The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-08-22
THE BIG RACES
HAVE GREAT DAY.
Opening Session a Success From
Every View Point.
RACES WERE MOST EXCITING
II Took Four Heats to Decide the 2:27
Trot and Five in the 2:17 Pace
Track in Splendid Shape and
Fast Time is Made.

Threatening clouds and few
sprinkles did not interfere with the
success of the opening day Tuesday.
August 20, of the first annual meet
ing of the Mahaska County Racing
association. Crowds on the grounds
witnessed as keen sport as has been
offered in Oskaloosa in many a day.
The races were contests with the re-
suit in doubt up to the last wire and
the crowd was on its tip toes from
the first bell to the announcement of
the money division in the last heat.
W. d. Beckman and his Oskaloosa
band were on hand, located at a spe-
cial stand erected at the west end
of the new amphitheatre, and they
contributed full portion to the enter.
Itainment of the afternoon.
W. |. Beans, president of the Rae
ing association, was on hand to do
the honors of the opening meeting
and Vice President S. V. Reynolds
was also busy with the formal open
ling. Secretary H. B. Mccoy, Park
Way, Second, Vice President r. X.
Davis, Treasurer and ]. H. Harrison
tspeed superintendent each and every
one of whom have been burdened
with duties looking toward the sue
lcess of the meeting, were early at the
track to witness the Inauguration of
the races and the launching of the
new enterprise.
Officials of the races for the opening
day were:
Starting Judge, Pete Lanhauser, of
IOttumwa.
Clerk of Course. Chas. E. Munroe.
Clerk of Scales, S. Kinney.
Judges, o. C. Wilson, Kahoha, Mo-.
s. " Reynolds, Oskaloosa. and J. H.
Gamble.
Timers were A. n. Utterback, of
Hedrick; James Neagle and Will Bea-
Idle. Oskaloosa.
Weeks of continuous work on the
track had put the half mile course
in perfect condition. John Mitchell
has been working on the track since
early in July. 1t has been plowed,
scraped, shaved and graded until 1t
was as near perfection as it could be
made. Old-time trainers and drivers
who have, known&nd worked on the
track in other years, stated they had
never known the track to be in better
condition for good work. Monday
nights rain softened the surface to
some extent, but not enough to do
material harm. The surface was dry
and dusy following the morning work
out and jogging processes and after
lit had been dragged few rounds.
Twenty.Seven Trot.
First on the program came the 2:27
class trot for which thirteen entries
had been listed OF this number
eight came upon the track for the con-
test and drew numbers. Two tiers of
horses found place in the start. Doris
Doune, a little black mare by Oak
land Doune, owned by Ed Allen
Agent, of Marion, Ia, Allen up, a
mighty speedy little animal, picked
by the wise.acres to step all over the
rest of the bunch, fouled herself in
the getaway Of the first heat She
Iruptured a blood vessel in the heat
and went down with lunge on the
first turn and came near turning the
first heat ito a general mix. Drivers
had hard work to avoid the wreck and
not until the passing of the disabled
mare on the second lap of the mile
did the race take form, as the drivers
were expecting to be held at the first
stretch. Orders were first issued to
Track Marshal Pete McCosh to hold
lup the heat. Word being received,
however, that the way was clear the
drivers received a 'bally no" from
the judges stand to go ahead but look
out for the down starter. 1t was then
that Pearl Adams, a b. m, by Willie
Waine, owned by c. F. Adams, Yates
City, ILL.,, showed up as leader of
the bunch. Theawood, by Spotswood,
owned by Fred Steiner, of Clinton,
with Steiner driving, had the advant-
age for a time and worked hard to
claim the pole for her own. Fancy
Harkway, from the stables Of C. A.
IGerthold, of Memphis, Mo-. driven by
Berry, was another worker for the
first place. Emmett H. Jr., Daugherty
Brothers. Knoxville, stallion, Nor
gan up, looked mighty capable for a
time and was to be figured with.
These horses made the first bunch as
they came into the stretch for Judg-
ment under the fire. Separated by a
little distance from the others but
Icrowding close came Don Gusto. an
Oskaloosa horse owner by j. H. Har-
rison, and upon which the crowd bent
Ieagre gaze Red Miller was driving.
Don did not behave well at times and
was inclined to go off his feet badly
and was given to running. Charley
Mack, owned by c. B. McCulloch, was
another local candidate upon which
the crowd bestowed favor. Cooper
drove. II was Mack's OF day. He
was not working well, but was show.
ing better all the time and came In
for piece of the money. Carrie Al
lerton. mare from Plattsville. Wis.
owned by E. J. Menhinick. had sixth
place In the end OF the first heat and
she kept that place throughout he
race. The acciden slowed the time
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