The second heat was started with Monbar holding onto a length lead on Bermuda Boy to the turn. At the turn, Bermuda Boy burst to catch up and a close race ensued to the finish. The last half of the race was timed at 1:08 and the last quarter in :32. Monbar won by a length to take the purse of $5000.
The next event was the two-year-old 2:30 pacers. It was a great field of eleven pacers to dash for the first heat. Montego drew the pole position, and they were lined up as follows: Alex T second, Lillie Banks third, Altona fourth, Henry S fifth, Direct sixth, Mascot seventh, Longitude eighth, Tommy ninth, Green Stotts tenth, and Indianapolis Boy eleventh.
After scoring a number of times they, were off. The start of the race paced them into the wind, but the final stretch would be paced with the wind. As they passed the half, it was Direct, Mascot and Henry S all in close quarters. Henry S. had the lead until the third quarter pole, when he left his feet. Mascot takes the lead, but is beaten to the wire by Direct. The last half of the heat was paced in a blistering 1:05. The race was completed in a magnificent time of 2:15 ½.
The second heat was a battle between Mascot and Direct leaving the others well behind. It was electrifying for the crowd as the two horses went stride for stride throughout the race. They went after the wire like their lives depended on it. The crowd cheered the whole race expecting one of them might falter or take control of the race. Neither horse faltered and neither horse could find more speed. They crossed the line together so close, nobody had any idea of who won. It is ruled a dead heat, and the newly installed camera they called, ‘Little George’, was called upon to settle the controversial finish. The third position was also a heated confrontation between Indianapolis Boy and Henry S. They were neck and neck until Indianapolis Boy nosed out Henry S at the finish.
‘Little George,’ was as impartial as any judge as you could find, but the judges needed to take time to look over the photo. They studied the picture produced from the camera and determined that Direct had a nostrils lead at the wire.
The third heat was never in doubt as Direct burst out in front and was never challenged. The times of the heats were fast, despite the head wind to start the races, 2:15 ½, 2:17, 2:13 3/4.
It was six o’clock that afternoon, when the final race was called. The race was the three- year-old trotters 2:40 category for the stake of $1,000. There were eight entries, Ramona, Madona, Andy Cutter, Broomal, Position, Hazle, Venessa, and Happy Pilot.
After an anxious fifth score they lit out for the first turn, awkwardly jockeyed around without any horse appearing to want to take control. As they came down the final stretch, Position and Happy Pilot broke out to make a race of it. With their hair flying and their drivers pushing for every bit of speed, Position was able to out-distance Happy Pilot for the win.
The second heat found Position and Happy Pilot again fighting for the inside position at the turn. Position was able to secure the lead at the turn. As they started the turn Andy Cutter broke out from the pack to challenge for second place held by Happy Pilot. Andy Cutter was able to take second position, but lost a step at the half and Happy Pilot regained second. With new life Happy Pilot made a dash for the lead. He was able to struggle past Position to win by a nose at the wire. That ended the races for the day and the three-year-old’s race was suspended till the following day.
Rush Park was quiet that night as Gilbert headed to his apartment, anxious to get to bed, when he was cornered by two large men outside the entrance of the big show barn. “Hey, kid,” one of the men said as he grabbed Gilbert by the collar and slammed him up against the outside wall of the barn. “You better make sure that Canary Bird and Alix don’t have a good race tomorrow.” The other thug fisted him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The man let go of him letting him slid down the wall to his bottom. He sat there for a moment, trying to catch his breath.
He had heard about this kind activity, but he had never been involved in the crooked people in racing. He knew what they wanted him to do, and he could never hurt a horse in any way. He knew better than to tell anyone, not even Mr. Williams. This was a part of racing and no one can stop it. It was an activity hard to prove, and if you say anything, you could end up getting hurt bad. Gilbert decided to do nothing to the horses and deal with the consequences when they occurred.
