The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08

pressure to induce the other officers of the
Fair Association TO see the merits OF the
new plan; The eounsels OF the gentlemen
mentioned prevailed. however, and IL Was
decided 10 build a track which should b.
second to none In the country. Expense Was
chase and laying out Of The grounds where
on the course is situated required the ex-
pendlture Of sllo.G1: The grand stand was
passed IN many respects by that of any
other course in the country The seating
capacity OF the stand Is io.vy and the eh,
pcnse eDta!led In its construction amounted
TO SO 0t.O. In the center of the track IA
ste pleChase course was laid out. this latter
The opening of the now historic track took
place on June 8. 1885. programme OF races
had been prepared for the occasion designed
to bring together the best class of horses in
the West, and the promoters succeeded in
their intentions. Nearly every horse entered
in the features of the day has since proved
the first race ever run On the track was the
mare Modesty. belonging to Ed CoErisan.
and afterwards winner OF the American
Derby, she being the only mare who has ac-
complished this feat since the inauguration
of the derby.
opening days programme The crowd was
as thoroughly representative as that which
had assembled years before To witness the
opening of the old courses The class of
horses entered WAS alone suffcient TO draw
as large a crowd as the grounds could hold.
as among the number were ere ,h .s following
for their performances in the stud: Nodes
t.. Asa D. Favor, Bersan, Kosciu-ko. Trou-
badour. Isoftin, Rapids, Lizzie Dwyer and
Isaac Murphy Other horses which started
were HaZaras Tom Martin. Adventurer.
Sister Monica, Reverse, Thistie, yrand,
Top Sawyer Bonnie g.. Ten Stone and
Doubt.
Fair Grounds inaugural.
The opening race on the track was the one
which Modesty won and was for purse of
500 Her owner Ed Corrigan. also Won the
fifth race of the day with his colt Hazaras,
the purse in this event being 500, The fea-
ture OF the day was the derby, with value
of 81 SO. The race was won by Favor. a
colt afterwards famous as sire and owned
by the then weil-known firm OF Norris <
Patton.
Ever since the opening day the racing at
the Fair Grounds had furnished a good class
Of horses as contestants Possibly the race
which most deserves mention Is the Ma
tionaI Derby of 1886 which had a guaranteed
value OF s20cGo and was worth sla.v1 to the
winner. This race was transferred TO the
Fair Association from Chicago. where rae.
ing was temporarily at standstiN and
drew out n field of seven starters. the horses
being Prince Lief. Ben Brush. Ben Eier.
Ramiro. Argentina. Captive ana Don Ca
rillo. The contest was the finest which has
ever been seen hereabouts. Prince Lief tax
ing it 10 the finish Ben Brush began TO
creep up on the leader from the three
quarters and at the head OF the stretch was
only a length behind. he cut this lead
pole he was only a head behind Prince Lief.
The struggle between the two horses was
the most exciting ever seen mere and was
made more so by the close nnisn which Per-
kins. the rider of Prince Lief, drew at the
wire Sims was Rem Brush's jockey and the
finish he rode was a mastery though uu-
awaiting piece Of work. Other races which
may be picked from the large number OF