The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-26
FAIR PROVES
BIC WINNER.
BEST EVER ATTEMPTED IN VEL.
LoWsToNE COUNTY.
HUGE CROWDS ARE PRESENT
New Track Records Established and
One Worlds Record Lowered.
High Glass Racing.

High Class Racing.
l Crowds like those that \haVe been
attending the fair since the opening
day have never before been seen in
eastern Montana, no, not even dur
ing the happy, booming days of long
ago, when it seemed that the limit
had been reached. 1t has been 4
mass of surging, laughing, jostling,
elbowing people every day, with the
J grandstand jammed to suffocation, the
''bleachers pleasing addition, by
the way-packed and every available
bit of standing room occupied. Just
how many have been in attendance
each day is not known, but had more
sought admittance trouble as to where
to put all would have presented itself
| While the weather was inclined to
be trifle sulky the opening day, it
made amends subsequently for its
milf and fairer days have never been
vOuchsafed this locality than those
that have followed since then. The
wind has found business elsewhere.
leaving the sun in undisputed pos
session and he has been giving ali
exhibition ofwhat he can do these glor-
ious days that are heralding the ap-
proach of autumn. Warm and clear he
has shone, giving just the right tenn
perature for speed in the animals AMI
comfort to those who assembled TO
witness their performances. Some of
4 the first have shown their apprecia-
tion by establishing new track rec
ords, while at least one noble mare
has given the world new mark for
speed developed without the assist
ance of a driver on half-mile track
OF course, the ladies relay race is
one of the great features of the fair
and undoubtedly is responsible for
much of the increased attendance.
A contest of that kind proved nov
city here that attracted many. But
sight should not be lost of the other
races. .\All have been good and those
who dNlight In seeing natures noblest
four-footed animals at their best have
have every occasion to feel satisfied
Barring the usual long delays in
starting the sprinters, which trials Of
patience seemingly are concomitants
of all running races and apparently
are not to be avoided, there have been
no waits between events and some
thing was doing all the time. The
man who suggested the megaphone
to the ''orator," Colonel Logan, is en-
titled to vote of thanks. Those
in the grandstand can now hear ev-
erything he has to impart to them.
(! W New Worlds Record.
| "Wednesday was signahzed by the
Accomplishment OF two notable feats.
In the pacing race Inferna beat the
track record, by turning a mile in
2:17, lowering the mark made by
Jib two years ago, while College
Maid did even better, she lowered the
notch for pacing a mile, undriven, on
a ha1f-mile track in the phenomenally
fast time of 2:O9 2-5 Well is the
mare called the "guideless wonder
No other designation would fit her
half so well. Harnessed and deco
rated with ribbons of many colors,
she is led to the mark and started
on her double circuit of the track
without driver or pacemaker, knowing
what is expected of her, and she does
| it. True as die and with the rythm
and steadiness of clock work she
PAGES, never halting or faltering until
the mile is completed, manifesting
human intelligence in her apprecia-
ton of the applause that invariably
greets her upon completion of the
exhibition.
! On the opening day she could do
no better than 2:11 4-5, but this was
much faster, almost six seconds, than
the track record, and every one was
satisfied. When she paced her regu-
lar turn Wednesday she turned the
mile in 2:15. Her performance was
a disappointment to the owners and
they announced that she would try
again. The wind had been too strong
and she was not given proper start.
After short rest she was led out