The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-21
field DAY FOR
Willie Smith
YOUNGEST RACE DRIVER IN THE
WORLD RAN RINGS AROUND HIS
OPPONENTS, NOT LOSING A
HEAT IN ANY RACE IN WHICH
He WAS ENTERED.

The first matinee races of the Far
go Racing association were a success
from the sporting view point, and al
though the crowd was not numerous
enough to pay out all the purses the
management has come to the front
and put up the money necessary and
will continue the meetings each Sat
urday during July and August.
The starting judge was c. O. Smith
and he enlivened the races by his
humorous way of announcing the win
ners of each event. He was assisted
in the stand by j. J. Feckler and w.
L. Van Horn, and the decisions of the
judges me with the approval of the
crowd.
The feature of the races was the
riding and driving of Willie Smith,
the youngest race driver in the world.
The little fellow is only 10 years Of
age. He was SO small that as his
horse came down the stretch he could
not be seen by the people in the grand
stand, but he was there with the goods
when it am to driving. In the first
heat he took the pole away from Mat
thews as 500 as the horses started and
the speed of his animal let him hold it
until the wire was reached. He fin
ished a nose a head of Annie G and
in the other heat he also got away
good and won easily, setting such a
pace that he drove the other horses
off their feet. He had entered a pony
In the running race and showed his
Craftsmanship by slipping through a
hole when Stewart Doyle's pony swerv-
ed and nipping the purse at the wire.
The riders had been changed in the
last dash and the Doyle pony swerv-
ed into the fence and knocked down
two men who were standing too close
to the gate. Fortunately they were
not seriously injured.
The five mile motorcycle race was
short Of entries, but In speed made a
very interesting contest. Foster Gard
ner on an Indian and W. A. Johnson
and Mr.. Seims on Harley Davidsons
were the starters and Johnson got a
slight advantage in start, but Gard
ner had been riding the track for
some time and he took advantage of
the curves and rode in such d way
that he had more stretches than his
opponent and gained steadily. The
first mile he covered in two minutes,
the second at "a slightly increased
speed and on the fourth and fifth mile
he was fairly flying, making the last
mile at a one twenty clip. Johnson
met with trouble after the first lap
and this accounts for his loss Of speed.
His carburetor failed to feed properly
and he tried to fix it while riding with
n hand on the bars, but was unable
to do so. He was beaten one lap and
twenty feet in the five miles. Mr..
Seims was not an experienced ace
driver and he contented himself with
acting as a pacemaker for the others.
He finished one mile behind the indian
and one lap behind Johnsons David
son. Next Saturday two races will be
on the card and several other riders
will contest.
In the pacing race Commodore Mac
and Ashland Lockheart were the CON
tending factors and they made a pref
ty finish in both beats. Commodore
Mac has not been on the track for
some time and his showing was very
good. He has a world of speed and is
a good consistent going animal. He.
will win some of the future events 1T
Is a sure thing. William Toole had two
horses entered to give them a workout
and he drove like a veteran in both
races but his mounts, not having
started before, were not speedy enough
for the campaigners. Next Saturday
will see a number Of the horses from
Grand Forks in the events.
Another ace not on the card was
pulled off when a man challenged
Willie Smith for a race between his
race horse and a bay that the unknown
riding. The little chap, although
he had ridden two races and driven
two heats. at ono accepted and sad
ding UP his long-legged runner won
the race by a distance of fifty yards.
It was a regular field day for the little
Fargo horseman and he drove and ran
rings around the veterans who were
opposed to hin, In the various events.
Willie has entered his nags for next
Saturday and will be on hand to try
and give the older men another beat
ing. 49,. @
The music by the band was of the
best and the afternoon was a very en-
joyable one. Considering that it was
the first meeting, 1t was a success and
a much larger crowd is expected next
Saturday. The races will start at $3.50
promptly and the first events will be
the motorcycles as they need a good
track and the horses cut UP the track
to a certain extent. 1t is expected to
beat one minute in some of the races
next Saturday.
Race Summary.
Pacing raee-AshIand Lockheart / /;
Commodore Mac 2 Q; Bayheart 2 g;
Atlantic Belle 8 2.
Trot or pace-Grace Red / 4; Annie
g. 2 Q; Miss Kelvin 3 3.
, Willing to DO Anything in Reason,