The Races

And now the rest of the story... Here's the follow-up article for "Speed on Ice".

From the Pine County Pioneer, January 18, 1889:

Owing to the rain which fell last Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the races advertised to take place on Cross Lake were postponed until Thursday. Wednesday night the cold wave froze the water on the lake giving a fine sheet of ice over the course, which lay from a point nearly opposite Chengwatana to a point opposite 3rd Avenue in this village and was in excellent condition. Four horses were entered:

Black Frank, by James Morrison, L.S. Bates, driver.
Bob, by T.P. McKusick, T.P. McKusick, driver.
Raven Boy, by H.J. Carley, Wm. Fitzsimmons, driver.
Dandy Billy, by Wm. Staples, Wm. Staples, driver

Fred A. Hodge, E. Veenhoven and A.H. Lambert were selected as judges.

The start for the first heat occupied some time, but was finally made, and from the position occupied by the spectators it seemed that they were quite even for about a quarter of a mile, but at about that time, Raven Boy and Dandy Billy began working to the front and for a time it was hard to say which would come in first, but Mr. Staples getting out of the course lost considerable time in getting back again, and Raven Boy came in first with Dandy Billy second, Black Frank third and Bob fourth. The second heat gave the same result, and decided the race, as it was best two in three.

The races were quite exciting and gave a good exhibition of fine trotting. One thing is sure: there isn't a county of the size of this in the state that can turn out four finer horses than Pine County had on the ice Thursday afternoon. This is but a beginning. Others will be apt to follow before spring.