Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-08
THE RACES.
Large Crowd and Close
Races at the Park.
Merrill and Haley Have Hard Fight
in the Free-For-AII.
Denmark Wins 2.26 Race and Bertha Wilkes
2.35. in Straight Heats.

1t was not an excellent day for horse
racing, Friday, but still there was a
large attendance at the races at the
Driving park, in the afternoon. Those
who braved the cold winds and took a
good supply of wraps were amply re-
paid, for there never have been better
races pulled off over the track in this
city than there We're, Friday. Every
driver and horse were in the race to
win and did all in their power to land
under the wire first
Messrs. Lee and Lishness who had
the management of the race did every
thing in their power to furnish a good
afternoons sport and they succeeded
admirably. The many good horses en-
tered gave promise of excellent races
and there were more people in attend
ance when the first race was rung up
than usually at end Of a meeting, this
late in the fall. The grand stand was
almost filled and many We're there in
teams, besides those who stood on the
track. There We're altogether 1000 peo-
pie on the grounds.
The races were called up few mo-
ments after 1.30. The first race was
the free-for-all with five starters.
Haley drew the pole and the bets We're
on he and Merrill. Rather a remark
able occurrence was in the fact that
they are half brothers, their sire being
Nelson, and neither trots with boot
on. Fleetwood made a bad break be-
fore arriving at the quarter post. Sill
yer Street put up good race but was
not in it for an instant with the win
ners. Haley and Merrill, just after the
turn were close together all the way
around On the back stretch and just
| after turning into the stretch the ad-
vantage would be with Haley but on
the stretch Merrill would forge ahead
and land first. They put up gamey
fight throughout the heat and the ex-
CIlelllcuL oil ASSS"OSN 49,
| tanced.
The next race called was the 2.S5
class with six starters. Bertha Wilkes
drew the pole and she kept it through
out the race. She was easily seen to De
the winner after the turn was reached.
She kept her feet and at the quarter
had obtained such lead that none OF
the other horses were able to come
anywhere near her. There was some
trouble with scoring before the horses
could get away and Starter Horne had
to threaten to fine any driver coming
threw shoe and was distanced.
The second and third heats of the free
for-all were repetition of the first as
far as the leaders were concerned. Ihey
kept close together all the way around
| In many places blanket could nave peen
| spread over both horses. Old horsemen
| who have seen many races on the trach
| said it was the prettiest race ever trotteo
| on the track. In the third neat Silver
Street made a bad break, but recovering
she trotted a faster mile than the others,
for She was left way in the rear when
she broke. and finished close to Haley
In the second and third heats OF the
So class the horses were well punched al
the way around and it was almost as ex-
citing Il race as the free-for-all In The
last heat nearly all the horses made BAG
breaks but were pulled down again ano
| finished well.
In the 26 class two of the horses were
taken sick after they arrived in the city
| and We're unable to race. They We're
| Lady lockwood and Lackawanna. Inc
latter was hitched to her sulkey ana was
Jogging around before the race, Wnen she
suddenly collapsed and was unable te
start. There were seven horses to start
and after considerable trouble in getuhs
away they received the word. Several o.
the horses made bad breaks, and Whiit
the race was fairly close, 1t was no
nearly as exciting as the others. Den
mark was the winner in straight heats
although it looked in the third heat al
for~ an n