The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-10
THRILLING RACES.
Horses Contest for Supremacy
on. Topeka Track.
Senator Mats Takes the Derby
in Fast Time.
CROWDS ARE LARGE.
Interest Centers in the Racing
Events.
Vaudeville Turns Are Given Be-
tween Acts.
JOINTS DRIVEN OUT.
Fair Association Officials Decide
They Must TO.
Midway Contains Many Excellent
Features.
Race Programme for Thursday
a Good One.
Fair Association Officials Decide
They Must TO.
Midway Contains Many Excellent
Features.
Race Programme for Thursday
a Good One.


did years ago when state fairs were an
annual event Fully 5000 people were
the grounds and the race track.
where the Kansas Derby was run, was
the center of attraction.
The racing began Tuesday and the
midway was opened. The stock exhib-
its are all on the grounds and now the
show is under full headway. The award
ing of prizes in the fine stock classes
has begun. The extra stalls for the ex-
hibits of draft horses are completed.
Several tents for exhibits of wagons
and carriages have been put up, but the
features of the exposition will be the
stock show. the races and the midway.
The crowd was particularly orderly.
The police had nothing to do, and
dozen of them sat in the grandstand
absorbed in the races There are plenty
of extra policemen on the grounds,
who are good for nothing except to get
in the way of everyone.
The rings for the exhibition of stock
were completed Tuesday, and the con-
tests for the blue ribbons have begun
in earnest The judging will be in the
mornings and afternoons A novelty
in connection with the races was the
vaudeville turns between the heats.
The first Kansas Derby has been run.
Ten horses went the mile and Mis-
sourian, a rank outsider at that, who
Sold in the betting ring at six to one,
came in winner by a head. 1t was
Senator Mats who won in 1:4512. He is
owned by William Corness, of Beverly,
Mo. The race was one of the prettiest
ever seen on the Topeka track. At the
finish of the mile there was a bunch OF
eight under the wire with scarcely
length separating them
1t was half past four when the har-
ness races were over and the bell rang
for the runners. The jockeys had been
busy for half an hour going through the
ceremony of being weighed. The crowd
was all expectant Interest centered in
the narhV The % entries m the
had dwindled to 12 on the card and just
before the race the number went down
to 10 starters Apple Jack and Corder
everyone was a tout for time. People
who didn't know running horse from
a high jumper looked wise and wanted
to be right sporty and risk few
shekels. With the uninitiated Apple
Jack was the favorite because they
thought he was nicknamed for Cyrus
Leland. But Apple Jack was not on the
Antoniou3 because he came from Chi
cago. The suddenly wise supposed a
horse from the big city by the lake
ought to win. He did come near it.
Senator Mats was from an obscure
town in Missouri. No one thought of
him except those looking for long odds.
Those who went blindly at it and picked
the longest shot were happy when they
cashed in. Charles Ramsey was thought
to be good by few A paving con-
tractor in Topeka is known by the
same name. Charles Ramsey went
from smaller odds to five to one. Any
not understanding the betting ring
talk may take lessons every afternoon
this week of Bill Mckinney, who pre-
sides over the betting ring He will
give lessons at much per.
Starter Hartman had two supposed
assistants in getting the bunch of run
nerS away. It took the three of them
)half an hour to do it. Hartman might
have accomplished the feat alone in ten
minutes if he hadn't been bothered.
One young man was on the track hold
ing one end of a rubber rope. The other
end was tied to the fence. Another
young man with brown derby hat,
a handkerchief tied around his neck and
large wad of smilax in his left cheek,
officiated In the midst of the horses. re-
gardless of bumps and kicks. The man
with the derby hat kept crying Wait a
minute" That was all he had to say
except Just al the times when the horses
were right to start he would say, Let
me turn this horse 1t would have
taken a railroad Nlrntable to have
swung him around and the young man
with the derby didn't succeed very well.
The man with the rubber rope carried
whip. He struck viciously at the
horses and now and then at the esjockeys.
He had the best time of all, ana swore
under his breath He kept the horses
in a tangle for over twenty minutes.
Now and then he would let go the rub
Der rope, and 1t would snap like sling
shot 1t was even money that it would
mt a Jockey DefOre It nit the renee.
Starter Hartman was the only cool
man in the bunch. The horses fumed
and sweated. Club got tired of the
fooling and stood still for five minutes
until order was restored.
The starter as well as the crowd be-
came wearied of the jockeying and all
of sudden Hartman said "Go!" and
he said.it as though he meant it. Club,
owned by ]. H. Dennis. of Ottawa, was
left at the post standing as still as a
Topeka policeman. The jockey on his
back looked surprised and then mad.
He dug his heels into Chub's unchubby
ribs and hayed him with his shillalah
Finally he got him started. Through the
cloud of dust that the bunch left behind
: Club trailed after the leaders, He ran
like the proverbial scared rabbit. If he
had started with the rest the name OF
the winner might have been different
The big white horseshoe on the back
OF the oolored jockey could be seen bob
bing around the track. The horses were
Well punched, except Chub Down the
back stretch they went The crowd be-
came excited. The interest centered
around Club who was fighting for q
place. His stride was wonderful and at
the half it looked as If he would pull