STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 173 



The special pacing purse had for starters Mink, Shaker, Pocahontas, 

 Nevada, and Peacock. 



First Heat — Pacers arc proverbially difficult horses to start, and in this 

 case it required nine scores to get them oft'. Pocahontas and Nevada were 

 the most troublesome, and when the word was given four of them were on 

 a line, Pocahontas three lengths behind. Mink soon led, Pocahontas sec- 

 ond. Shaker third. Nevada and Peacock in the rear. There was no change 

 in these positions at the quarter in 36^ seconds, the half in 1:12, and the 

 three quarters in 1:48. Pocahontas broke at seven furlongs and galloped 

 from there in. Mink won the heat in 2:23^, Shaker second, Nevada third, 

 Peacock fourth. Pocahontas, who came in third, was placed last for run- 

 ning. Before the start pools ranged as follows: Shaker $50, Mink $22, 

 Peacock $16, Nevada and Pocahontas, coupled, $25. After the heat: Mink 

 $40, Shaker $32, and the held $30. 



Second Heat — In the second heat Nevada and Peacock led at all the 

 points up to the three quarters, nearly abreast, Nevada falling back in the 

 stretch and Shaker overhauling Peacock at the drawgate and beating him 

 to the score in 2:264, Peacock second, Mink third, Pocahontas distanced. 

 The pools after the heat sold: Shaker $160, Mink $52, field $45, a great 

 deal of money going into the box. 



Third Heat — A good start was given them at the first attempt, Mink 

 breaking soon after. Peacock led at the quarter in 0:38^, Mink second; but 

 at the half, in 1:144, Mink held first place. There was a gallant contest 

 between the two all the way home. Mink winning by a neck over Peacock 

 in 2:274, Shaker third, Nevada fourth. In the pools Mink brought $150, 

 Shaker $23, field $16. There were desperate efforts by the bettors to get 

 out. Those who had taken in a short end were on velvet, the givers of the 

 long odds the perilous position. Again there was a change, and the fourth 

 heat set them all to guessing. 



Fourth Heat — Again Mink led, with Peacock second. Midway of the 

 further turn, when he broke, Peacock took first place and retained it until 

 within thirty feet of the score, when Shaker got level with him by a short 

 neck in 2:28, Mink third and Nevada fourth. 



It was now so dark that the finish of the race was postponed until 

 to-morrow, at ten a. m. 



SEVENTH DAY. 



" Rather warmer than yesterday," was repeated many hundreds of times 

 at Agricultural Park this afternoon, but it was not so hot, however, as to 

 be at all trying to visitors from the Bay, or cause unusual distress to the 

 horses engaged. The unfinished pacing race was the first thing on the 

 card. Shaker had two heats and Mink two. The former was thought to 

 be a sure winner, bringing $110 to $24 on Mink, and $11 on the field. The 

 heat had queer features. Peacock took the lead from Shaker before one 

 hundred yards were made; Mink broke about midway of the turn and fell 

 back, though he paced so fast after he caught that he was even with Pea- 

 cock at the quarter in 37 seconds. Midway of the backstretch he made 

 another break, a very bad one, and Shaker drew even with Peacock at the 

 half mile in 1:13. Peacock led two lengths at the three quarters, Shaker 

 closing the gap as they came down the homestretch. Peacock broke at 

 the drawgate, which insured the victory to Shaker. Time, 2:284. 



