The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-19
GAYETY AT TRACK
SAVANNAH DAYS GALA EVENTS
DREW CROWDS.
RACES WERE UP TO DATE.
THE FAVORITEs WINNERS IN MOST
OF THE EVENTS.

Won-How the Races Were Won
and Lost.
Yesterday was Savannah Day at the
race track and crowds turned out to
see the races. The afternoon had been
made a half holiday by the Cotton Ex-
change, Board of Trade and the Mer-
chants Retail Association. and this
lent additional interest and increased
the attendance at the races far above
that of any previous day.
The crowd was enthusiastic and
lively, and the card was far ahead of
any yet given. In fact, it was as good
as any one could wish. and that 1t
was appreciated was clearly shown by
the manner in which the grand stand
spectators stood and with craned necks
and enthusiastic delight. watched the
close and exciting finishes.
The First Regiment Band played
lively music between the heats. In the
amphitheater and in carriages along
the fence were hundreds of the prom
inent people of the city, both socially
and in business. The ladies were out
in force. and their presence lent refine
ment and pleasure to the throng.
Track Was Bad.
The track could have been in better
condition due to the rain, but even as
it was, fast time was made in all the
heats. and there was no kicking. On
the back stretch and about the half
mile pole. particularly, the clay was
soft and 1t was there that most of the
trouble was encountered. The balance
CT the track was not as hard as Track
Master Haight would have liked it,
but the condition could not he rene
died as the rain of Monday night had
effected the surface so that it could
not thoroughly dry out, and harden in
a short time. Despite this the drivers
were satisfied as the horses went fast
er than they had any expectations of.
By this afternoon the track win be
sufficiently dried to make great time
possible.
Good Day for BoOLies.
The bookies had a good thing. Pools
were sold on the local races. and also
those run at Lakeside and Bennings
Crowds gathered about the stands and
the favorites, both here and away.
were freely backed. The pool makers
realized handsomely on the local
events as the favorites had everything
their own way and won with ease. The
crowd was a good natured one and
took their luck as a matter of fortune,
and laughed either way it went.
Interest in 2.I7 Race.
The greatest interest was manifested
to lo, o.
ried over from Saturday after one
heat had been run. This is the race
in which several hundred dollars had
been waged by George Castle, owner
of Mississippi King, and Mr.. Reeves,
owning and driving Gold Call, one
against the other. Six horses start
ed in this event, but the race was be-
tween two and it was a toss up for
the favorite, so closely We're they
matched. In the fifth heat all of the
horses, except the King and Gold Call,
were dropped out as the national rae
ing rules prescribe that a horse falling
TO win one heat in five is disqualified
from further contest. This was the
case with Doug Thomas. j. w. Pat
terson, Irene S. and Judge, and they
were scratched. leaving the two favor
ties to fight it out in the sixth and
last heat.
A feature of this race was a dead
heat-the second-between the favor
ties. they passing under the wire nose
and nose according to the ruling of
the judges, though many in the grand
stand thought Gold Call had the nip
by inches. However, the finish was so
close that the decision met with popular
FAVOR This required another heat to
decide the event and Gold Call won it
With the King a good second The race
then stood Gold Call two heats, and
Mississippi King one, but in the two
succeeding heats the King proved his
superiority and won out
Fined Driver $50.
Another feature of this race was the
filming of Mr.. Reeves $50 by the Judges
for improper driving, it being apparent
TO them that he had Intentionally
forced Mississippi King out of his po-
sition in coming down the home stretch.
and for this his horse was given fourth
place, though he crossed under the wire
second, the King being first and
Doug Thomas. third. Judge and Irene
5. did not start in this heat.
The 2:l4 trotting class had four en-
tries, but there was but one horse in it.
Gold Standard, he taking three straight
heats and the money. Baron Vincent.
who showed to such good advantage
last week in the 2:1S class, was a good
second, and got the next place with
Kent McKewn and Summer Fern TAX
ing the third and fourth moneys, re-
speetively. All of these heats were
holly contested and interesting.
the z:22 trotting race was taken up
but ONLY two heats were run, as the
rules allow no racing after shutdown
Petronelle took both Of them after hot
ana close driving home. This race will
De the first on the programme to-day
and VIII be started at 1:30 o'clock. The
remaining heats promise to be very in
teresting.
The 2s17 Class Heats.
The following is the summary NJ tbe
events run:
2:17 Pacing. Continued from Satur.
day-Second heat: Mississippi King,
to l, won; Gold Cali, to 10. second
Doug Thomas. to 1, third
Judge. 10 to 1, fourth; ]. w. Patter-
son, to l. fifth, and Irene S, s to 1.
sixth. Time. 2:14l5 Gold Call had
the pole. but the King took the lead
before the quarter had been reached
and maintained ii to the half. when
Gold Call passed him and led to the
stretch, but only for few moments.
as the King came out like a shot. and
winning by neck, with Doug Thomas
good third.
Third Heat--Mississippi King, to 2,
and Gold Call, even money. tied for
nrst place; Doug Thomas. TO ]. thir1.
j. W. Patterson, 10 to /. fourth: Judge.
10 TO !, NTH, and Irene s.. p 10 /
sixth. Time. 2:l6%. This heat was the
Greatest nnish ever witnessed on the
track The King had the pole but
was passed by Gold Call at the quar-