EQUESTRIENNES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2372, 23 October 1880, Page 4

EQUESTRIENNES.

THE TW’ENTV-MILE HACK AT MINNEAPOLIS. The St. Paul “ Pioneer Press ”of September 11th, has the following about the twenty-mile ride of the female champions of California and Colorado, on the preceding day, at Minneapolis. Miss Cook was dressed in a black broadcloth riding habit of the usual kind, while Miss Pinnco wore a suit of black velvet, the dress being very short scarcely reaching lier ankles. Miss Cook was the first to mount, which she did in the rear of the stand and, rode on the track. Her appearance attracted universal attention, and the cheering was renewed. Miss Cook sits her horse very graceful [y, in a forward bending, position, while Miss Pinnco sits bolt upright. Miss Cook was quickly followed upon the track by Miss Pinnco, who was equally as prompt in being ready for the contest’ Arrangements were made for Miss Cook to change horses above the wire, while Miss Pinneo changed below. These being the prelimiuary arrangements, the actual struggle commenced. As they were just on the point of starting, and when, in fact, Miss Cook’s horse was started, above the entrance to the inclosurc, he jumped into the inclosure when lie came to it; and as he came in contact with the fence everybody feared that an accident had occured right in the start that would put an end to the race in the beginning. This, however was not so. The little lady righted the horse, and did not appear disturbed. A groom had by this time seized the bridle, and the horse was led out upon the track, and started. Immediately a shout went up. “ They arc oil;! They are off! See, see ; here they go !” and sure enough they did go. Miss Cook had a decided advantage in the start of several lengths. Then commenced

THE MOST EXCITTMG RACE That ever took place in the State of Minnesota, and one not likely to be equalled until another tw'entj'-mile race takes place again. When the horses started it was just eight minutes to four, Miss Pinnco started after her opponent, and laid the whip on at every jump. They came around to the score pretty nearly together, the advantage being a little with Miss Cook. The latter stopped to change horses, but Miss Pinneo went right on with the same horse. The shouting here was immense, and handkerchiefs waved. The little lady from California was quickly remounted on another horse, and drove after her opponent with an evident determination to overhaul her. The eyes of a vast multitude followed the two around the track. At the upper end of the homestretch there was a very large crowd, and from there down to the judges’ stand the fence was lined with people and carriages. The last seen of the t wo riders they were close together, coming around into the home-stretch. When next one of them was seen, it was discovered that Miss Pinnco was not to be seen, and everyone exclaimed, 11 Where is she ?” Everybody believed another accident had happened, and that the twenty-mile race, for the second time, was defeated. The shout then went up, “ Send somebody down,” and in an instant a man was on the way. As he started, Miss Pinnco was discovered in the middle of the track walking down the stretch with the horse. As soon as the man reached her with the horse she leaped into the saddle and was on the way after the California girl. Then there was some of THE LOUDEST SHOUTING. Ever heard in Minnesota. This followed the brave and plucky girl all along as she came down the stretch. In the meantime Miss Cook had made the change of horses and goes on. Miss Pinneo lost probably not less than three-quarters of a mile by this accident. The reason of the accident was simply a sulky horse. He just stopped and as Miss Pinnco said, he gave out in his legs. Miss Cook had made a decided start at the end of the fifth mile, and continued to keep it. Nothing of particular importance occurred up to the tenth mile, when Miss Cook came down the home stretch very fast and went on without changing horses for the eleventh mile, and tried to overhaul the Colorado girl, but did not seem to be able to do so. As Pinnco came down the home stretch Cook followed her for dear life. Miss Pinnco stopped at the end of her mile to have the dirt washed from her face and to take a drink of water. Miss Cook in the meantime had quickly and easily mounted another horse, and dashed ahead before Pinneo started, and was at least a good mile and a half ahead when her opponent left her position. When thc_ Colorado lady started there was blood in her eye, and she went after her opponent as fast as she could make that horse carry her. She gained on her, and, at the head of the home-stretch, overhauled her, and both appeared at the head of the stretch together and kept close company to the judges’ stand. Miss Cook appeared as fresh and sparkling as ever, while Miss Pinnco looked [as though the race was telling on her! Miss Cook did not stop this time to change horses, but kept on for thirteenth mile, while Miss Pinneo mounted a grey horse and had the dirt washed from her face again. This grey horse was regarded as a good one, and’ the lady started with it after her opponent. When Miss Cook arrived at the c ul of her thirteenth mile she was still fresh and all right, and sat her horse easily. She was closely followed by Miss Pinnco, apparently improving. Cook was remounted the quickest and went on, and got a good long start of her opponent, who mounted a little roan and started after the California lady on the fourteenth mile, with Cook a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half ahead. Miss Cook arrived at the end of the fourteenth mile fresh, and changed with case. After she started the lines caught in some way, an 1 she leaned over to unhitch it, when everybody thought she was FALLING EJiOM THE HOUSE. And expressions of fear that she had met with a misfortune were heard on every side ; but while the horse was going she righted up and on she went. Miss Pinnco arrived a second later, and changing as quickly as possible, went after her at a rattling gait, giving her horse the string at every jump, but she could not overhaul her opponent. Miss Cook arrived at the end of the fifteenth mile and went right on the sixteenth without stopping to change. At this point a shout went up that Miss Pinnco was off her horse, and a man with a horse was despatched for the half-mile pole, everybody expecting an accident had occurred, but were soon disabused by the lady from Colorado making her appearance at the head of the stretch,

down which she came like a streak. This settled the question of an accident. The lady’s saddle had slipped around and she jumped from the horse to avoid injury. She got a fresh horse and started for her opponent, but she had too few miles left to overcome her loss through these two accidents ; still the brave girl from Colorado went on just the same and did her level best. Nothing of interest occurred from this time to the end worthy of special mention. The race resulted in Miss Pinnco being beaten byabout two miles and a quarter. As it was, the race was a very close one, and would have been still closer but for the two accidents that befell the lady from Colorado. If the horse had attended to his business of sulking, and if the saddle had stayed in its place, there is no reason why the difference between the time of the two riders should not have been reduced to a few lengths, with great doubts as to whether the advantage of those few lengths would be in favor of California or Col orado.