Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-20
FASTEST IN STATE.
Opening Of New Central Maine
Track at Waterville.
Daylight and Electric Light Races,
Baseball and Vaudeville.
Big Crowd Present-Track Record
Placed at 2.17Ia.

The new Central Maine track has
been opened under the most suspicious
| circumstances. The racing there or
| the opening day was probably the best
seen in the State this season, and de-
lighted the people, while the horsemen
were very enthusiastic over the track
1t is called by good judges the fastest
half-mile track in New England, and
when heat in the 3-minute class goes
in 2.1S12 there is something to back
the statement. This was made too, in
wind that blew gale at times and
that kept the temperature down much
below what is favorable for fast work
The record for the track was set in
the second heat of the 2.19 class and
is 2171a, but this is not expected to
sand very long, probably not until the
! nGesent meeting is completed. With
= NJ weather. more favorable, several of
the heats would have been several sec
onds better no doubt, for they We're
.tr9tted fors blood all right, and the
forced pm wire to wire.
q sssit ~ Was nj so much the fast time
IN the f4ereS ghting that pleased the
q. Thes2A9 class went in straight
bit NgEaNR., the winner, had to
III haTd enQHSh to make it satisfy
the8GrUWd. zsFhe 3-minute was split,
YaRRg BayaFd, the favorite, dropping
hrst: heatsson account of breaks and
thER gOingssin and taking the next
Thefg wte some beautiful finishes
in severassheats, the kind that bring
the stand onto its feet en- masse and
make it cheer wildly. while the judges
have to figure and think to decide just
how to place the horses. The purses
in both classes We're large enough to
go after. and this is just what hap
pencd. 1t was racing for blood all the
way through and no quarter was given
or taken. 1t was the kind of sport that
used to make race tracks popular in
the State, and il continued will assure
a very bright future for this new one.
Not so much interest has been shown
in racing here since the days when
old General Knox was reaching the s.
minute mark and showing himself to
be one of the best racers in the world.
There is going to be some sensational
work seen on this track before the grass
begins to grow again on the stretch
and the racing there is going to be
worth seeing. With the racing all that
could be desired. there was lots more
to entertain the people. Halls Band
furnished fine music all the afternoon,
being stationed on Il platform in front
of the big stand. There was red hot
ball game between Waterville and
Fairfield the latter winning by a score
of 4 to ,. For those who like the game
this was just as good sport as the rae
ing. 4 good many were surprised to
see how the horses held the attention.
the ball game drawing but a compara-
lively small number away. But this
shows the kind of racing it was.
Then there was something doing on
the elevated stage next to the judges
stand. one of J. w. Germans best
vaudeville companies had that and en-
tcrtaincd the people when there was
nothing else going on. The boxing
Kangaroo was the first to appear and
gave Il very novel and interesting cX-
hibition 1t was hot and heavy and
made lots of sport. Then there was
good dancing and singing and unusually
fine horizontal bar work, some side
splitting sketch work, and, in short,
Il regular vaudeville program of un-
usual excellence. SO the people had no
duh minutes from the time the horses
started at , o'clock until they fnshed
after .. 1t was more than three solid
hours of first-class entertainments, and
the man who kicked would make IL
square meal off the mucilage on a pos
tage stamp.
Everything wasn't finished, in time
and all sorts of Workmen We're busy.
Carpenters were rushing the elevated
stage to completion so the show could
be given there as advertised. painters
were putting finishing touches on the
iudges' stand to make it look a little
better, linemen were busy putting up
the arc lights to illuminate the track
for the evening program and for a
telephone in the stand for the con-
venience of the patrons But every
thing was far enough along to be used
all right and there We're no delays.
The officials in the stand were:
Judges, Joe GirouX, Fred Pollard and
Guy Edwards timers, c. H. Simpson,
DR.. G. H. Bailey, Wallace Jewell;
starter, C. S. Dorrithy; clerk of course,
E. G. Crosby. Mr.. Dorrithy was we'll
pleased with the stand and he has been
in a good many. The first story is as
square as brick. circular tower
with a fancy roof rises from the cen
ter of this and is all open at the sides.
This affords shelter from the sun and
weather and allows the officers to walk
around on what is practically piazza
to watch the horses. 1t is nice and
large and affords a fine view of the
whole track. This with the track itself
suited everyone to a nicely. 1t was
certainly a great day for harness
racing.
The first race on the card was the
PIG. and there were six starters, all
good ones. There was some lighting for
positions on the start and this caused
considerable scoring. but not enough to
tire the crowd any. They took the
cbapa and We're We'll