The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-27

this season in commanding style. Re
ports of sensational time made by The
Picket in his workouts brought him
many supporters, but the rank and hle
was 10th to put full confidence in his
ability under the conditions with which
he was confronted.
Although the weather was ideal and
the track swept by the cooling breeze
from the Atlantic, the betting ring was
a sweltering mass of struggling hu-
manity. No sooner had the odds been
posted than there was a rush to back
Irish Lad. Three and three and a half
to one were the prevailing quotations
for a time, but money poured steadily
into the ring and when the bugle
sounded, calling the field to the post,
no better than IL to could be had
against the favorite. Hermis opened
and closed at to 1, The Picket was
well played, but his price receded only
two points. From 10 to 1 he was back
ed to 8 to 1. Much of the speculation
on the winner, however, was conducted
through the winter books and large
sums were won both here and in the
west on his victory. Every horse in the
race was played in a desultOry manner,
but the bulk of the public wagers con-
tinued to pour in on the favorite, until
the horses appeared in front of the
grandstand on their way to the post.
Starter Fitzgerald lined them up back of
the barriers and after three minutes de-
lay sent them away in splendid order.
Irish Lad, on the rail, led his field, with
gescn, on The Picket, eased his mount a
trifle and when the racers passed the
hooked up side by side for their heart
breaking struggle which was to continue
nearly mile. The Picket, running easy,
IN third place, made a nice pace Tor the
balance of the field. The Thomas colt and
the favOrite struggled in vain, each to
track from the grandstand and three
quarters OF a mile from the starting point
they were running like one horse. In this
tneX
and made for the last one which headed
them into the stretch Shaw on the ia
vorite, and Redfern on Hermis, were
bringing out every ounce of speed in their
mounts, while Helgeson was drawing The
goal He closed a gap of two or three
lengths and before they had reached the
last quarter pole was close upon the firing
leaders Hern1s had run his race and
was dropping back and Shaw swung the
geson shot IN on the rail and in a driving
finish, seventy yards from the wire, The
Pickets nose showed in front of Irish
Lad Lyme. on Proper, in a vigorous ride,
brought the Jennings candidate alongside
Of Hermis, who fell back to fourth place.
There was a scene of excitement which
has seldom been equaled during the brief
space of time which elapsed after the
struggling thoroughbreds had passed the
three-quarter post. Cries from thousands
urging on the favorite and shrieking the
name of his jockey rent the air. When
the cheers seemed to redouble in volume
and for few seconds, when it seemed al
his victory of last year, 10000 persons
screamed his name, men threw their hats
into the air and embraced one another
out OF sheer delight at being fortunate
enough to have witnessed the grand
struggle. They did not realize how close
UP Helgeson had brought the pet of the
Waldock stables, nor did they observe
that Shaw, on Irish Lad, was not near
the rail as he might have been. The west
ern horse responded nobly to the call
Through a gap barely wide enough for
him to pass he made his run and won by
the length of his muzzle.
The shouts of JOY died away in the
Threats of the vast assemblage, as though
the onlool1ers had been suddenly para
hind Irish Lad, and a nose in front of
Hermis. McChesney and Africander and
Claude were at the end of the procession.
The Picket is owned by the Waldeck
stable of Louisville. Ky, controlled by
American Derby last year at Washington
park, Chicago, was brought east and start
ed here last fall in three or four races,