The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-19
RACES HALTED
by RAIN; MANY
DISAPPOINTED
Sticky Track Hinders Only
When It Becomes
A Mire

The beginning of the second day of
the Knox county fair loomed dark and
threatening, but monster crowd, op-
timists all, streamed into the grounds
early and kept coming until late in
the afternoon.
Jupiter Pluvius held off in the af-
ternoon until three heats Of the races
were finished and then commenced a
| light drizzle during the fourth heat,
the second heat of the 2:1S pace. Be-
fore this heat was finished, the water
works were going full blast and as
the crowd realized that the track was
absolutely unfit for further racing the
people began rushing for shelter.
With the rain came looks of gloom
on the faces of practically every per-
son on the grounds. All were disap-
pointed that the racing must cease for
the afternoon. Some in the crowd
had come for the express purpose of
seeing the races which were expected
to and would, no doubt, have been the
best of the entire fair
Seven horses were entered in the
/ 2.1S pace which was the first event of
the afternoon, two horses that we're to
have entered being withdrawn. One
of these, Limber jim, owned by Vern
Calhoun of Columbus, happens to be
double-gaited horse and is insisting
on trotting this week, while the other,
J. H. Milton, owned by Rinehart &
Simpkins of this city, has developed a
slight lameness.
Only two heats of the first event
were finished. owing to the rain, but
like the first heats of the 2:17 trot
and the 2:25 pace, they were of the
kind that kept the crowd on it's feet
with hearts pounding. The second
heat of this race was done in the rain
| and with the track quite slippery and
sticky, but in spite of this handicap
the time for the second heat was the
same as for the first heat, 2:19 IA
The 217 trot, the second event on
the card, had five entries, among them
being Jack Woodcliffe, the famous lit
tie blind stallion formerly owned by
Judge b. M. Critchfield of this city
and who was sold recently to Dan
| Clark of Alexandria. The little horse
was driven by his former owner in
this race. Only one heat of the race
| was finished.
| The 2:25 pace, of which only one
heat was driven, was to have been the
third race of the afternoon. A field of
eight was entered in this race The
one heat was close and exciting. jim
mie Gray, owned by James Clemmens
of Newark, started from sixth posi-
tion and at the very beginning nosed
ahead and on the first trip around
was leading the field by several
lengths On the second lap, however,
Miss Cuba Clay, driven by R. e. Glaze
of Centerburg and Joseph Jay, driven
| by Billy" Mayors. formerly of this
city, forged out Of the bunch and be-
| gan creeping up on the little gray
horse and as they rounded into the
stretch he failed to have the extra
sprint left, but finished about half a
| length behind the Glaze mare, with
Joseph Jay close third.
Jay r. Clutter, the starter, announc-
ed after the last heat had been driven
and the rain had made further racing
impossible that the remaining heats
of the races would be started prompt
ly at 12 o'clock Friday and the origin
al Fridays program would follow as
soon as they we're finished. He also
announced that the horsemen had
been notified of this decision and
were warned that the races would
start promptly without waiting for
any who were late in getting on.
The summary of the heats:
2.1a Pace. Purse $500.
Country Jim, Mrs. L. w. Thrailkill 7 Z
Jimmie Valentine, bg, w. M.
Brimbee ,................. l
Alberta, bg., w. II. Craig ....... G
Marion Belle, blk.f,, F.. L. Johnson 3
Lacy A., bm., 3. ]. Chase .'.....
Bessie N, bm., John Eberle ..... s
Walter Hal, bgo Mr.. Watkins. -. 4
Time (both heats)-2:19 IA.
2:17 Trot
Mayona, bm,, Ben B. Jones ....... /
Jack Woodclifte, bs., Dan Clark. :. :. 9
Donna, bm., c. w. Rowe .......
Repose. blkm., C.G. Brown ..,.. 4
Ira c., bg., VIM, A. Heade ........ &
Time-2;17 II.
2:25 Pace
Jimmie Gray, gg, Jas. Clemmens. =. Z
Rosa Direct, rom, Robert Riley. ....
Tonsv OCunnor, chm, i. T.. Cartnell {