The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-08
STATE FAIR RACES
GET OFF TO GOOD
START FIRST DAY
Grandstand Shouts En-
enlargement as Horses
Come Pounding Down
Home Stretch.

The first days races at the state
fair opened with bang yesterday
afternoon, when four fiat races and
a steeplechase were on the card. The
racing secretary. the starter and
every one OF the track officials Is to
he commended on the way the races
got Off as they were scheduled to.
Not minutes time was lost when
post time came along.
The first was for six furlongs and
the horses got off to a running start,
as they all came up TO the barrier in
perfect alignment, even "A newly com
tissianed army second lieutenant
couldn't kick about 1t. and Starter
! Frank McGinty raised the barrier as
they came up Mr.. McGinty has long
been Identified with the track, and
all Of the races got off to a perfect
start
AS the horses came pounding
down the home stretch, the entire
audience in the grandstand ~ose TO its
feet and shouted encourage to
the Jockeys. ], Coyle's Shandon,
with T. smith up. finished first by
good margin. Major Dome came in
second and Joe Mnlner third.
The second race. five furlongs, had
only four entries This was also
Conway up. coming first. Steve w.
fimphy up. and Waking Dream. Fl.
Mcbride up. came in second and third
respectively,
The third race was for distance
of a mile. and from the time the
horses left the front of the grand
stand until they came back. the
crowd shouted and waited expectantly
for the winner to appear II was
/ not certain who was TO come in first,
as Early Light and Seylla came
down the stretch nose and nose
when they flashed over the finish line
there was some question as TO which
had been first but Early Light WAS
given the decision. This was the
closest finish of any race. and the
grandstand thoroughly appreciated
that fact Rockaway was scratched
before the race,
Number four on the card was for
mile and a furlong. The horses
got off in a line. but before they had
gotten past the grandstand Isabelle
II was in the lead and maintained
that lead until the finish, going over
the line well in front OF the second
horse white Crown.
Accident In St~epieehaxe.
The steepleehase was the last race.
snd many. ware the things that hap
pened in it. Five horses were start
ed but two of them lost their riders.
one after the fifth fence was gone
/ over, and the other at the north end
of the track Neither WAS hurt. be-
yond a few bruises and a general
shskkg up
There was also the comedy side to
the race. A. Utterhack on Miss Nc
esfggfe was leading the field by sew
era1~ feet He Thought his instruc-
lions were to so around the track
twice instead of once and then
through the gap into the track and
finish in front of the judges stand.
He went over the seven jumps. came
TO the gap. and instead of going
through 1t started to go over the
eighth jump for second trip. Just
as he got to the eighth jump he
realized his mistake, wheeled his
horse around and made for the gap.
But J. Ranch. on Moniker. had al
ready gone through the gap and was
on the track heading for the stand
The best Utterhack could do was sec
ond place. He claimed the gap was
not open when he passed it. but this
seems Impossible, as there was no one
at tina; part of the track, and Ranch