Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1909 — STATE FAIR RACES [ARTICLE]

STATE FAIR RACES

s37?Blra|o Efftmrded Trotters c antmSffonmfliana Track jiajjyy PACING AGAINST ALL RECORDS Hedge wood Boy and Lady Maude Will' » -V 'f* Try to Lower the Marks Famous Stables Represented at Indlap* Fair—Wisconsin Man Will Be the New Starter. The Indiana State Fair has formed the richest racing program In Its history for the week of Sept. 6, the purses for which amount to $37,600. That there will be an extraordinary number of -horsee in the various contests is indicated by the entries which closed in June when the names of 195 different horses were sent to Secretary Charles Downing, the horses to come from Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri; Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, California; and the best stables of Indiana will be represented.. In the 2:20 trot, with a purse of $5,000, there are 20 entries, and in the 2:15 pace, also with a $5,000 purse, -therei are 26 entries. The entry lists fbr the other twelve races om the Stamen Fair program do not close, until August 24. The course at the Fair, already rich in race track lore, is during the coming Fair; expected to make Borne more l valuable contributions to the world’s records for pacers in some special, events. The State Fair management has entered into a contract with Dick Wilson, of Rushville, one of the famous horsemen cf the country; Who will start Hedgewood Boy, with a reoord of 2:02 1-4, and Lady Maude C, with a mark of 2:04 1-2 in three efforts to fix new records. The contract with Wilson provides that If he “does nothing, be gets nothing/’ On Monday, the first day of the Fair, Hedgewood Boy and Lady Maud C, who are full brother and sister, will be driven to equal the world's record, Wilson Is to receive S6OO, and If he lowers it will receive S4OO additional. In another special event, If Hedgewood Boy paoes a mile In harness In 2:021-4, his present record, Wilson is to receive SSOO. If, In this performance, Hedgewood Boy beats the track record of 2:01, made by Star Pointer in 1897, Wilson will receive $250 additional. If Lady Maud C., 2:04%, beats her present record, Wilson will get $500; If she beats the world’s record for pacing mares, $250 additional. If either Hedgewood Boy or Lady Maud C, or both, beat the world’s stallion race record of 1:59% for pacers, Wilson will be awarded SSOO. The Rushville horseman can by meeting all conditions of the contract gather up $3,500 for his work at the State Fair. He is to receive nothing In the event that his horses do not equal or beat the marks which are fixed by the contract. The horses are to pace to wagon on the first day of the Fair, weather rnd track permitting. Hedgewood Boy will start against the record for stallitons on Thursday and Lady Maud C, will make her attempt on Friday of Fair week. C. H. Anthony, the Fair’s superintendent of speed, the judges and starter of the Fair races are to. determine if the weather and

track are of proper condition for the events. The rules of the American Trotting Association are to govern. The race track at the Indiana Fair grounds has for months been in use and only severe weather o&n' put It out of commission for the September races. Since early spring about 300 trotters and pacers, representing famous stables from over the United States, have been In training at the Indiana grounds and It has become one of the most favored tracks for spring and early summer work in the land. The track was re-selled some months ago and was carefully ditched. During the heavy rains of last spring, the water speedily drained off the course and three or four hours of sunBhine brought it Into condition for use again. It will require a very heavy and continuous rain to hinder ths races at the coming Fair. Four or five hundred trotters and pacers are expected at the track for the September meeting, and many stables which are noted over the grand circuit r will be represented. ’t United States Senator Bailey, of Texas, has entered two mares, Luclle Marlow and Eva Cord, in the Fair trotting eventa. E. F. Geers, of Memphis, has listed A trotter and a paoer. Other celebrated 1 stables which have already made entries are: Alonzo McDonald, polls; John H. Dickerson, Mamaroneck, N. Y.; George H. Esterbrook, Denver, Col.; Roy Miller, Lexington, Ky.; W. O. Durfee, Loa Angles, Chi.; S. J. Fleming, Terre Haute; J. B. Benyon, Memphis, Tenn.; Dick McMahon, Llbertyville, Ill.; A. J. Hook, Georgetown, Ky.; S. R. Holt, Indianapolis; White River Stock farm, Muncle, Ind.; V. L. Shuler, Indianapolis; Float,'Jolly, Tipton, Ind.; 'Walter Dunn, Charleston, Ill.; L. H. Maybury, Los Cal.; C. A. Chambers, Indlanapollaf Forest Park farm, Terre Haute."

Charles Downing, secretary of the Indiana Fair, expects the coming races to be of the highest class ever held In Indiana. “Thd Indiana Fair,” he said, “has always promoted clean racing which In quality of entertainment brings them up to the edtfal Of the races on the grand circuit:- Our races an not under the Influences of the pool box or the betting ring, for our Fair does not permit betting.”