jer
~ O'Neil, Lexingto Mass.
lr Abnell, by Ambassador, Edward Appel
Rochester n. Y
l., Ned Thorn, by Eggthorn, Edward Appel
- Rochester, N. Y.
m Hoal Almont, 70 g, j. Middleby, Jr.,
Boston.
st La Honola, m, by Red Wilkes, Gale
B. Wick, YOUNGSTOWN, o.
m Belle g., bl m. by Gov EBenton, VIM. M
t. Titus, Springfield.
sh Prince Eddy, b G, by Prince jerome
N Fred Stocker, East Saugus, Mass.