162 ' TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



that being the attraction, and in the afternoon there was a throng of people 

 on every portion of the grounds. 



The first race was for a purse of $1,000, for three-year olds, and of twelve 

 entries, five of which made second payment, there were three starters, 

 Spry, Apex, and Kismet. Kismet was favored by pool-buyers, the rates 

 before the start being $80 on him to $50 on Spry, and $35 on Apex. 

 Although Apex won the first heat by his superior steadiness, Kismet was 

 still the favorite by still longer odds, bringing $100 to $50 on Apex, and 

 $10 on Spry. After the second heat Apex brought $90, Kismet $75, Spry 

 $10. The story of the first and second heats is easily told. Spry had the 

 inside on the start, with Apex second, and Kismet outside. Apex trotted 

 all the time, though Kismet would range alongside, break and fall back, 

 come up again, then lose a couple of lengths, while Apex kept pegging 

 away, winning the first heat in 2:31, the second in 2:33 — Spry in each heat 

 being contented to drop inside of the distance. 



Before the start for the third heat there was a slight change in the pools, 

 though few looked for such an exciting episode as it proved. Soon after 

 the bell tapped Kismet broke, and Spry, showing more speed than hereto- 

 fore, lay on the wheel of Apex, and until he broke appeared as though he 

 would continue to keep him company, but the faux pas consigned him to a 

 rear place at the quarter, in 37 seconds. Before reaching the half mile, in 

 1:14|, he had closed the gap, when he broke again, and Kismet, though 

 far in the rear at one time, closed rapidly on the leader. He was even 

 with him at the three-quarter post, was leading soon after, when he broke, 

 and it seemed as if the race had come to an end; but Apex also broke, 

 and Kismet, coming away rapidly after regaining his feet, won the heat by 

 several lengths, in-2:38, Apex second, and Spry third. The pools sold $120 

 on Kismet to $45 on the others. 



The fourth heat sustained this view, as Kismet won, notwithstanding 

 several breaks, in 2:35. The pools now sold $120 on Kismet to $21 for the 

 field. Kismet took the lead from the time the word was given, and won 

 quite handily in 2:35, Spry second, and Apex third. 



SUMMARY. 



California State Fair, Sacramento, September 15, 1885.— Purse, $1,000. Three-year 

 olds. 



Kismet, b. c, by Sultan; dam, Saucebox — L.J.Rose .- 2 2 111 



Apex, b. c., by Prompter, dam by Flaxtail—S. K. Trefry 112 2 3 



Spry, b. c, by General Benton; dam, Sprite — Ariel Lathrop 3 3 3 3 2 



r*rae-^2:31; 2:33; 2:33; 2:35; 2:35. 



The 2:36 class was regarded so one-sided, that after a few pools were sold 

 at the rate of $100 on Menlo to $20 on all the others, there were none to 

 venture to take the short side. The starters were Blacksmith, Daisy S, 

 Pansy, Norman, and Menlo, placed as their names are written. 



First Heat — Menlo broke soon after the word was given, and Pansy sailed 

 off with a good lead. At the quarter, in 0:51^, she was a good length in 

 front of all the others. Menlo closed on her going down the backstretch, 

 but at the half mile, in l:12f, she was still well in the front, and Menlo 

 broke when within one hundred feet of the score, Pansy winning in 2:24-J, 

 Menlo second, Daisy S third, Blacksmith fourth, and Norman fifth. 



Second Heat — The second heat was an easy victory for Menlo, though 

 Pansy made a gallant struggle. Time, 2:23, Menlo leading at all points 

 after passing the quarter, with Pansy second, Blacksmith third, Norman 

 fourth, and Daisy S last. 



