Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24
HARNESS HORSES
AFFORD SPORT
DRIVING SEASON COMES TO AN
END
Hogan's Mount Falls During Potato
Contest and Rider Narrowly Es-
capes lnIury-Welcome Mac
Wins Free-for-AIl Race
BY ED. MORIARTY

Successive heats, George W. Ford's
Burnut and M. b. Mosher's Elk fought
desperate battle in the 2.20 trot at
the final matinee of the Los Angeles
Driving clubs racing season yesterday
afternoon. When eventually Burnut
forced the flying Elk to break, twenty
yards from the wire In the third heat,
one of the greatest contests In the his
tory of the local associations was at an
end.
AS a successful closing to an unusual
ly propitious season yesterdays card
could hardly have been exceled with
the class of horses which are at the
disposal of local harness men. A great
crowd Witnessed the sport and de-
gree of enthusiasm, justly merited by
reason of the steady growth and de-
velopment of the meets which have
been held, urged the contestants to
their best.
Manifest interest attended every
event on the program and in several
instances the horses finished in such
order that a decision from the judges
was eagerly awaited.
When the announcement went forth
from the officials that Toughnut had
finished second, ahead Of Rondo, in the
second heat of the 2:20 pace, decided
buzz of dissatisfaction drifted about the
stands. So far as could be judged from
above the official box Rondo was at
least half a head to the fore of Tough
nut In a driving finish.
A few moments later the judges de-
cided to reverse their decision and Ron
do was given place 1t was the clev-
crest sort of horsemanship upon the
part of ]. II. Snowden who drove Ron
do, that brought the geding to the
front, Toughnut appearing to hold the
Place safe.
Tn tba o.on trot To,,rput bo vols, ,,oor
aged to shove under a neck ahead of
the Elk after a heart breaking drive
throughout the race.
The Elk turned the trick in the sec
ond heat. The third go resulted in
giving the race to Burnut when the
Elk broke twenty yards from the wire
after a perfect run during the early
part Of the contest.
Welcome Mac Wins
Welcome Mac added more laurels to
his already long string when he out
distanced the game little Bonnie Ailse
in two straight heats. Mac led from
the start of the first heat with Lo-
hengrin second at the initial turn.
Dodge's horse broke, however, and
Ailse crept up on the flying Mac. A
length to the rear at the half, Ailse
continued to stay with Mac, finishing
In second place. Lohengrin was a bad
third.
Ailse made another good try in the
second heat, but Mac crossed first by
a comfortable lead, with Lohengrin also
pacing.
Rancho Del Paso and Gladys M. were
the contestants in the 2:30 pace, Rancho
winning in straight heats. Silk Jim
led to the half in the opening heat,
but tired badly and was passed by
every horse in the race. Rancho won
easily.
Gladys took the lead in the second
heat and it was pretty race, with the
Myers mare leading to the half Just
before the post Rancho broke, but re-
covered and passed Gladys, leading to
the stretch and winning by eight
lengths.
The second race was a repetition of
bad breaking throughout the three
heats which were required to decide the
event. Billy B. eventually won, and
probably failed to take the second heat
owing to the drive to which he was
subjected when the reinsman, evidently
thinking Welcome Mac, which was
working out, was a participant. made
an endeavor to overtake the fast going
PAGER.
In the second heat Billy assumed the
lead, but broke twice between the
quarter and half. Claval led into the
stretch and looked the winner, break
ing at the seven-eighths pole. Billy
had crept up on the outside and was
coming fast. A groan emanated from
those who had anticipated a decisive
victory when the Raynard gelding
broke again at the final sixteenth, al
lowing Goodwood to flash under the
wire first.
Tom Green had everything his own
way to the stretch in the final heat.
Billy was strong, however, and flew
past at the sixteenth, winning easily.
Close Decision Rendered
Henry N. was sufficiently speedy to
capture the 2S0 pace in straight heats.
Rondo and Toughnut divided second'I
and third honors, the latter getting
place in the first heat, while Rondo
under crafty driving nosed out Tough
nut in the second go.
After many false starts Danube and
Queer Knight got away in the free
for-all trot. Queer Knight broke and
was drawn up Immediately after
rounding the first turn in the initial
heat. He made up at least fifteen
lengths, though Danube sped under
an easy winner,
The second heat also went to Dan
ube with little exertion.
Knights of the potato were next on
the program and provided a hilarious
time during their regime. The spec
tators enjoyed the sport which result
ed in numerous incidents bordering
upon the ridiculous. A sudden hush
occurred, however, when Dan Hogans
horse went down, falling upon the
plucky rider, who had gained un-
stinted applause for his superb horse
manship during the exciting sport.
Hogan rode full tilt for the deposit
ing box with a potato on his spear.
The guardian of the box was waiting
Hogan's coming and the two horses
crashed together, Hogans mount
crossing legs and falling. The rider
went under the ho~F- and body, but
was up in an instant, while the crowd
gave vent to it's relief in thunderous
recognition.
There were more of the glad cries
when official judgment awarded the
first place to Mr. Hogan.
Summary:
BERRK CUP-RACE NO /. 2:3O PACE.
MILE HEATS. 2 IN 3.
SILK Jim, blk. g., j. w. SnoWden,
owner and driver MINIMUM. Al
Farmer Girl, br, M, l.. A. Denker,
owner and driver ......... 5 8 |
Laura G.. b. m. George L. Pierce,
nd hriUar a