The third day of the big race was cloudy and an occasional light rain softened the track and eliminated dust in the air. Gilbert decided to check on Canary Bird and Alix. Canary Bird was one of Mr. Williams’s better horses. He didn’t know much about Alix, but he thought he would take a look at her. He met the groom taking care of Alix in her stall. Alix was in the small barn south of the main barn. He was able to get some background information about her from him.
Alix was dammed by Atlanta, and was owned by Daniel Hayes of Muscatine, Iowa and bred to Patronage owned by W. W. Aldrich of Tipton, Iowa. Alix was foaled on June 7, 1888. She was a bay with a star on her head and a bit of white above her left hind leg. Daniel Hayes was not interested in training and racing her, so he sold her to Morris J. Jones of the Standard Trotting Horse Company for $775.00.
She was a small horse barely weighing 800 lbs. She was considered by most to be too small to be competitive. But she possessed strong hind legs propelling, her small frame, to achieve a twenty-two foot stride. She may have trouble getting through traffic, but if she broke out of traffic and got on her own, it would be difficult to catch her.
The bell rang at 1:30 p.m. for the start of the races that day. The first race of the day was to continue the race of three-year-old’s from the day before. The third heat was taken by Position without a challenge. Happy Pilot was able to stay ahead of Andy Cutter for second and Ramona finished fourth.
The next event was the three year old $5,000 stake race. This was a delight to the crowd gathered that day for the great races. The pool favorite was Faustino, who was not a consistent racer. He had trotted a great race in Chicago in a time of 2:15. The fillies, Alix and Canary Bird, had beaten him in Knoxville. Canary Bird was a young, highly-regarded horse, and Gilbert liked to groom her because she would show some affection for the attention. Much the same way Allerton did.
There was a field of eight excellent trotters lined up as follows: Canary Bird, Faustino, Evangeline, Axminister, Maggie Sherman, Andy Cutter, Alix and Marion Wilkes.
The word was given on the second score for the field. Three horses headed the pack at the half Canary Bird, Andy Cutter and Evangeline. Canary Bird pulling away at the distance post but broke and the lead slipped away to Evangeline. Axminister passed her, as well, to take second. The favorite, Faustino, broke several times, but trotted well when in form to take fourth place.
The second heat had entirely different results with the favorite Faustino going steady and fast for an easy victory.
The third heat was a match to remember as Faustino took the lead by a length at the half over Alix. Alix moved steadily on the favorite and by the third quarter pole, led the colt by a neck. Faustino picked up his strong gait and beat her down the stretch to win by a length in a time of 2:17, setting a new record race time for that event.
The fourth heat went as hot as the third. Canary Bird, Faustino, and Alix burst out away from the rest of the pack by the first quarter. Alix tucked in behind Faustino who took the inside rail on the turn. Canary Bird stuck to the outside, neck and neck with Faustino. At the half, Canary Bird began to pull ahead of Faustino and as the stretch approached Canary Bird had a full length lead on Faustino. As they came to the stretch, the three horses each took a lane. Faustino staying to the inside rail, Alix next to him and Canary Bird still with a length lead furthest out from the rail. Alix gained on Faustino with both horses closing the gap with the leader Canary Bird.
As they passed the three quarter mark all three horses were dead even. It was anybody’s race and the spectators were jumping like a bucket full of screaming jumping beans. One hundred yards from
the finish, Canary Bird broke badly and fell well behind. Alix and Faustino both stepped up their pace and Faustino found just a bit more speed to win the heat and the race by a neck.
Gilbert had mixed emotions about the outcome of the race. He had been talking to the groom of Alix and wanted to see the Iowa born horse do well. He wanted to see his horse Canary Bird do well. He also at the same time felt better that the gentlemen threatening him might not be as angry since neither horse won. He assisted Canary Bird in cooling down after the race.
The next event was the $1000 purse for 2:25 trotters. This event had seven entrants and they were lined up as follows: Climatize, Arascene, Happy Wonder, Betsy Cotton, Nigger Baby, Miss Kent, and Fred H.
