Chapter Sixteen
A Date On Race Day

The races of August 1892, had been planned as a two- week meeting, and it started with great success. In the past many of the citizens of Independence, did not take time off during the meetings because there was just too much to do. However, because of the length of the summer meeting this year, many were taking a day or two off to enjoy the races themselves. Gilbert and Clara, were encouraged by their employers, to take a day off. They both got a day off together.

Clara’s father was in town for the races. Clara, who had recently turned eighteen, wanted to make a stand to show her father she wasn’t going to be controlled by him any longer. But when it came right down to it, she was still afraid of him discovering their relationship. She was enrolled at the Teachers College in Cedar Falls, and it was her father who was paying for it.

She didn’t tell anyone, except of course Eva and Gretchen, about her plans to spend the day with Gilbert. It was decided, the two of them were not going to hide their adoration for each other any longer, even to Mr. Groober. If her father saw them, they would deal with the consequences. Clara’s aunt and uncle agreed to defend their relationship. They agreed to meet at the mill that morning.

They picked the fifth day of the first week of races, because Nancy Hanks will attempt to break the world trotting horse record. Gilbert slept later then usual, since his duties were being attended to by his good friend Barney. Looking through the window toward the track. The sun was not visible through the thick cloud cover and a cool damp feel was in the air. If it didn’t rain everything will be fine. Regardless it would be a great day to spend with Clara.

He saw many horses being exercised by grooms and owners. The big concrete water trough was surrounded by horses getting a drink after their workouts. He saw Barney going from one barn to the next. He would be returning the favor in a few days for him.

Gilbert planned to meet Clara at six-thirty, on the west side of the main street bridge in front of the Wapsipinicon Mill building. The races had been great that week, with some of the best horses around the country gathered at Rush Park. Great races were trotted and paced by horses, Confrontation, Kentucky Union, Silicon, Flying Jib, Martha Wilkes, Online, Belle Action, Jay-Eye-See, Mascot, Manager, and Lord Clinton.

Gilbert put on his gray suit, which was not in the best shape, but presentable for the activity of the day. He grabbed a large wad of money he had saved for this day. He planned to spare no expense on this day. There was always the threat of pickpockets around during the races, so he placed his money in several unusual places.

He kept a normal wallet in his coat breast pocket with seven dollars in it. Seven dollars was a good safe amount to carry, it wasn’t too much, yet enough that a pickpocket may not suspect he had more. He stood in front of the mirror on the wall, practicing his surprise and angry look at being held up.

He placed ten dollars in his shoe in case of an emergency. He didn’t plan to use this money, because it would look goofy if he were to remove his shoe in some fancy restaurant. The rest of his money was placed in various pockets clipped with money clips. In his pants pocket he had several coins to use for small expenses.

Miraculously the trolley was stopping at the track gate ready to make the run to town when Gilbert arrived. The trolley driver happily greeted Gilbert by name. With so many people from out of town for the races, the trolley driver was happy to see a familiar face. He paid his five- cent fee for the ride to the mill. He was too excited to sit, so he stood holding a brass pole. There were crowds gathering around various vendors to get breakfast. There were many of these vendors frying up bacon, eggs, sausages and other various breakfast favorites.

The aroma’s of slow cooked beef and pork being prepared for later meals filled the air. There were men, women and children in all kinds of shapes, sizes, age, dress and temperament everywhere.

The trolley stopped at the Burlington Cedar Rapids Northern station for a group of people that just arrived in town. Many people were using the boardwalk between the station and Rush Park. Gilbert, who had seldom been to town so early in the morning during a race week, did not realize how awake the town was this early.

The trolley driver rang the bell, “Got the day off, Gilbert?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“I get off at two. Do you know when Nancy Hanks hits the turf?”

“They probably won’t get her off until late afternoon, I’m sure.”

“Good,” the driver said, “I should be able to catch the race.” He rang his bell again. “I hope the weather straightens up.”

“I think it will,” Gilbert said confidently, “Mr. Martin got a telegram late last night that it was clearing in Omaha.”

“Gilbert,” the driver said, “take a look behind us and see if it is clearing any.”

Gilbert leaned out of the trolley looking to the west. “I see some patches of blue.”

