The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-15
Harness Races at Fair in Sensa-
tiOnal Time.
Big Squaw Takes the % Pace
in 2:1O 1-2.
NEAR TRACK RECORD.
Baron DReaper, Forced to gala
IA Record Goes to Pieces.
Electric Bow Then Takes Three
Straight Heats and Race.

With the sun shining for the first
time in the event of the Kansas State
fair and a crowd that 1equaled the
$4,000 on Kansas Derby day, Wednes-
days races at the fair grounds were
the best of the weeks program to date.
Harness races, running races and spe-
cial trots, together with band music
acrobatic stunts and vaudeville enter
tanned the big crowd the whole after
noon.
The features of the races Wednes-
day were the narrow escapes OF two
track records. In the 2:25 pace Big
Souaw made the first heat in 2:1O II
which is one second above the track
record of 2:O971, made by Baron K
Sept. IL, 1908. In the second heat or
the 2:16 trot Baron Reaper came but
three-fourths of a second under the
track record painted on the judges
stand Baron Reaper made the mile IN
2:13N A little more competition on
the home stretch and Baron Reaper
would have made it necessary to get
out the paint brush on the Topeka
track.
Wednesday was the first day at the
races that the favorites in the betting
took all first money. The two days
previous the bookies favored a MAJOR
ity of the winners, but wednesday
every horse received the heavy sup
mort And in every case the favorltes
with the crowds won their heats. The
big grandstand warmed up to the races
Yesterday as they have never done be
fore. Even the driver who came In ~
seconds behind the winner with his
horse walking under the wire was
given an ovation. The crowd was SO
good natured that the clowns who do
the hay rack acrobatic act were
cheered again and again-and the lit
tie boy who rode the trick pony FOUND
it necessary to remove his cap on 1ulI
speed.
There were large number of out
of-town people at the races Wednes-
day. Tuesday was Topeka day and the
CITY attended the races on that day. 1t
might be said that out or the 15,OoV
attendance Wednesday, there were at
least 10000 out-of-town race enthusi-
asts Along the lines of the Rock
Island, Santa Fe and Union Paclhc
everyone is deserving their homes. The
races this year are the best ever held
in the state. The fact that good fast
running races are held every day is an
attraction that brings out many.
Another feature of the Topeka races
this fall-the starting is fast and there
is not a dull moment between heats or
races. Starter Updegraff keeps some
thing on the track at all times. The
usual long waits between events are
eliminated.
one feature came on TIE pIOSIdIi
that was not arranged by the fair
association and was brought out at no
expense to them. Battling" Nelson,
the former lightweight champion Of
the world. arrived from Kansas City
early in the afternoon to attend the
races. The moment he entered the
grand stand the word was passed
around that bat" was there and for
a few moments it looked as though
he would paralyze the race interest.
Hes the man with the brown derby"
was the cue to the crowds and every
man in the grandstand who wore a
brown derby was picked out as the big
fighter. A crowd of curious people sur
rounded the former champion and
listened to his prize fight talk all the
time he was on the grounds.
The most exciting race Of the day
was the PIG trot. 1t took five heats
to decide the first money, the big fight
being between Baron Reaper and Elec-
trio Bow for first place. Baron Reaper
started out with flash taking the frs.
two heats. In one of these heats he
came within a fraction of a second
equaling the track record. In the third
heat Electric Bow won by a scant head.
Baron was ahead on the first three
quarters but in coming around the last
quarter Electric Bow circled around the
outside track with the Baron at the