They had trouble with the start of the first heat and finally got it right on the eighth score. The first one to show speed was Climatize followed by Nigger Baby and Arascene. They stayed in those positions to the half. Climatize pulled up, unable to get into a rhythm and was overtaken by Nigger Baby for the win. Happy Wonder, Fred H, and Betsy Cotton fell so far behind they ran to catch up and were sent to the barn by the judges.
The second heat leader was Climatize, once again taking a big lead, before losing ambition to win and was again overtaken by Nigger Baby.
The third heat went the same way with Climatize deciding to sit on the track after the three quarter mark. This delighted the crowd with laughter and totally disgusted the horse’s owner. Nigger Baby won the heat and the event, Miss Kent and Arascene finished second and third respectively.
The fourth event of the day was the $1,000 purse for 2:30 stake for four year old’s. A field of eight was placed as follows: Olivette, Ethel Mack, Sabin’s Counselor, Octomor, Jacksonian, White Foot, Manchester C. and John E.
The first heat was taken by White Foot with the rest of the field far behind. The second heat was again controlled by White Foot to the stretch when Sabin’s Counselor and Octomor made a dash for the leader but come up short. The third heat was White Foot with another fierce battle for third between Sabin’s Counselor and Octomor. Sabin’s Counselor won second by a nose.
The last race of the day was called for a $1000 purse of 2:23 pacers. There were ten great pacers entered, and it was certainly an event many of the spectators were waiting for. They were lined up in the following positions; Maxy B was on the pole, Sol Miller, Nellie B, Storm, Blue Bob, Otto W, Forrest Wilkes, See-Saw, Fedora and Wilkes1.
After scoring seven times and the starter assessing two fines, the horses were sent to the barn to finish the next day. The crowd sighed in disappointment. The seats emptied as spectators trickled toward town finding places to eat from Rush Park to town.
Gilbert worked quickly through his chores so he could meet with Clara. He was in one of the smaller barns near the track when he saw Clara and two of her co-workers, Katie Miller and Laura Wainright, going into a storage room under the grandstands. It seemed strange that they would all go to a storage room this time of the day. He wanted to talk to Clara, so he went to the storage room as well. Gilbert saw no need to knock so he opened the door and looked in. To his great surprise, the three girls were smoking cigars.
The three girls quickly hid the cigars behind them, however the smoke continued to rise lazily behind them. Their eyes were wide with surprise. Clara blushed and looked away. Gilbert closed the door standing dumbfounded by the sight. Laura let out her breath of smoke and started coughing.
Gilbert started to laugh, “You three should see yourself’s with those big stoggies in your mouths.” He laughed again, “Three well dressed high class teenage girls smoking foot long cigars like stuffy old business men.”
The three girls began to laugh, Laura continued coughing. Katie asked, “Want one?”
“No,” he said, “If you insist on smoking please do it elsewhere. I don’t want any of you responsible for burning down the place. So, I must insist that you to stop and go somewhere else, please.” He laughed again.
“You insist,” Laura said as she tried to smile.
Gilbert knew they could overpower him. It appeared these girls weren’t taking him as an authoritative figure. “All right, let me restate that. I would really appreciate it if you would not smoke in here, please, ladies.”
“Since you put it so kindly, it hardly makes smoking worth the effort.” Laura then added sarcastically. “I like a man I can twist around my finger.”
Gilbert replied quickly, “Hope you find one.”
Clara put her cigar out on a metal anvil that was nearby and handed it to Katie. “I really don’t want it anymore.” Katie put hers out as well, but Laura took another great defiant drag on hers. She no more got it into her lungs when she started gagging and coughing again.
Gilbert said, “Looks like you’re really enjoying that.” The three watched her as she again puffed at the cigar. This time she didn’t cough. She forced a smile of triumph on her face and went for another puff. She got a look of sickness to her. She turned away from the rest of them and started to heave up in a bucket.
The three onlookers together said, “Eeeww.”