“Great!” He slowed the trolley down to pick up two ladies waving. One taller lady, was dressed in a yellow dress with a dark- green top coat. She wore a small hat with a single red flower on the top. The tall woman had to stand away from the shorter woman who had a massive brimmed hat, with a wide variety of colored flowers.

The trolley stopped to allow them to board. They paid five cents and took seats. The broad hatted lady seemed to know how to maneuver around the trolley with that hat. They chattered to one another as the trolley moved into town. Gilbert hated to eaves-drop, but when he heard Katie’s name mentioned, he had to listen.

The large hat lady said, “I don’t know what exactly happened, but Ruth said that Katie will be getting married next week, if she had her way.”

“What happened?” The taller lady asked.

“Well, she didn’t say anything happened, she was just upset.”

“So, why does she think they should get married?”

“She caught them doing something. I don’t know what, but, she was so upset about it. She just couldn’t get the courage up to tell me.” The big hat lady shook her head and one of her flowers fell. Neither of the ladies noticed this. Gilbert thought that he may pick it up and give it to Clara, but dismissed the idea as cheap. It did make him think he should have gotten her a flower or something.

“You don’t think she caught them?” The taller lady raised an eyebrow.

The lady with the hat shrugged her shoulders, “What else should we think.” The lady with the big hat looked at Gilbert. “Young man, keep your ears to yourself.”

“Keep your gossiping to yourself, ma’am.” Gilbert abruptly returned. Both ladies huffed and turned away from Gilbert.

The trolley started to slow for the stop at the mill. “This is where I get off.” Gilbert told the trolley driver.

“I hope you have a great day, Gilbert,” the driver said.

“Thank you,” Gilbert said, “You have a great day as well.”

He spotted Clara easily in the crowd before the trolley had even stopped. She was, by far, the most beautiful woman he saw. Her dress had a light blue tone with a white yoke and fluffed collar. Her bustle was a medium blue matching her modest sized hat. The hat was trimmed with light blue ribbons.

He kissed her passionately nearly knocking them both over. Out of habit, they looked around to see if anyone had seen them. Of the dozens of people surrounding them, nobody seemed to have noticed or even cared. Gilbert particularly looked to make sure the two gossiping women had not gotten off. Then held his arm out for Clara, which she clutched onto happily. They started to walk across the iron bridge toward town, then noticed the two gossiping ladies looking toward them from the trolley as it passed.

Gilbert wanted to take Clara to the new Gedney Hotel dining room for breakfast. When they arrived at the Gedney, the dining room was packed and the line of people waiting to dine there trailed through the hotel lobby. They waited in line when Gilbert noticed the two ladies from the trolley were just a few people ahead of them.

He asked Clara, “Have you heard anything from Katie last night or this morning?”

Clara puzzled, shook her head, “No, I haven’t seen her since yesterday at the track. She had last night off. Why?”

He spoke quietly, so as not to be overheard. “I heard something this morning, but I can’t go into it just now.”

Mr. Hodges, the hotel manager, saw Gilbert and Clara as they waited in the long line. Mr. Hodges, the hotel manager knew Gilbert, made his way around from behind the lobby desk and approached the young couple.

“Mr. Fenny,” he spoke quietly as he looked cautiously around at the rest of the people waiting in line. “Would you follow me please, sir?” He gestured for the couple to follow him.

Gilbert looked to Clara, shrugged his shoulders and followed. Gilbert knew Mr. Hodges, but didn’t realize Mr. Hodges knew him. They were led to the billiard room which was, in all appearances, not open. Mr. Hodges opened the door and gestured them in. Gilbert held the door open for Clara.

The room was full of distinguished people from local businesses to prominent people from around the country. The billiard tables had been moved to one side of the room and dinner tables were placed in the room which hosted maybe sixty people. There were three waitresses dancing around the maze of tables serving the distinguished guests.

Seated at these tables were Mr. and Mrs. Byron Tabor; Mr. and Mrs. Letzye; Dr. Tabor; Mr. Howard, the mayor; Mr. Toman; and Mr. Gildersleeve. Several judges from out of town, there for the races. There were a few newspaper reporters and, to Gilbert’s great and pleasing surprise, Miss Timms.

