The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-21
A DAY OF MARK DROPPING.
Fast Time Made Over Rights Velvet
Course Yesterday.
SUCCESSFUL OPENING OF THE
SEASONS FIRST MEET.

A1ASfCu ACdbb nun Otl l1r60 4lacGS, OH9
of Which Was Unfinlshed-Two Green
Horses Get Low Marks-Only Maine
Horse in the Fist Found Himself in
Too Warm Company.
The new management Of Rigby is en-
titled to feel little proud, and a good
deal pleased, over the successful opening
of the season at the park. The GLASS meet
ing which began yesterday was gotten up
in hurry and there was some doubt
about its being pulled off with any meas
ure of success. But the horsemen took
kindly to the programme and the classes
that filled are bringing together some
fine fields Of horses. With few exceptions,
the horses all belong in New England.
Tho attendance yesterday, while not
enormous, was considerably ahead of the
showing on the opening days in previous
years, even at those meetings which were
heralded by liberal distribution of free
tickets. The free ticket plan is not to be
followed this year.
D. wholesale cutting down of individual
records was INDUCED In by the horses
that competed in the three races of the
afternoon. Two green horses found
places we'll inside the 2.20 list and four
others sacrificed their marks in winning
heats.
Mr.. Charles S. Dorrithy of Boston,
who for. several seasons has had a hand
in the running Of race meetings on Maine
froa l-5 4 :, -4o ,-1,
was his first experience in handling Rig
by's flag, but he showed familiarity
with the rules that at once put him in
favor with the horsemen. His voice is
especially we'll adapted to the announce
ment of results of the heats. In the stand
with him as starters were Messrs. George
W. Leavitt of Boston and E. E. Went
worth of Springvale.
That the track was in the best of con-
dition was demonstrated in the reeling
Off of SO many fast miles, every heat be-
ing within it's class and the winners of
the slowest classes covering the course
at clip that would a few years ago have
been counted as phenomenal.
THE asO TRoT.
The first horses called.o were the four
entered in the $50 trot Webb, a geld.
ing owned by o. : Croft of West Chester,
Pa, was rated as the best in the field.
He had been in six races on halt. mile
rings, and at Providence, last week, got
fourth place in summary, finishing
third in o heat that was won in ais. His
mark was 2.29 IL Some looked with
favor upon Genevieve, handsome little
chestnut flly, three years old, from the
Lookout Farm, South Natick, Mass, but
she was rather regarded as an unknown
quantity, her chances of getting piece
of the money depending chiefly on John
Payne's ability to keep her going level.
This was her second race, she having be-
gun her career at Providence, getting
neither mark nor slice of the money.
GeneVieve was lucky in drawing the
pole, and she did not for second relin-
quish her claim to it, though the fsvorite
pressed her hard from the start to finish.
Her mark went down on the books as
2.17 IA. 4 @
The second heat in this race was also
captured by Genevieve, in almost as fast
time as the first. Webb hung on her
wheel most of the way around. but gave
up in the home stretch. Some of the
hackers of Webb began to doubt whether
Walker was really trying his best to win.
Manager Alon 20 Libby crossed the
track and climbed the stairs to the
judges stand to make the suggestion
that Walker be cautioned. Mr.. Libby
said Rigby had in the past been accused
OF permitting drivers to Elk up" races,
and he didn't propose to allow that &C.
ousation to get abroad this year.
Driver Walker was talked to in spirit
of caution. Whether the talk was what
did it, is question, but Driver Walker
went into the next heat with dash that
gave promise of victory. Before the frs
turn was rounded he had passed the pole
horse, and up to the stretch he lead the
field, opening up SO wide gap between
him and the FLY that she lost her cour
age about 100 yards from the wire. ant
allowed Webb to come homo at an esaJ
drive. Webb's mark dropped to 2.90.
The pace proved a killing one for Lady
Simmons, and she dropped out, leaving
the three to finish the race. Webb tool
the next two heats, hands down and a
slow time.
THE 2.35 PACE.
Ths 2. 35 pace was a cinch for Royal r
Sheldon, four-year-old gelding owned
by George T. Sheldon of Boston. ant
driven by Jere O'Neil. This was hi
second race. He was picked as SURF
winner. They all tried conclusions will
him ct different times, but he Away
had a reserve force that kept him clea
Of the van. In the first heat they forcet
him to a mark Of 2.15 IA, and the mex
two were pulled off in 2.l7 3-4 ant
ZIG IA. Blue Grass, Bangor PAGER, ant
the only Maine horse to appear on the
track, found himself in too fast company
and came out behind the flag Halle