When she finished being sick, Katie said, “Clara, the perfume, please.” Clara got out a bottle of perfume from a small pouch sewn into her dress at the waist line. She started to squeeze the pouch repeatedly which sent out a fine mist of too much smell. Each girl walked through the mist as it filled the air.
They all quickly left the storage room and got as far away as they could from it. Katie had collected the cigars under her apron and disposed of them in a nearby trash receptacle. Katie spotted Barney, so she and Laura headed off in his direction. Clara turned to Gilbert with a sorrowful look in her eyes.
“Are you mad at me?” She asked in a cute tone.
“You know women don’t smoke.” Gilbert shook his head. “At least descent women don’t smoke. If they did happen to smoke, they sure wouldn’t be smoking oversized cigars like those. What were you thinking young lady?”
“Lot’s of women smoke, they just don’t let anyone know about it.” Clara tried to defend her actions.
“They are also much older than you are,” he explained,. “but it still doesn’t make it right.”
“Why is it only men can smoke,” Clara threw out in an attitude standing as tall and dominating as she could. “Why are men the only ones allowed to vote, huh, little man?”
Gilbert shook his head as he took her arm. “Clara, my darling, I don’t even know you anymore. Smoking cigars, wanting to vote, I just,” he started shaking his head again, “don’t know what you’ll be up to, next.”
“Please don’t be mad at me. I’ll never be bad again.” Clara said as she batted her playful blue eyes at him. He wasn’t fooled by her statement. He knew darn well she would be doing other things that may not be the most lady- like in the future.
“If you really are passionate, your eyes would be green,” he chuckled.
“Come on, you know it doesn’t work like that,” she explained.
“To be honest with you, I don’t know why women can’t smoke or vote. I expect someday both actions will be accepted. I doubt it will be in our lifetime though.” She slumped down to place her head on his shoulder.
“I wish you were a little taller. It hurts my neck to lay it so low.” She said lovingly.
“I expect to have my growing spurt any day now,” Gilbert said unenthusiastically.
“Just a couple of inches is all I ask for.” They strolled away together.
“About meeting tomorrow night, like we had planned.”
“Yeah,” Clara replied cautiously.
“I have to take care of a few things and won’t be able to meet you, sorry.” Gilbert knew he would be visited by the thugs anytime, and he didn’t want Clara to be around.
“Oh,” Clara replied knowing Gilbert was not being completely honest with her. “All right then. I better be going.” She let go of
his hand and started to walk away. He pulled her back., “It’s not like that. I love you.” He kissed her she smiled and walked off without saying another word. Gilbert thought he would be able to explain later.
Chapter Fourteen
Allerton Meets Nancy Hanks
Gilbert was walking cautiously, expecting any minute to be confronted by the two thugs. Even though Canary Bird and Alix had not won their event, it was obvious to anyone watching the race the two horses were in good shape. He knew the thugs would not let it go without giving him a visit. He entered the barn looking in every dark corner he saw. He made his way up to his apartment and cautiously entered it. There was no one in the apartment waiting. He locked the door and put a chair in front of it. Gilbert was not a light sleeper so he slept through the night, even under the tension of the prospect of getting beat up.
Gilbert was excited to see the morning was bright and clear. Gilbert got up quickly with such excitement he didn’t feel like eating breakfast. He went directly to Allerton to make sure he was in the best possible shape. He rubbed and brushed him down as if he were a king. He even got Park, the surviving twin son, of Mr. Williams to fan Allerton so he would stay cool. Park occasionally would come to the stables with his father to take part of caring for the horses.
Gilbert had whittled Park a toy horse for his birthday and Clara had painted it to look like Allerton. When Mr. Williams was leaving the stable after checking on his horse, Gilbert presented Park with the horse. Parks’ eyes popped open, as he clutched onto the toy horse. “For your birthday.” Gilbert told him.
“Thank you,” he said. Park ran excitedly to his father showing him the horse.
Mr. Williams looked at the horse with great interest, “That is a very beautiful horse son.” He looked at Gilbert, “You did a great job on this, Mr Fenny. Are you thinking of starting a new line of work?”
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