Gilbert looked quickly for a place to sit when Miss Timms noticed him and called out to him. “Mr. Fenny,” she spoke up loud enough to make the room go quiet, “come join us, will you please.” This offer came to Gilbert as a great surprise and flattered to be greeted in such a manner.

There were two empty seats next to Miss Timms in one corner of the room. There was another young local reporter sitting across from her. Gilbert recognized him as the reporter that visited with Mr. Williams earlier in the spring. Gilbert was relieved he had a place to go, where he was welcome and felt much more relaxed. He tugged slightly on Clara’s arm, but she did not respond. He looked at her, she was frozen, staring toward another corner of the room.

Gilbert averted his eyes to that corner. He spotting Clara’s mother and father sitting with her aunt and uncle. The four were looking at each other sizing up the situation. Clara’s aunt leaned over toward her brother Francis and said something. Then Clara’s father scrunched up his face and looked away from his daughter. Her aunt smiled at Clara, and she returned the smile. Clara then pushed Gilbert toward the table of Miss Timms.

Miss Timms had observed the silent interaction between the family members. She asked with great concern, “I’m sorry, would you like to sit somewhere else?”

Clara answered, “No, this will be wonderful, thank you.”

The conversation at the rest of the tables in the room started up again. Clara kept peering over to her parents, trying not to be noticed doing it. Miss Timms asked Gilbert, “Who is your lovely friend?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Adell Timms, this is Clara Groober,” he went on to say, “Miss Timms is a reporter from Minneapolis.”

“Very pleased to meet you,” Miss Timms said politely.

“The pleasure is mine,” Clara responded looking her over carefully with some remote malice of thought.

Miss Timms started to speak about her ordeal finding a place to stay for this year’s race. “I had wired ahead for a room at the hotel, but when I got here they had claimed they didn’t receive the telegram. I spent the rest of the first day trying to find a place to stay. The hotel found my telegram later, mixed in with some food requisitions. They were very apologetic about the mistake, so they put me up in the store room the first night, at no charge. I found that even the store room in this hotel is quite elegant. Lucky for me, the bridal suite became available. It was reserved for a couple that planned to get married at the race track after the races on the first day. The couple lost all their money on the first few races and left town on separate trains headed in separate directions. So I’m told, anyway. This opened up the bridal suite for the rest of the week. They offered it to me for the whole two weeks and only charged the regular room rate.”

Gilbert politely responded, “Did you sleep well in the storage room?”

“They made it very comfortable,” Miss Timms noticed Clara looking again to her parents. “I see you weren’t sure how your parents would react to your presence here. It is none of my business, but I think very highly of Gilbert and if I can help to smooth things out, I certainly will.” Miss Timms suddenly stopped eating and energetically spoke out, “Maybe I should do a feature on Gilbert. Might win you some favor with the folks.”

Clara was touched by the gesture, “We appreciate your offer, and we may take you up on it, but we’ll see what happens.” Then she wondered, “How did you know they were my parents?”

“I’m a reporter,” she said, “I have to be able to read people well.”

“What is it that tipped you off?” Gilbert asked.

“Well, you have similarities in looks with the couple on the right. The couple on the left were excited to see you. Your mother was pleasantly surprised and then frightened to see you. Your father was only angered by your appearance.” Miss Timms went on, “You, my dear, were frightened at first. Then you felt more defiant of the anger your father showed. I can guess your father doesn’t approve of you being with Gilbert or anyone maybe.”

“I think you knew the story all along.” Clara with a smile looking toward Gilbert.

Miss Timms understood Clara was joking, “I don’t recall ever being informed about the situation.” She paused for a moment looking to Gilbert for reassurance he had never told her. “You never told me of your lovely lady friend before, did you?”

“I don’t believe so, no,” he answered.

She looked back at Clara taking a deep inquisitive look at Clara’s eyes, “I could have sworn your eyes were green just a moment ago.”

Clara gave a quick embarrassed smile. Gilbert spoke for her, “They turn green when she gets all emotional.”

“I thought only cats did that?” Miss Timms asked.

