STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 157 



REPORT OF RACES. 



By Joseph < 'aik.n Simi'shn. 



FIRST DAY. 



Weather hot, track fast. The first race was {lie Occident Stakes of $100 

 each, a gold cup of the value of $400 added; heats of a mile, hest three in 

 five, in harness. There were sixteen nominations, five of which paid the 

 full amount of the stakes. Three came to the starting post. These were 

 Rexford by Electioneer, his dam Rebecca by General Benton; Alcazar by 

 Sultan, his dam Minnehaha; and Transit by Prompter, his dam Venus by 

 California Dexter. In the pools Alcazar was the favorite, bringing $25 to 

 $10 on each of the others. As the mutuals are decided by the result of 

 the heat, there was little difference, and a constant stream of five-dollar 

 pieces w r ent into the box. 



First Heat — Rexford had the pole, Alcazar second, Transit outside. At 

 the second score a capital start was given, but before reaching the carriage 

 way which crosses the track, Alcazar broke and lost several lengths. Rex- 

 ford led around the turn, and at the quarter, where 0:37-1 was scored, he was 

 an open length in the lead of Transit, though at the half, made in 1:134, 

 Transit's head was on the hip of the leader, Alcazar having closed a por- 

 tion of the gap. They were close together at the head of the homestretch, 

 Rexford a trifle in the lead, though it was apparent it was going to be a 

 sharp struggle for the mastery. About one hundred and fifty yards from 

 home, Transit broke. Alcazar passed him, and his head was on the shoul- 

 der of Rexford. The latter breaking when within twenty yards of home, 

 Alcazar won the heat by a neck in the fine time, for three-year olds, of 2:25|. 



Second Heat — The betting was $40 on Alcazar to $12 on the others, most 

 people conceding that the race was his. A very good start for the second 

 heat was effected at the second attempt, but Rexford broke a bad, tangling 

 break, from which he did not recover until the others were far in the 

 lead. Alcazar led Transit a trifle at the quarter in 37 seconds. There was 

 not much difference at the half in 1:13^, that being in favor of Alcazar. 

 Though Transit fought out the heat resolutely, the nearest he could get to 

 Alcazar was four lengths at the finish, in 2:24^, Rexford dropping inside 

 of the distance. Two great heats, surely. There was no betting after this 

 heat. 



Third Heat — The third heat was a genuine surprise. Alcazar broke at 

 the carriage crossing, and, as in the first heat, lost a great deal of ground. 

 Transit led, and at the quarter was half a length in advance of Rexford. 

 Again Alcazar broke when midway of the backstretch, which then threw 

 him beyond any reasonable show for the heat. It was a close thing between 

 Transit and Rexford, but the latter breaking when half way around the 

 further turn, his chance was out, too, Transit winning by four lengths over 

 Rexford, Alcazar ten more behind. Time, 2:26-f. 



Fourth Heat — The fourth heat was another surprise. Alcazar did not 

 seem to be on his stride when the bell tapped, and he fell back, Transit 



