The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-22
MATCH RACE A FARCE
sEARCHLIGHT WON SUCCESSIVE
HEATS, THE TINE BEING SLOW.
Distanced i'm the Second
Heat-Managcment Criticised
Fort Wayne Races.

the tTdCh. All DidtcO thC NAc"N
at $1,000 when Searchlight and Anaconda.
the two pacing kings, came on the track
to warm up for their match race for
purse Of $1,000, best two in three heats, and
every person in that large crowd was thor
oughly disguised with the way the race
ended. Searchlight was an easy winner,
taking both heats in ZIP and 2:14.
The result of the race had all the marks
of having been prearranged. and thousands
Kissed the drivers as they went under the
wire in the second heat. Something was
wrong. according to the knowing horsemen
who watched the performance of the two
horses. IL was charged that the owners
and drivers of the two pacing kings had
evidently decided to split the purse and jog
their horses around the track without Civ
ing the people "a run for their money.
NJ. E. McHenry held the lines on Anaconda
and w. III. Mccarthy drove Searchlight.
Anaconda holds a record of 2:02ls. while
Searchlight's mark is 2:oSA. When the
time of the last heat was announced the
spectators Missed and groaned, while many
called out whats the natter
The track was very slow, it is true, being
heavy from the recent rains, but when
horses in slower classes made miles within
few seconds of that paced by the stars.
the spectators asserted that something was
wrong. Searchlight had an easy thing in
the first heat. winning by four lengths.
while in the second heat Anaconda was dis
tanced. Under the agreement made be-
tween the racing board and the owners of
the star performers the $1,000 purse was TO
be divided. so per cent. $1,000 10 the win
ner and 40 per cent. $500 to the loser. 1t
was also agreed said one of the officials in
the stand yesterday. that the distance flag
would be placed forty yards from the wire.
and in case either horse was distanced
there would only be zone money to be
given to the winner. This contract known
TO few present, made the race, especially
the second heat, appear to be a fixed
event, in which Searchlight was TO win.
Horsemen say that Searchlight is the
stronger horse and better able to make a
race on such heavy track. but it is also
claimed that had Anaconda been driven to
win the finish would have been more excit-
ing
THE FIRST HEAT
In the first heat they were sent away on
the second scoring with Anaconda having
the pole and leading his opponent by a
quarter of a length. He still led at the
Searchlight was driven to even terms with
Anaconda At the half Anaconda again
had little the best of the argument, but
in turning into the back stretch they
pulled even again. Both horses were step
ping nicely, but neither was showing any
burst of speed. After passing the seven
eighths pole in the home stretch Anaconda
went off his feet, while Searchlight con-
tinued his easy movement and passed UNI
der the wire four lengths ahead or Ana
conda. The mile was made In 2:12. Time
by quarters: 1924, co. 1:3S15, PIP.
Many were disappointed at the result of
the first heat. but when the second was
paced the crowd became Disguised. When
the two PAGERS came UP for the first score
they were sent away, and Searchlight Went
TO the front, leading by full length and
half at the quarter. McHenry did not at
tempt to get any sped out of Anaconda,
and Searchlight maintained his big lead in
the back stretch About the same distance
separated the two PAGERS as they turned
into the home stretch. AT the seven
eighths pole Anaconda went off his feet, but
recovered his stride Immediately. But az
the eighty yards pole he again broke, and
McHenry did not succeed in getting him
down to his stride until Searchlight had
gone under the wire and Anaconda was dis
tanced The time was 2:1414 as announced
by the timers Immediately after the heat,
but they were induced to cut off the quar-
ter OF a second ana make IL Z.lt nat 1liic
by quarters 1872, 1:osiz, 1:41A, 2:l4A.
1t was noticeable at the finish OF the last
heat of the match race that mccarthy
tried TO pull searchlight when Anaconds
to permit Anaconda to. pass the distance
flag. The timers remarked that Anaconda
being distanced would save the associa-
ton $500, as the second money did not nave
20 be paid under the contract. W. I.
Beauchamp, superintendent OF the speed
department, said he knew nothing or the
contract under which the match race was
The drivers of Searchlight and Anaconda
were not the only persons who came under
the ban of criticism, as the members OF
the state board were severely criticised
for not endeavoring TO put on more than
two races in addition to the match race
when there were six events on the pro-
gramme in addition TO the match race. 1t
was charged that the association delayed
the races. and that had the heats been
could have been decided. The judges and
other officials said it was necessary to keep
working the track which caused the delay,
but the spectators were OF opinion .that
they paid their money TO see the races and
not to witness the working of big plow
horses hitched to the harrows.
THE OTHER RACES.
The other two races, the 2:25 pace and
the 2:17 pace, compared favorably with
county fair races The most exciting heat
of the entire afternoon was the last heat
of the 2:l7 pace. which was witnessed by
about 200 people, the others having left
after the farce of match race. The 2:17
pace started out in the first heat with nine
starters, but only four remained for the
fourth heat Three were distanced in the
first heat and in the third heat Gladboy
was drawn and Frank Mckinney was dis
tanced. That left Earl Park, Ladoga Boy,
Chestnut and Ethlyn c. 10 compete for
the final struggle. The first heat was
won by Ladoga Boy. with Ethlyn c. max
ing a game struggle for first place and
finishing a very close second. The others
were strung out. Katherine NJ, owned by
r. Z. Marker, of Indianapolis, broke a
hopple on the start and did not try 10
get place. He was driven by Mitchell.
Marker made a protest to the judges and
tried to have his horse declared in the next
heat on account of breaking his hopple,
but the judges would not consent Marker
then left the stand. declaring that the
whole crowd was a lot of robbers.
Earl Park won the second heat in a
pretty finish with Ladoga Boy. Frank Nc
Kinney was third. Earl Park also took the
third heat, and as he went under the wire
Ladoga Boy was at a dead rum The fifth
heat decided the race, and was won by
Earl Park. Ladoga Boy ran nearly the
entire mile and went under the wire at the
finish I'm run. He was given second place,
however. with Chestnut third and Ethlyn
c. fourth
The 2:25 pace drew a field of nine start
ers. The race was won in straight heats