Clara smiled and did her best cat imitation, “Meow.” The four of them laughed. Clara caught a glimpse of her father looking her way. He seemed to be irritated by their sudden burst of laughter.

Between bites of breakfast Miss Timms stated, “I hear that Mr. Williams came out very well with his lawsuit.”

Gilbert had to think for a moment before he answered, “Oh, yes,” he responded. “It was determined the man had been properly warned not to stand on the bandstand.”

Miss Timms said, “He was so excited by the race he couldn’t help himself, I bet.”

The young male reporter sitting with them had kept quiet, but was attentive of the conversation. Miss Timms brought him into the conversation. “Do you have anything to say Murray? This is Murray Stafford. If you didn’t already know.”

“We met last spring,” Gilbert said, “Good to see you again, sir.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Clara added.

“Murray was just starting to tell me a story when, you two came in.” Miss Timms said. “Would you like to tell us the rest of the story.”

“Sure,” Murray said. “Well, a court judge from Waterloo, wired inquiring about the district court judge voting turnout in Buchanan County. The receiver of the wire misunderstood his inquiry and gave him the names of judges that were working the races at Rush Park instead.” The four of them laughed again.

The waitress serving them was once Clara’s arch enemy when she lived in Independence, as a child. They were very cordial to each another, and all grudges seemed to have diminished over the years. She encouraged Gilbert to give a gracious tip when they left.

Miss Timms had refrained from asking Gilbert any questions, but couldn’t resist asking in a very concerned manner, “How is Allerton looking, after his injury in Davenport?”

Gilbert was expecting several people to ask him how Allerton was. They had not worked him since the injury, and even if the injury healed completely, Allerton would not be able to be conditioned enough to be as competitive. However, Mr. Williams had plans to work Allerton privately, to see where he was physically, once the races had concluded. He also knew Mr. Williams often achieved great things. So maybe Allerton could be rehabilitated enough to race again. Mr. Williams had announced that Allerton would not do any traveling in the future. He wanted him to stay in Independence with the safe elastic turf. Gilbert personally expressed to Mr. Williams that Allerton should retire while he is on top, if a full gainful recovery could not be achieved.

Knowing all that, his response was, “He has a long recovery to make before he will be back.” He then changed the subject quickly indicating to Miss Timms that he would not say anything further. “What do you think of Nancy Hanks’s chances today?”

“The conditions are excellent,” she spoke, “You have the fast track, no wind to speak of, she will be pulling the new pneumatic wheeled sulky. And I hear she is in great condition, according to Mr. Doble. How do you feel she’ll do?”

He chuckled, “With Mr. Doble driving, two thoroughbreds to push her and the fact she is by far the fastest horse ever foaled. That can only add up to a, yes.” He paused, “I saw her yesterday morning in a workout, and she looks the best I have ever seen. It will be a treat to watch her today.”

“Any truth to the rumor that Allerton and Nancy Hanks will breed twice, one foal for each owner?” Miss Timms asked.

Gilbert smiled broadly, “You just made that up,” Gilbert joked with her. “You know it couldn’t be true, because they wouldn’t be able to agree on who gets the first foal.” The four of them laughed once again, turning a few heads their way.

Mr. Stafford broke his silence when things settled down, “Did you hear the poem recited at the opera house last night?” He took a breath as everyone at the table toned in to hear what he had to say. “Some men invest their money, some stow it in the banks, but I have found a safer place; I bet on Nancy Hanks.” Everyone within ear shot of the reporter’s words laughed and agreed whole heartedly.

When they finished their breakfast Gilbert left a two- dollar tip on the table. Clara glared at him, like he had done wrong, “What?”

“I said, leave a good tip. You don’t have to give her the farm.”

He was a bit lost as to what he should have done, “Be more specific next time when you order me around.”

“You have never tipped me like that.”

“I know. I didn’t want anyone to think I liked you.”

“A waitress never asks for a tip. A gentleman should just be willing to give what he feels is appropriate for the service he receives.” Clara said as if Gilbert should have known.

“Well, then she gave great service,” he added, “a whole two dollars’ worth.”

“Apparently much better service than I give.” She said coldly.

“Are you really serious?”

