STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 161 



favorable as to Captain Smith's training, that after some even betting 

 he was made first choice at $165 to $135, at which odds the betting 

 was very heavy. At the second attempt the bell was tapped, Marvin, 

 at the pole, accepting a start in which he had somewhat a length the 

 worst of it, and as Del Sur immediately opened up a gap, which was 

 gradually increased to three lengths at the half, in 1:16, it was evi- 

 dent that the Captain was making a waiting race of it. On the 

 upper turn Marvin gradually closed up on Del Sur, and pressing 

 him. On entering the homestretch Del Sur was off his feet, and a 

 couple of hundred yards further made a repetition, and Captain 

 Smith came in an easy winner by two lengths, in 2:29. There was 

 now a change in the pools, the Captain selling from $100 to $50, and 

 again Del Sur, on sufferance, took the lead, and trotting very 

 squarely had opened out a gap two lengths at the half mile, in 1:13, 

 showing a great improvement of speed on the previous heat, but 

 as Captain Smith gradually came up and down the homestretch the 

 horses seemed to be almost on even terms, but in this instance 

 appearances are very deceptive, and Del Sur having always the best 

 of it, Avon in good style in 2:25, Captain Smith being eased up when 

 the struggle was hopeless. The betting now began to be very wild 

 and irregular — but as an average pool must be mentioned — $120 to 

 $30 on Del Sur. The third heat was of a very varying character, 

 Del Sur, as usual, taking the lead, and at the quarter there was full 

 daylight between the two, but approaching the half he broke, and 

 Smith at that post was a length ahead, in 1:14, but approaching the 

 last turn, Captain Smith was off his gait, and Del Sur jogged in 

 easily in 2:28. The fortunate backers of the so deemed unfortunate 

 Captain were now at their wit's ends to get even, and they rushed up 

 the pools to $200 to $20, and one pool was $300 to $25, which, deducting 

 the commission, was simply twenty to one that Del Sur prove the 

 victor. Again he assumed the initiative, and at the half in 1:16? 

 had a length the best of it, but a bad break on the turn more than 

 lost him his advantage, and the tw T o came dowm the stretch lapped 

 together the entire distance, with the advantage always in favor of 

 Captain Smith, who broke just as he passed the w r ire on a run by 

 half a length in 2:32. It was still $100 to $35 on Del Sur, although it 

 was evident that Captain Smith was the steadiest in his gait, and 

 with darkness setting in the horses were sent off for the final heat, on 

 w T hich some $20,000 was depending, and they trotted evenly until 

 round the back stretch, when the Captain w r as seen to be drawing 

 away, on which under stress Del Sur was off his feet, and the Cap- 

 tain was in the lead at the half in 1:161, but the race was not yet 

 over, for Del Sur again closed on his antagonist, and was on even 

 terms with him at the last turn, but again Del Sur made a bad break, 

 and Captain Smith won a hard fought struggle in 2:33. It was a 

 magnificent race, and it will be years and years again before the 

 memory of the contest when Captain Smith turned the tables on his 

 former victor will be forgotten. 



SUMMARY. 



Agricultural Park Course, Sacramento, September 24, 1880. — Trotting — Four-year old or 

 underclass. Purse, $300; first horse two thirds, second two thirds of the remainder, third 

 the balance. Stein way barred. 

 H. E. Covey names L. Stanford's br. g. Captain Smith, by Locomotive; dam, 



Maid of Clay, by Henry Clay 1 2 2 11 



L. J. Rose names blk. s. DelSur, byThe Moor; dam,Gretchen,by Mambrino Pilot 2 112 2 



Time— 2:29, 2:25, 2:28, 2:32, 2:33. 

 21* 



