The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-24
PHIL FINCH COVERED
 4 MILE IN FAST TIME
Beat Ben Fonso Out By a Nose In an Exciting Finish-Programne Was Excellent for the
 Opening Day.

The initial days races at the fair grounds developed some close and excit- ing finishes yesterday, the continuation being reached when Ben Fonso pushed Phil Finch until that good horse was barely able to win by a nose in the fifth race. The time was 1:4O. which Is about as good as will be seen on any southern track during the season with the proba- ble exception of New Orleans, and there only when the track Is very fast. It was among the best miles either of these horses ever ran
 The track at the fair grounds was as fast as had been predicted and some good time was made in several of the other races. It is little hard, but the going was good and the condition of the track seemed to suit the favorites, all of whom won with the exception of Tomo- chichi.
 The time exhibited after each race was a surprise to the wise ones as well as to the general public more than once, and there were some 5000 people who witnessed the events. The class of the animals at  anticipated, and when half dozen other strings arrive today and tomorrow there will be more entries and even better races.
 The trotting and pacing events were pulled off first, and the plans are to have them finished every day by 2:30 o'clock at the lasest, which will give ample time for the runners to go their stunts.
 Some Close Races.
 Irene F. walked away with the first race, 2:4O trot, without having to do very much racing in either heat. Major Vaughn won the second race in two straight heats. with almost as much ease The result might have been different in the second heat had not Casperdeen lost his feet soon after passing the sixteenth post. He could not be brought back into his stride in time to figure in the money. Both heats were made in 2:10H4, and bet ter time than that could have been mdae had it been necessary.
 Rams Horn, picked to win the first of the running events, covered the five eighths in 1:O1, with Invasion a good sec ond. Attraction was second choice in the 
 chichi out by a good margin.
 The contest of the afternoon came when Phil Finch and Ben Fonso fought it out all the way around the track. with the latter leading a part of the way At the head of the stretch Phil Finch took the lead, however and finished first by half a head. Both horses were running their best and whips were used freely to get just a little more speed from the ami mals if possible. The crowd rose to its feet and the excitement was intense, as there were more entries in the race than any other and the horses were considered about the best bunch of the afternoon.
 Horsemen from all over the country are in attendance on the races and more are expected today and tomorrow. Several owners have telegraphed that their strings were en route to Birmingham and would be in the city In time to be entered In the events of Wednesday, There are now about seventy horses at the fair, about one hundred and fifty runners and 1t is believed that by tomorrow night there will be seventy-fve more harness horses and runners.
 The Results.
 Following were the results of the races yesterday afternoon:
 First race, 2:iO trot. best two in three heats; purse $lOO;
 Irene F. lCaldwelD .................... Juliana (Whitney) ...................s.. 2 St. Patrick (Gurgess) .................3
 Tme-2:21I2. 2:26.
 Second race, 2:11 pace, best two in three mile heats; purse $lOO:
 Major Vaughn (AbeeD eD................. Castor (NewelD ....................... Casperdeen (Thomas) ................ Birthmark (CadwelD ................4 The Prince CWhitney) .....,..........5
 Third race, fve-eighths of mile Rams Horn, 122 U4. Wilson,, won; Inva-