“No, I love you just the same as always.” She smiled, “I would like to see better tips from you in the future. I have to have spending money when I go to college.”

Before leaving the hotel Gilbert stopped at the counter on the north side of the lobby. He looked through the glass case at the many items for sale, there was a variety of cigars and chewing tobacco, candies, and mints. Gilbert bought a small bag of hard peppermint candies they could have throughout the day. He wanted to be able to freshen up his breath, if the occasion came up to kiss Clara.

They strolled around the downtown area, going into various shops. Clara pointed out a round medallion with a small red ruby on the upper crest of it and a horse head engraved on the medallion. The horse engraved on the medallion was labeled Axtell. There was another one just like it with the name Allerton etched on it. The girl watching the counter at the time was Laura Willard. She came over to them, “Hi, Gilbert,” she said, “see anything you like?”

Gilbert’s heart raced a bit, “Hi, Laura.” He found himself a bit uncomfortable. “I can’t read the price on that medallion with the ruby.”

“It is,” she turned the price tag around to read it better, “six dollars.” She grinned and spoke quietly, “It’s not really a ruby, just glass. The medallion is real silver, though.”

“I’ll take one of each of those.”

“Oh, big spender,” she glanced toward Clara. “How have you been Clara?”

“I am fine, thank you,” Clara said apprehensively.

“I have heard about you from Naome Soener.” Laura said, “Good things I might add.” She grabbed the medallions and placed them on top of the case. “Do you want me to bag them or will you wear them?” She asked as Gilbert reached into one of his pockets to get out a small wad of bills.

He handed her two ten-dollar bills, “We’ll wear them, thank you Laura.”

“Two sawbuck’s, I’ll get your change.” She went to a box behind another counter. She returned. “Did Katie tell you about the party we are having at the big tree.”

“No, I hadn’t heard,” Clara replied feeling put out that she hadn’t.

“You should come. Gilbert, you know where it is don’t you?” Laura said. “It will be from eight until whenever. They plan to have a bonfire and everything,” she said with a giggle. I will be with Adam Hendrix.”

“We might do that.” Gilbert said.

Laura looked at Gilbert hoping to see some sign of jealousy. He showed no emotion. As they were exiting, she yelled out after them, “Oh, Thank you.”

The two walked around for another hour, just enjoying each others company. They enjoyed their time together just talking about anything without any obligations or worries. Time seemed to fly by for them. The races wouldn’t be starting for a few hours, so they decided they would go to Fairview Park for their midday meal. Fairview Park was just west of Rush Park.

There was a barbeque pit there with a half calf cooking. The man cooking it, had cooked calves during the Fourth of July festivities for years and had a reputation for a tasty sauce developed by a local farmer.

They decided to walk out to the track instead of riding the overflowing trolley. There was a trailer car added to some of the trolleys to handle the people. As they walked they were passed by a packed trolley clanging by every few minutes. Some men would get on and off as the trolley moved along. The ladies would always wait for it to stop properly before boarding or disembarking.

It remained mostly cloudy all morning, but the temperature had risen to make it a bit uncomfortable. They walked along, noticing smell after smell of cooking foods of all kinds. Kettles were over fires cooking potatoes or corn on the cob. The walk along the board walk was nearly impossible because of the amount of people crammed on it. Luckily the flow was generally in the direction of the track.

The trolleys were full going out to the Rush Park and nearly always empty coming back to town as race time approached. When they arrived at Fairview Park, there was a line of people waiting to get a share of the beef. Of the hundreds of people at Fairview Park the majority of them were more locals. Fairview Park wasn’t on the main traffic areas, so fewer out of towner’s knew about it. They didn’t have to wait to long for a steel plate full of beef and boiled potatoes. They assisted the providers of the meal by cleaning their plates thoroughly for others to use in large wash tubs. It wasn’t required, but locals would do this out of courtesy to each other.

As they approached Rush Park Gilbert noticed the grounds were filled with people. “We may not get a great seat after all.”

“Gilbert,” Clara said calmly, “I’m sure there will be a place for the two of us.”

They arrived at the gate and Gilbert paid the two dollars for their admittance. They strolled toward the stands that had plenty of seating for them. As they were about to enter the amphitheater, a male voice rang out.

