The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-14

The opening Oh the SIX Gays harness
meet under the auspices of the Savan-
nah Racing Association yesterday af-
-ernoon, was a success from a racing
standpoint. but decided failure so far
as the attendance went. Not more than
900 people were at the track. These,
however, witnessed some very exciting
heats.
The weather was all that could be
desired for racing. A cloudy sky OBJ
scured the sun and there was practi-
cslly no wind. The track was in the
hest of condition as is shown by the
good time made in all the heats run.
The grandstanA judges stand and
track buildings were decorated with
,ags and streamers and the entire APP
pearance of the grounds were welcome
and inviting. 1t is a source of regret
that more people did not turn out and
give the races a big send off. At the
bookmakers stand it's favorites were
hacked freely and with varied success.
Each heat constituted a race and the
betting was laid that way.
But Two Glasses started.
But two classes, the 2.1S pacing and
91S trotting events were started and
rhev were not finished owing to dark
ness. The 2.22 trotting event was not
started and will be run on another date
during the meet.
The heats run were devoid of sensa-
tiOnal finishes for first place though in
several of them the second, third and
fourth animals fought it out, the whip
being piled vigorously on the home
stretch and finishes made with hardly
a nose separating them at the tape.
Frequently, the starter Robert Newton,
who came here especially to conduct
the races had to send the horses back
for a restdrt as some of the drivers
persisted in coming down ahead of the
pole horse. In two instances he had
10 threaten the guilty drivers with
me if they came to the pole ahead
again. This had the effect Of getting
the pole horse into position and start
ing the race. Several protests of fouls
we're entered but the same were not
allowed, much to the dissatisfaction of
the compliments.
The police were present in ample
force to have taken care of a much
greater crowd than they had to handle.
There was no disorder of any kind and
the afternoon passed off pleasantly and
satisfactorily.
Plenty of Surprises.
Several surprises occurred. In the
trotting events Joan of Arch, who had
not placed in the first three heats,
came out and finished first in the last
two heats, beating out the three horses
who had finished ahead of him in the
first heats. He was 20 to shot the
first heat he won, but in the second
he was the favorite at even money.
Wayne Chief who started out at small
odds and was regarded as very form
liable, was not placed.
The pacing race was also interest
ing and it was anybody's race. Mis-
sissippi King and McCleary tied, each
winning two. 1t was the general opin-
ion that John w. Patterson. was the
best horse in this class. and had he
had a stronger driver would haWc won
easily.
The track officials were attentive and
careful in their dealings and no adj
vantage was taken of any one, those
participating in the races being salts
fed of the manner in which the events
were handled.
The officials who have charge of the
meet are: Judges, President Owens,
of the club; DR.. A. G. Bouton and Dr.
w. r, Drummer; Robert Newton, official
I starter; HI H. Hull, general manager,
and ]. F. Doyle, secretary and assist
ant mana GER
The TrOtting Heats,
The following is summary of each
heat, and the odds quoted were those
given at McBride's pools:
First Race-Ffrst heat, 2:1S trotting
one mile Summer Fern, to /, won;
Marlin Spike, second: Lady Thelma
third Thelka, fourth; Baron Vincent,
fifth; Joan of Arch, sixth, and Wayne
Chief, seventh. Time 2:14A. The Fern
led from the start and maintained the
lead to the finish. Marlinspike was a
close second throughout the race, but
on the home stretch lost ground and
was beaten out by several lengths.
Lady Thelma fought it out with Thelka
for third place and won out by a nose.
The rest of the field was scattered out
behind and finished in the above-men-
TONED order.
In the second race Marlinspike, to
l, finished first: Baron Vincent, to
l, second; Summer Fern, to 5, third;
Lady Thelma, to 1, fourth; Thelka,
to l, fifth: Joan of Arc, 10 to l.,
sixth, and Wayne Chief to l, seventh.
Time, 2:15%. Summer Fern again led
around the course to the stretch, when
Marlinspike closed up fifty feet from
the pole and won out by a length.
Baron Vincent, who had been trailing
in the field, also made a sensational
finish, and won out second by a head
from the Fern. This was one of the
best heats of the afternoon
Third Heat-Thelka, 10 to, l. won;
Lady Thelma, 6 to l, second: Marlin
spike, even money, third; Baron Vim
cent, 2 to l. fourth; Joan of Arc t5
to l, fifth Wayne Chief, to 1, sixth,
and Summer Fern, to l, seventh
Time, 2:171a. Marlinspike took the lead
in this heat and maintained it until
the three-quarters was reached, when
the field moved up, and the animals
were punched. Baron Vincent then
took the lead and held it until fifty
yards from the tape, when Thelka
forced ahead and won by half length.
It was the most exciting finish for
first place of the race.