The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-14
THE SPORT OF KINGS
WAS ENJOYED AT THE RACE
TRACK BY THOUSANDS.
GRANDSTAND WAS CROWDED
PROMISE OF GOOD SPORT FOR THE
DAY WAS FULFILLED.


dit Was the FaVOrite and the Win
ner of the Race-Crowd Was Inter-
| ested in the StalIion--Was a Good
Day for the BOOkmaSers-Only
One Favorite, Aborigine, Won.
Defeat of Full Dress and Henry
Gibbs Regretted by Many Losers.
Everything To-day Is Harness,
Free-for-Au TrOt should Afford
Rare sport.
The largest crowd that ever witness
ed races at a Savannah track was that
which gathered at the Fair grounds
yesterday for the attractive card that
had been arranged for the day. The
grandstand was filed beyond its seat
ing capacity, and had there been one
at hand there would have been no
reason why. in all fitness. an S. T. o.
| sign should not have been displayed.
In fact, there was but very little stand
ing room left. and people had difficult
ty in squeezing through the aisles.
| Occupying a central position in the
grandstand has been the First Regi-
ment band. So great was the crowd,
however, that IL was decided to use
the bandsmen's places, so they were
called upon the outside and eager
spectators crowded into the seats they
had relinquished.
Great sport was enjoyed by the
crowd, which was almost as dense
about the grand stand as within it,
This, however, was nothing unusual
for all the races have been signally in
teresting. and the initial meeting of the
Savannah track has been very sue
cessful.
Condit the FavOrite.
Only one of the five events of the
| day was a harness race. That was the
2:20 class for trotters, purse $4O0 The
starters were Big Dutch, owned by w.
| S. Taylor; Billy Foster Boy, c. w.
Frazier; George Condit. C. F. Johnson;
Matte Lyn Holt, j. Henry Ewalt;
Joan of Arc, A. M. Watson; Trib Gen
try. George F. Dyer, and Louis E.,
George Castle.
George Condit, the handsome stallion
that contested the 2:16 trot so sturdi-
ly. was the favorite in the race. He
sold at even money, and the field was
sold against him at that price in the
second and third heats. He ceased to
be a strong enough favorite for the
fourth heat, as he lost the third, for
field bet to be laid against him. but
he was strong in the betting, and
many played him.
Condit had the pole in the start and
he got off in the lead and kept it all
the way around the track, winning
easily. In the second heat it was the
same story. but in the third he lost by
breaking at the third turn. He was in
the air but a second or two, yet that
short time was fatal, en-
abling Trib Gentry, Louis E. and
Joan of Arc to pass him. They won by
no wide margin, however and the spec
| tators We're treated to an exhibition
of noble burst of speed by the stall
lion. He was fifty feet behind the
| three horses that passed him before he
settled into his stride again, but even
| at that it looked very much like they
| were fated to be beaten by him. He
came up the stretch like a whirlwind,
and, had there been 100 yards more to
the wire, he would have won, making
it three straight heats. 1t remained
for the fourth heat, however, to show
his superiority. when he again took the
lead and kept it until he passed under
| the wire
The judges kept a particular watch
upon Condit in the race to prevent any
| combination being worked to shut him
out. They had discovered one in the 2:16
trot, which they broke up by putting
G. w. Haight up behind Charles Stiles
to drive the bay for all there was in
n In hnn N1aI 10
| pole. his driver was showing a little
too much speed in trying for the start.
| Mr.. Lehman, the starter. told him to
| hold back, that he would see that the
others got no start over him that
| would shut him out. 1t is talked in
the crowd that there is feeling against
| Condit because his owner is a colored
man. The horse is popular, though. and
none received any greater applause
| than he as he won the fourth heat and
the race. Trib Gentry got second, Joan
| of Arc third, and Louis e. fourth mon
| ey.
Then Came the Runners.
The second race was running, being
fve furlongs, selling. Maria Bolton was
played down to favorite. but there was
a better horse in the race. Tortugas,
at 3 TO l. was in fine condition. There
was trouble in making the start, but
the bay took the lead, getting off well,
and held il all the distance setting
the pace for the bunch.
The third race, 61a furlongs, selling,
was a disappointment for many. as
Full Dress did not win. In fact 1t was
a good race for the bookmakers, as
neither of the horses most heavily
backed won. They were John, entered
| by the Missouri stable. on whom only
! to was offered by the books, and
Full Dress, at to and
even. Full Dress might have
won had he been in good form, but he
showed a little stiffness and really
should not have been started. He was
heavily backed, though. and so was
John, and Miss Blarney's victory cost
the hackers of both the others round
sum. Probably more money was lost
on that race than any other.
The fourth race, six and half fur
| longs, selling. was one in which most
of the starters were new to the Sa-
vannah sports. 1t was not played
quite as heavily as the others. The
favorite. Aborigine, won. however, and
cost the bookmakers something. II
was a hard race. and the jocks rode
to win. They went under the wire
plying whip and spur.
The fifth race was a novelty in that
IL was over hurdles. Henry Gibbs,
owned by Henderson and Monahan.
was a strong favorite at even money,
and he was backed heavily. There
was a lot OF money up on the race.
Gibbs had been tipped Oft as a sure