STATE AGKIi TI.TIKAI. SOCIETY. 165 



In the special pacing race for a purse of .$300, Nevada was eagerly taken 

 at $60, while Pocahontas brought $45, and Ackerman $35. 



First Heat — The first heat strengthened the faith of the backers of the 

 favorite, as Nevada led at the first turn and continued to hold a small 

 advantage to the wire, in 2:26|, with Ackerman at his wheel, while Poca- 

 hontas had to show a fleet gait from the third furlong to avoid being dis- 

 tanced. 



Second Heat — The second was a prettily contested heat, all three horses 

 being bunched on the baekstretch, hut when well in the straight Nevada 

 broke and Pocahontas fell off, so Ackerman secured an easy victory in 

 2:25£, by three lengths from Nevada. 



Third I Feat — There was now a great change in the pooling, Ackerman 

 selling as a rare favorite, and he justified the good opinion of his backers 

 by securing the heat by an open length from Nevada in 2:27^, Pocahontas 

 jogging in some twenty yards behind. 



Fourth Heat — The fourth heat was paced in splendid style, but as the 

 mare again broke badly at the quarter-mile the issue was left to Nevada 

 and Ackerman, and amid yells and acclamations, they made of it a dead 

 heat in 2:27^. 



Fifth Heat — Ackerman was still first choice at $50 against $25 for the 

 two others, and this time Pocahontas did great work for her backers, as she 

 paced more steadily, and, although Ackerman did his very best, he was 

 carried twice off his feet, and the mare won by a length from him in 2:31f, 

 amid shouts of applause. It Avas now almost dark and the result was 

 postponed. 



SEVENTH DAY. 



It was estimated that the largest number of visitors ever seen on the Fair 

 ground was assembled there Thursday, the main attractions being the stock 

 parade in the morning and a full programme for the afternoon's sport. The 

 various committees on awards were busy in every class, and a number of 

 prizes were distributed, chiefly among the stock and the horses entered for 

 competition. The opinion still prevails that we have here the finest display 

 of cattle ever seen in this State; and from gentlemen who are visiting this 

 coast are heard the remarks that the exhibition is first-class, both in vari- 

 ety and excellence, and could scarcely be surpassed by any of the Fairs be- 

 yond the Rocky Mountains. 



The horses were first called upon for the postponed pacing race, in which 

 Ackerman and Nevada had both secured two heats and a dead heat, while 

 Pocahontas had one to her credit. Ackerman was still the favorite, at $40 

 to $30 for the two others, and he justified the good judgment of his backers 

 by winning a close heat by half a length from Nevada, in 2:27, Pocahontas 

 destroying her chances by a couple of bad breaks. This was the biggest 

 betting race of the season, and among sporting men endless were the dis- 

 cussions about its merits. 



SUMMARY. 



California State Fair, Sacramento, September 16 and 17, 1885.— Special pacing; purse, 



Fred Ackerman, b. g., by Washington ; dam, by John Nelson— J. T. Mc- 

 intosh 2 110 2 1 



Nevada, b. s., by General Reno— W. B. Todhunter 12 2 3 2 



Pocahontas, ch. m., by Washington— S. G. Tryon 3 3 3 3 1 3 



Time— 2:2Gi; 2:25A; 2:27f ; 2:27|; 2:31|; 2:27. 



