The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-26
INTEREST in HORSE SHOW
LOCAL CLASSES INDICATE ITS GROW
ING POPULARITY.
NJ. HI. Reardop Enters His Four-fn-
Hand-Special Races That Will Be
Amusing-ChiIdren's Classes.

Manager Mills, of the. Indianapolis horse
show. is receiving an unexpectedly large
number of inquiries from local owners Of
fine horses and turnouts about entering in
the show. Not one who called at Mr.. Mills's
office in the Stevenson yesterday failed to
enter and the local classes are already we'll
filed. The elite is particularly interested.
as the local classes make it particularly
agreeable for the society turnouts to be
displayed together. Among the local en-
tries yesterday was NJ. H. Reardon's park
coach and four. Mr.. Reardon is a we'll
known horseman who is known by sew
eral conquests in the Grand Circuit. Last
season his coup was with May Allen, 2:0eA.
Mr.. Reardon will also enter number of
high steppers and roadsters. The chill
dren's classes are a subject of special at
traction. Those with ponies and carts and
riding ponies are evincing interest and this
feature of the matinees is expected to be
one of the happiest.
Manager Mills Is now working on the
order Of events for the performances. In
cluded in the classes are six potato races
Zone locaD, one egg and spoon race. and a
cigarette, umbrella and dead mans race.
This is called gymkhana. 1t is a revival
of the old English sports that were used
to test the skill and craftsmanship of riders
They do this with the most violent meth
DDS.
A potato race is whole comedy in it
self. 1t involves so many ludicrous phases
that Ii has never failed to be a popular
depression from the regular formal pro-
gramme. The riders placed at one end
of the arena, mounted and each armed
a basket of potatoes is placed. The rules
require the riders, at a signal, to ride
furiously to the potato basket. Their eff
fort is to spear a potato and return to the
other and deposit ii in another basket. The
one who deposits the most potatoes wins
the prize. The rules permit a scrimmage.
and no rider is safe from assault until he
is fifteen feet from the basket. Potatoes
are knocked from the poles and ii requires
the most skillful riding to keep out of the
way. There is a time limit of ten minutes.
The ponies seem to enjoy the fun as much
as the riders or spectators.
EGG AND SPOON RACE
The egg and spoon race is no less COM
ical. Each of the riders is provided with
a large wooden spoon. The bowl of the
spoon is not deep and in this bowl an egg
is placed. The rider is to ride about the
arena thrice. The first time his horse is to
walk the second to trot and the third gall
lop. Whenever he drops the eggs he must
return to the starting point. procure a
fresh CD egg and renew his effort. The
one who first completes the three spins
without dropping his egg wins. The rules
permit scrimmages and very often just as
a rider is almost 10 the goal his egg is
knocked from the spoon and he has to be-
gin over.
The cigarette race is novel; Each rider,
while dismounted. is provided with a
cigarette. a match and an umbrella. At
the signal each is to light his cigarette.
open his umbrella, mount his horse and
rush TO the other end of the arena, where
as many dummies there are contestants
are on the ground. Each rider must dis
mount without losing his cigarette or low
ering his umbrella. shoulder a dummy and
remount riding back furiously. Those who
know the dislike OF horses for umbrellas
and the difficulty OF keeping cigarette
between the lips during such a trial will
realize the difficulties to be surmounted.