“Gilbert!”

The couple turned in the direction of the voice and Mr. Martin, Mr. Williams business manager, approached them. “Gilbert, I know you have the day off and everything, but could I get you to help these ladies find a good spot in the amphitheater for the inmates from the state asylum, please?”

“Sure,” he replied without hesitation.

“Thank you,” Mr. Martin said with great relief. “Mr. Williams wants them to get a good place all together. They are walking around the barns toward the entry gate. Here is a note from Mr. Williams to allow them in at no charge.” Mr. Martin sped off.

Gilbert and Clara went back to the main entry gate, and when the patients arrived with their escorts, Gilbert interceded to inform the gate keepers to allow them in. They walked ahead of the group of patients who appeared to be very excited about getting in to the races. Mr. Williams has worked with the state hospital for the insane, in Independence, to allow many patients to attend the races at Rush Park.

Gilbert led them to the upper back rows at the south end of the amphitheater. He asked several people, who were cooperative, if they would move down a bit. Clara and Gilbert decided to sit next to the group of patients.

Clara had grabbed a printed program for the races scheduled that day. The two studied the races, and between them, they made predictions of who they thought would win. Clara claimed it wasn’t fair because Gilbert has experience with the horses.

They befriended several of the patients and one in particular, who was very friendly and impressed with Gilbert and Clara. Gilbert went down and got several programs for the patients and explained to them how to read and analyze the program. They appreciated the explanation and had more interest because of it. The stands and grounds were packed with more people then Gilbert ever remembered being there before. He thought there were thousands more than the 25,000 people attending the race between Nancy Hanks and Allerton.

Things went smoothly through the day, except there was a fight that occurred a few rows in front of them. There was a group of Englishmen sitting a row in front of several well-dressed ladies. The Englishmen had a tendency to stand during the races, blocking the view of the ladies behind them. When one of the ladies kindly asked them to sit down, one Englishmen informed her. “My friends and I have come all the way from England to see the bloody races. If we have to stand so be it.”

A man from Hazleton, informed the gentlemen from England, “You should be gentlemen and heed the request of the lady.”

The English gentleman said, “You should have taken a bath, you smell like a pig from Wales.” It appeared that he was going to say more, but his mouth was suddenly full of a fist and he flew two rows down the stands.

The rest of the English gentlemen began to make a move toward the man from Hazleton, but several security men were on the spot quickly to break up the brawl.

“Those English blokes were lucky security broke up the fight,” Gilbert chuckled in Clara’s ear.

Clara was doing better than Gilbert in picking winners of the races, however, she felt Gilbert wasn’t picking to the best of his ability. He convinced her otherwise and praised her ability to judge the horses. Gilbert, Clara and two of the attendants for the patients went to get the patients food. Clara talked her boss into sending a few helpers from the booth to assist taking food to them.

When the final race of the day was run, the crowd stirred with anticipation of Nancy Hanks attempt to set a new trotting record. She was led through the side gate between the stables by her driver Bud Doble and attendants. You could hear cheers from that area of the park grow as people became aware of her entrance.

When she came into view of the people in the stands, everyone stood up and cheered. The crowd was pulling for her to set the record for the fastest mile ever trotted. Charles W. Williams followed behind her with his old thoroughbred runner Ned Gordon. Following him was George Starr riding Abe Lincoln. The two running thoroughbreds were to start behind Nancy Hanks to push her hard for the record.

Budd Doble climbed on the new pneumatic wheeled sulky and started Nancy Hanks on a pure gait jog that was beautiful. She jogged in front of the stands showing her confidence and pleasure.

“My God,” Gilbert blurted out with tears filling his eyes. “She’s going to do it. She looks so good.” Clara clutched onto his arm and squeezed it hard. The runners stayed behind as Doble started her around the small loop of the track hoping to get the word on the first pass.

As he drove her around the loop the entire crowd stood on their toes to get the best view possible. The judges wanted to be fair and felt she hadn’t gotten the best start. Doble turned her around to try again. The crowd went back on their heels for a moment as she trotted around the small end one more time.

