The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-18
FLOCK TO RACES.
Thousands of People Enter
tanned at Fair Grounds.
The Thursday Programme Was
an Excellent One.
RED BIRDS SHOWING.
Little PAGER Could Easily Have
Broken Track Record.
George H. Ketcham Beats Raw
don Handily.
RED BIRDS SHOWING

Al D. m. is as follows:
2:16 trot. stake $1,000.
2:22 pace. purse $500
Three-year- trot. stake $500.
quarters mile running. $780,
Seven-eighths mile running. 500.
one mile running, novelty. SloO
Saturdays programme follows.
2.12 pace, stake $1,000.
2.20 trot purse $500.
Seven-eighths mile running, 800.
Five-eighths mile running, $l5.
Secretary Samson estimated that at
least $1,000 people attended the state
fair Thursday.
1t is expected that Saturday will be
the biggest day of the fair and some
extra attractions in the races have
been arranged.
Rcd Bird looked upon as the fastest
horse at the meeting and the wonder of
tire year in racing circles, will go
against the track record.
Red Bird is owned by W. b. Nc
Cormack. She will be sent around the
track for mile with a running horse
to set the pace and will attempt to
lower the track record held by Riley
Medium. who made a mile on the To-
peka track IL years ago in 2:11h. That
record has stood for II years but as
the track is now especially fast and
Red Bird the fastest horse in the west
the record will likely be lowered. The
track will be worked all night and to-
morrow morning and when Red Bird
gets the word everything will be in
shape for record breaking time.
Red Bird will not be the only horse
after the track record. Sylvione, whose
record is 2:09A, is entered in the 2:l3
pace on Saturday afternoon and If
Sylvione breaks the Riley Medium rec
ord 800 will be added to the purse. The
2:13 pace will be the fastest race of the
week.
on Saturday afternoon the 2:2O trot
viii be decided. There are is entries
after the $500 purse and such fast
horses as Nancy Bell, from Kansas
City: Little Raven, from Dennison,
Tex; Ben Hur, from Decatur Ill; I;
Snyder McGregor and Red Leaf Will be
in the race.
on Saturday afternoon there will be
three running races. the mile dash for
$50. the q mile for 800 and the %
mile for 500.
The racing on Saturday ought to be
the best of the week.
When Major Anderson. the old time
fall festival man. was asked yesterday
to estimate the crowd at the talr
grounds he said: ITO get at the cor
rect number, you must first estimate it.
and then divide it by two" The esti-
mates on the crowd ran all the way
from 5000 TO $4,000. 1t is prOba Bile,
therefore. that at least 10000 people were
on the grounds.
The big grand stand was jammed so
full that standing room was eagerly
bought and paid for by the waiting
crowds outside who wanted chance
TO see the long programme of races All
around the outside of the track, people
were lined up against the fence, ana the
quarter stretch was alive with vehicles
TIa.rq too
electricity
To show its good will, the manage
ment added two extra races to the card;
- 2:25 trot and a half mile running
dash.
Riley Mediums track record of 2:11%
was twice endangered by Red Bird III
the 2:27 pace. Red Bird could have
smashed the record had his driver so
desired He paced two heats in 2:12
without touch of the whip. The first
half of the last heat he went in los.
But there were none of Red Birds COM
pctitOrs fast enough to push him to his
lipt. He took his time to it. and won
by yards when he might have made it
rods
There were a few good finishes yes
terday. but it was another straight heat
day Red Bird took the 2:27 pace. Req
Leaf the 2:25 trot, and Criceiie the ,
ycar-old trot. all without dropping a
heat
ENCOUNTER WITH \ DOG
1t seems as though the first heat OF
the day is hoodoOed. Wednesday,
Emma McGregor and 1eirSSurg
tangled up and smashed sulky at the
first turn. Thursday, Belle Harmon
crashed into big 100-pound cur dog
4 exactly the same place. The mongrel
took 1t into its head to cross the track
just as the bunch of racers was going
past. He got under the feet Of Belle
Harmon The big horse plunged and
reared. and kicked her sulky to pieces
considerabl She dropped out of the
heat but was given a place by the
Judges. OF course the dog escaped un-
hurt
The booIraa kers sized up the chances
M Red Bird. Alice l. and Tony w. to
he about equal in the FIRST heat of the
221 pace, and laid the odds at 3 to on
each. lin Duval was to l. Sunny
Slope 4 to /. Belle Harmon and Chest
nut Girl to l. Alice L. carried con-
siderable of the crowds money in the
race. For a long shot. Sunnyslope was
we'll played Nels Newton. the Topeka
driver was in Red Birds sulky, anC
he Won the heat handily by a length
in the time of 2:15
In the next heat. Red Bird was ia
vorite. starting at 1 to and going tC
to 3 lice =, WAS even money and
some long odds were offered on tbs
others, Belle Harmon being sold at q
10 l. Red Bird gave an exact repeti-
Ton OF his former performance, holding
me lead steadily and driving just hare
enough to keep out OF range of Alice
L. ms only really dangerous opponent
re Won the heat by a length.
1t was Red Bird against the field ir
the last heat, and this bet looked good
10 some who did not know the stayine
powers of the little Kansas horse. Red
sra won the heat by four lengths
Alice l. having gone to pfeces and
dropped back to last place.
ked Bird is owned by w. b. AIcCor-
mick, at Zeandale, a short distance
from Manhattan. Mccormick is a
sheep raiser by profession. and keeps
race horses as a side issue Judging
GC0ntinued on PAGE seven.)