The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-23
REVIEW OF FAST RACES
INDIANAPOLIS TRACK HAS HAD
MANY HARNESS EVENTS.
Efforts to Place 1t Again i'm Best Con.
dition-Mr. Holt Has Two Fast
Rex Americas Colts.

With the addition of the half-mile track
at the state fair grounds. which will be
constructed this spring, indianapolis will
become still better known as horse CEN
ter. During the past ten years many har-
ness events have been trOtted or paced in
this city in which the stars of both classes
have been seen. The fast times that have
been made placed the Indianapolis track as
one of the best in the country. This year
especial attention will be given to the speed
department by the State Fair Association,
and President Claypool will practically
superintend the work himself. The half
mile track will be used more for training
purposes than for racing. The fair associa-
ton intends to make spring training a fea-
ture at the track and will offer induce
ments in the way of unexcelled quarters
for the use of fast horses.
Many records have been lowered on the
present mile track When it is once more
placed in frst-class condition this year it
is expected that better time will be made
the coming fall during the big meet than
on most of the other tracks of the coun-
try. In 1891 the racing in this city was done
on the old half-mile track and nothing SEN
sational was accomplished. But beginning
opened. Indianapolis began TO become ad-
vertised a fit place TO give races.
The first meet on the new track in Sep
TENDER, 1892. was characterized by the large
purses offered. There were eight events in
which $1,000 was divided in each race, be-
sides numerous other purses for other
events. In the 2:SO trot in that year Ala
bama, who won in straight heats. stepped
the first mile in 2:l5. The time during that
day grew gradually better and in the 2:14
pace WINSTON Wilkes paced two heats in
N q ma 90
for a $1,000 purse. Atlantic King lowered
the time for the track to 2:1OL.
In 1894 the track record went still lower,
in the freefOr-all pace. Hal billiard win
ming in straight heats in 2:Oss4. 2:O7A and
2:09s4. The time made in all the events in
that year was very creditable. Again in 1895
in the free-for-all pace the record of the
previous year was tied. Guy won in straight
heats, ,ne best time being 2:0714. The same
class in 1896 did not show quite as good
time, LOttie Lorraine winning two heats in
2:09 and 2:09A. The 2:09 pace in 1897 wit
messed some good racing, Palmyra Boy
winning in two heats in 2:0714 and 2:0S14.
Dick Hubbard established a good mark in
the PIP trot by making the three heats
in 2:10$4, 2:09sz and 2:10%. The 2:17 pace and
2:l4 pace also witnessed some fast time.
Guinette in the free-fOr-all pace went the
mile in 2:C61z. The free-for-all trot also
witnessed good time, but the special race
for a $1,000 purse that year between Star
Pointer and Joe Patchen witnessed a new
track record and also world record
broken. Star Pointer won the first heat in
2:04%, Joe Patchen taking the second in
2:03, and the third was won by Star Pointer
in the remarkable time of 2:0l. That was
one of the most remarkable races ever held
on the indianapolis track or in the country.
The time in 1899 fast but. of course,
did not equal the mark made by Star
Pointer Joe Patchen. In the free-for-all
Indiana won in straight heats in 2:O6 2:07
and 2:0S2t. In the free-fOr-all trot that year
Cresceus. now the trOtting king, met in the
race with John Nolan and won in two
straight heats in 209 and 2:1015 Search
light attempted to beat 1894, but the best
he could 90 was POP.
The racing card i'm 1900 was not preten-
tious, although the 2:09 pace saw Coastman
do one heat in 2:0S14 1t was this year that
Searchlight and Anaconda were driven in a
farce race, making the heats in PIP and
2:14 Searchlight winning.
The fair management offered more money
in purses last year and there were good
events each year. The free-for-an pace,
l probably the most important of the week,