Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

Foster created decided sensation at the
Sportsman Office and about half OF the
the race. On the famous old papers stan
those days, besides C. J. Foster and myself,
were =. D. Mcintyre. Edward Plummer
(McAuliffe). ]. J. Burke. W. NJ. Conner.
L r. Meyers 1.-THE champion runner), w.
8. vosburg. W. H. Gocher, A. T. Kent, J.
r. Hubbard, and others well known in
thoroughbred trotting and athletic circles.
Consequently. It was source Of great
pleasure to me when the editor-in-chief
handed me my transportation and sent
me on to report the race. Arrived at the
Windy city. got out to the track as soon
where found Trainer Lew Martin. with
whom I was personally acquainted.
The great little mare was then inspected,
and In spite of her six years Mollie looked
full Of life and virile health. Since I had
seen her In California. two years before.
she had thickened q bit. but was no taller.
Barely fifteen hands. the mare was one
Of the gamest Of her size that ever stood
on iron. and as honest as they made them.
Jockey Fakes liked her greatly and con-
firmed his'confident telegram by word Of
mouth.
Across the track at the Grinstead stable
they were just confident over the pros
poets of their noted bay mare Janet, by
Lghtning-K elpte. Janet, unbeaten as a
tWo-year-old, won many races as a three,
four and five-year-old, and now as a six
year-old was sound as bell, and, like her
famous antagonist from California, good
as she ever was at an age when most
racers are through with their turf labors.
Janet had shown her prowess at all dis
tances up to three miles, and her form in
the west had been so brilliant that spring
that a big Kentucky delegation was on
hand prepared to support her heavily. Ten
Broecks jockey, Walker, came with Janet,
SO the Grinstead mare was well served in
this respect.
Henry vissmanns Solicitor, big brown
four-year-old by Enquirer-Sallie. was also
looked on as factor. He had raced i'm
pressvely at the Kentucky and Tennessee
spring meetings, and could go a route and
carry weight as we'll.
McCarty and Janet.
BY this time it was noon and the crowd
was beginning to gather at the Driving
Park. While not as pretentious track as
the great courses erected since, now. unfor-
tunately, grass grown, the Driving Park
had the largest assemblage in it's history
on that eventful day. BY o'clock $4,000
people were on hand, and by 3 fully 10000
were inside the inclosure
It was the first season Of bookmaking in
the west. That Is to say, the auction and
mutual pools were still mediums Of specu-
latfon, and racegoers were gradually be-
coming educated up to the new system.
had sold some very heavy pools at ChapfE
&, Cores, with Janet pronounced favorite
Solicitor was made second favorite, Mollie
McCarty third and the members of the
Baldwin party bought their mare in
number of pools that aggregated some
$4,000 for an investment of $500. The
next day at the track the two Californians.
father-in-law and son-in-law, invested fully
$1,000 more in pools and books at nearly
the same rate Of odds-if anything
trifle better-for the Janet craze was
pronounced one.
Those who had seen Mollie ..carty
beaten nv Ten RrOpck the hofOro did
not believe she could defeat such mare as
Janet, and backed their opinion by their
coin. Solicitors heavy support also helped
to make the market against Baldwin's
mare, while the seven other starters also
carried a lot of money at longer prices.
AS for myself. 1 had not intended to bet
on the mare beyond couple of mutual
pools, but the preliminary was such TAX
ing move as she swept up the stretch try
ing to pull Feakes out of the saddle that
l went to the auction booth and bought
Mollie for $50 in pool calling for $455.
Mollie McCarty was front runner, and
despite the fact that she was carrying lis
pounds. Martin told Feakes to take her out
in front and stay there; to run the first
mile in 1.4S or Lac, and If he was pushed
to go faster; the second mile in 1.S or
Whereabouts. and then come on and win.
Baldwin Lands Coup.
At the Chicago Driving Park, like at
many Of the western tracks of that day,
Tie press quarters were over IN the timer B
stand. on the side of the track opposite the
judges stand. This was the rule at spa
cious Montgomery Park, Memphis, and
other big tracks as late as ten years after
this Garden City cup race. And. in conse-
quence, the gentlemen Of the press had to
hump themselves not to get left on the
wrong side of the track, as were the La
tonia judges in that memorable stake event
run without any judges.
Such location for the newspaper men
had it's advantages. and for one thorough
ly enjoyed the unobstructed view of the
Chicago cup contest, as well as the view of
the tremendous crowd opposite us.
When the cup starters came on the track
they made a fine appearance The field
was by far the best cup field ever seen on
a western track up to that day, and the
crowd applauded each horse in turn. At
the post there was little delay, and they
got away to good start. Feakes, true to
his orders, taking Molie to the front, and
the field Numbered down the homestretch
past the crowd, ending the first quarter.
Mollie McCartys quick daisy cutting ac-
ton was very taking and frictionless, and
with Solicitor two lengths away, they ran
the first mile and quarter in 2.191a. about
the rate of speed laid out by Trainer Mar
tin for Feakes. Here Janet was third, and
of greeting from the spectators told of the
general trend of opil6on as to the Anal re-
suit
Now the pace quickened as Solicitor went
up anu ldppcu MOllit, Out CAKES just let
go part of his wrap and the mare drew
away length, with Solicitor and Janet
Tapped. At the half-mle pole Janet drew
up to Solicitors head and both set sail for
the flying leader.
But the fleet little California mare, in
spite of her pacemaking, had lot in re-
serve, and she answered every challenge
with gameness that would not be denied.
Coming to the homestretch. she led by two
lengths, and the gap was never closed.
She won easily by a good three lengths,
Solicitor beating Janet in drive for the
place.
Mollie's Last Foal.
The time was 4.OO1s and Mollie did not
blow enough to snuff candle after the
race. The big crowd gave Feakes and the
mare an ovation when they came back to
weigh, and they deserved 1t. Baldwin and
Doble cashed In $4,000 In the pools and
books, which included the amount they had
put up, $12,7 Doble had $500 Of the
play and Baldwin the rest, which left the
winnings in the proportion Of about $17, 800
for Doble and $63 600 for Baldwin.
1t was Baldwin's largest betting coup on
any race Of his turf career Then Mollie
McCarty was taken to Saratoga and a big