The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-16
A Head-on View.

Not excepting the Kansas Derby Day
Of Tuesday, Thursday was the biggest
and best day of the races. There were
three good fast harness races and three
exciting running races-this with the
vaudeville and band concert stunts
gave everyone a treat. And the en-
thusiasm of the big crowd in every
event spoke Of the success OF the ven
ture.
When the fair association built the
bleachers as an overflow of the grand
stand this season they had secret
thoughts of it's use. The grandstand is
the biggest of it's kind in Kansas and
the fair officials entertained doubtful
ideas of the need of an overflow
stand. But Thursday half hour be-
fore the races began when every score
card had been sold and when the
grandstand was packed to the bottom
seats where the sun poured in, the Off
Gals patted themselves on the back.
And 10 minutes later when the over
flow stand was packed and the people
were coming in, still, they shook their
heads once more. Next year-since the
first real state fair has made such a
success-the grandstand proper will be
extended 100 feet to the west.
The crowd In the grandStand was not
all. The fences around the entire half
mile track were alive with spectators.
Motor cars and carriages filed the
track field. Even the trees around the
back stretch were filled with enthusi-
asts. The weather was clear and quie-
and cool-nothing went wrong Thurs
dav.
Now about the races:
There were two races that deserved
honorable mention-the 2:30 trot and
the four furlong running race. With
the trot-although it is usually a slow
timer, it took five thrilling exciting
heats to decide the money. In the run
ming race the track record of four fur
longs in 80 seconds was lowered-and
Dactyllis owned by ]. W. Fisher and
ridden by Hamilton, won the race,
making it in 40 seconds fiat.
The 2:30 trot started out like a fiz-
zle. The drivers seemed to put little
spirit into the game and they strung
around the track in 2:37 time. Starter
Updegraff felt as the crowd in this per-
Torrance and calling the drivers to
him he delivered a neat little lecture
that could be heard and appreciated by
the crowd. The result of this lecture
was seen in the next heat.
The sensational feature of the troi
was the fact that the winner, Roseben
Jagged the entire length of the track
until the last quarter mile was reach
ed. Then Driver Mcmillan coached his
horse and the winning spurts were
made. In every heat the race was wor
by a half head-the nostrils of the lead
In the first heat of this race all three
horses loafed. with their drivers view
ing the scenery, and the time 2:37 dis
gusted the crowd. The second hea
was neck to neck the whole mile be
tween Roseben and Burnham Rex
with Roseben nosing out in the hOm'
stretch. The third heat Burnham Re-
started out far ahead with Rosebel
keeping a comfortable distance behind
on the last lap Roseben commenced
to gain and with the crowd going wilC
with excitement. he smelled a victor.
with the tip of his nostrils. The fourtl
heat was a repetition of the third-ex
cept in making his usual squirt Rose
ben lost his feet and came under tn
iron string on the gallop. This mad
it necessary for another heat and tn
crowd waited. missing the high dive, il
order that they might see the finish.
The last heat was a hair raiser-al
the baldheaded men said so. The thre
horses started out as usual, with Burn
ham Rex leading by a big margin
I. Roseben closing up behind and tn