view raw text
FIRST DEAD HEAT AT AGAWAM Molasses Bill and Mad Dash Eyenly Aligned at End Golden Fate Scores in Headlined. AGAWAM, Mass., June 3. Golden Fate, bay six-year-old unsexed son of The Satrap Golden Fair, which races for Mrs. E. E. Russell, was the winner of the Holyoke Handicap, feature event of the seventh days card at Agawam Park. Mrs. W. C. Weants Fairsickle was second before Vote Boy, from the stable of T. F. Swords, while Arthur Hullcoats Synod brought up the rear of the small field of four that faced the barrier, the last-minute withdrawals of Package and Prince Fox taking its toll. What the race lacked in numbers it more than made up in the keenness of the contest from flag-fall to finish. Little time was lost sending them away, the four leaving as one, with Vote Boy sprinting to the lead on the first turn, but Golden Fate was right at his heels, followed by Fairsickle, while Synod trailed. In the run around ihe turn into theback stretch, Golden Fate moved" past Vbt Roy to show in front by a short half length, but jockey C. Thornton, astride Vote Boy, took his mount out from the inner rail and again challenged for the lead, but the son of Satrap was not to be so easily headed, again drawing away. While this pair were fighting for the lead, Cooper, astride Fairsickle, was rating his mount, patiently waiting to make his bid. Coming into the stretch, Golden Fate had shaken off Vote Boy, then Cooper permitted Fairsickle to have her head, but in the final drive that ensued to the finish line Golden Fate showed her mettle, safely passing that point a length in front. Ideal mid-summer weather greeted the fans, while the racing was keenly contested throughout the afternoon, the followers of favorites and the long shot players splitting the variousevents. The first dead heat in the history of Agawam Park came with?., the running of the opening event, a six furlongs dash for three-year-olds and upward; of the claiming variety. Coming to the finish line closely lapped, the judges called for the Waite camera-eye to help them split the pair, but when they had examined the picture they still were unable to separate one from the other, and a dead heat was declared, with Molasses Bill, from Branncastle Farms, and Mad Dash, property of Lois Eddy Hannon, splitting the purse award; while Gay Nellie earned third for Mrs..W. C. Weant. Blakeen carried the silks of Mrs. J. Mc-Graw to victory in the fourth, also a six furlongs dash. Mrs. E. E. Russells Lady Hockberger, the public choice, was second, while H. C. Vaughans Grace Bunting was third ahead of Fitkin. This marked the third straight victory in as many starts during the present meeting for the black daughter of Sun Edwin. Jockey S. Coule, who had won with her in her previous starts, was again in the saddle.
