The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

esting. Literally it was the same found at
any race meet Eagerly bending forward in
their seats as they watched the racers
speed through the first quarters. they rep
resented almost every type. The high
browed and the low-browed rubbed shoul-
ders and discussed the chances of the con-
test with bated breath. The banker and
the bum blended their voices in cheers for
their favorites.
There was considerable jockeying at the
start in which the jocks manifested some
personal feeling. With the confidence of
youth Benedict took the big horse off with
a rush, hoping to spreadeagle the little
runner. Guilefully the more experienced
Harding lay back, reserving Toomeys
strength for the stretch run. Passing the
stand the big horse was swinging along in
gigantic strides, increasing the distance be-
tween him and the Irish pet at every jump
At the quarter Prosecution was two lengths
to the good. At the half Prosecution was
going strong, but Harding had moved up
slightly with the little nag. At the three
quarters Prosecution was beginning TO back
up slightly, while Toomey was moving cas-
lily without the whip. Several with glasses
noticed that the jockeys had leaned from
their saddles with the skill born of long
practice and had picked up chunks of mud
to hurl at each other. The presiding judge
was informed of this and made a note of
| ii. At the mile Prosecution was visibly in
! trouble. His jockey was bothered by a
| clod of yellow dirt which had struck him
squarely over the eyes, binding his vision.
| The presiding judge was informed of this
and made another note. Toomey, gallop-
ing without distress had poked forward his
snoot until it was even with Prosecution's
long jaw. AT the head of the stretch the
| positions were practically unchanged. AS
the two moved as one horse down the fin
| ish the crowd went wild with excitement.
| They flashed under the wire so close to-
+. gether that none but the presiding judge
| could tell which deserved the palm.
|
Feeling ran high, Hundreds with tele-
| graph company receipts in their hands
| were ignorant whether they had been made
| bankrupt or were rolling in wealth. 1t
| was the most intense moment racing can
| produce. Mems faces flushed and blanched
| alternately. So deep was the feeling that
the presiding judge announced that he
would defer his decision until he had in
| vestigated the race from start to wire.
| He consulted his notes and fined Jockey
Harding for his skill in mud throwing, re-
marking that the practice is strongly con-
| demned by turf congresses.
|
The two horses were taken steaming and
tired to their stables. The grand stand emp
| tied itself of the excited crowd. The bis
| race was over all but the announcement OF
| the winner. Followers of both Toomey and
Prosecution left confident. On the one
hand it was pointed out that Toomey
must have won for he had beaten a. number
of famous campaigners to whisper, nota.
bly, CRATER, Sure Thing, Hot Tip Cinch
Tout and Easy Mark; on the other han6
| 1T was shown that Prosecution, although
he had not run a good race, must have
come under the wire first, because at the
same distance and over the same kind o1
track he had galloped away from Straight
Flush, Little Joe, Craps, Red and Black
Copper the Ace and many of the best gel
of the famous mare Chance. The presid.
ing judge was besieged for an expression
but held his tongue. Foul may be claimed
by the jockey Of the losing horse and the
speed wonders may be matched agains
each other on another track. no matter
! what the decision may be-