The word was given for a start this time and many watches started timing her gallant attempt. The pounding of the running horses’s hooves encouraged Nancy Hanks from the start. The pace was strong, true and proud. The men standing at the quarter held up the numbers thirty, shortly after she had passed them.

“Thirty seconds,” Gilbert screamed as loud as he could, but was not be heard by anyone because the cheers from the entire crowd.

The running horses lay back at her wheels as they started the long turn. At the half mile mark the numbers went up, ‘1:10’. Gilbert couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t be that slow. Then the men holding the numbers quickly corrected it to, ‘1:01’.

“Incredible, that’s nearly a two minute gait!” Gilbert yelled unheard once again. “She could just jog the rest of the mile and still set the record.” He thought, Nancy Hanks would typically trot her best at the end and at this pace could certainly do it under two minutes. The crowd could sense it as well, as their cheers even got louder.

As she rounded the last of the long sweeping turn you could see George Starr and Mr. Williams screaming and pushing their thoroughbreds harder after the speedy Nancy Hanks. She was on the verge of being taken by the thoroughbreds as they passed the three quarter mark at ‘1:34’. But her pride in herself would not allow a horse to head her at any time for any reason. Budd Doble urged his mare to push herself, and she responded with determination and spirit.

Gilbert screamed in Clara’s ear, “I don’t think they could take her now if they tried!” He was referring to the thoroughbreds running along. Nancy Hanks pulled away from the runners with a longer stride in her gait. It was pure bedlam as she passed the wire swiftly. Everyone knew she had broken the record; it was just a question of what the new record was.

The judges consulted briefly and put up the time of ‘2:05 1/4’. The crowd screamed with delight, women fainted and men wept with excitement. She had broken the record by an amazing three full seconds.

Budd Doble trotted her around the small end of the track a few times as security people tried to keep the spectators off the track. The mob did not get unruly. The people who were still in town could hear the cheers and through modern telecommunications, they heard the news. Nancy Hanks is the unofficial, ‘King and Queen of the Turf’.

The crowd stayed to cheer for several minutes. It took hours after the races to disperse the crowd from the park. The trolley ran overfull transporting people back to town. The majority of people walked toward town and so did Clara and Gilbert after they assisted the patients into wagons to take them back to the hospital.

They arrived at the Gedney Hotel for dinner, once again a line had formed out into the street through the north door. They did not get plucked out of the line, like they had that morning. Gilbert had tried to get reservations for the dining room, but it was strictly first come, first serve.

After two hours of waiting, they finally got a table they agreed to share with another couple, from Chicago, they had been in line with. Warren and Mildred Greene. They had a nice conversation, that was dominated by the couple from Chicago. They decided to go together to the new opera house for the late show that started at 10:00 p.m. They were going to see the play, ‘Bohemian Girl’.

For whatever reason the waitress brought only one check to their table. Gilbert felt for his money as he picked up the check. He looked at it and realized it was a note not a check. He read in silence.

Gilbert,

  I have paid the check for you

  and your friends at the table.

                  Williams

“Let me get that,” Warren reached for the check.

“It won’t be necessary,” Gilbert said.

Warren leaned over for a glimpse of the note, “That isn’t Charles Williams, is it?”

“Yes it is,” Gilbert would rather have paid the bill himself.

“Do you know him?” Warren asked.

The questions about the horses and Mr. Williams never ceased the rest of the night. Gilbert ended up telling everything about the two great horses. They asked a lot about Mr. Williams, but Gilbert was reluctant to say much about him.

They ceased asking questions as they took in the impressive elegance of the opera house. They had seats in the front row of the balcony. The opera house was full of people who had paid a dollar to get in. He could tell from most of the crowd of people they were impressed with the surroundings. Just before the performance began, he saw Randall Wallace in a black formal outfit, turning down the house lights one by one. He was amused because he had only ever seen him dressed in tattered farming britches, suspenders and a straw hat.

The play was very enjoyable, but Gilbert had trouble paying attention, as he often would be looking at the decorations around him, including Clara.

After the play he walked Clara to within a block of the Morton’s home. They looked up into the stars and Gilbert put his arms around her waist. His eyes were sad and tired as he looked into her sad and tired eyes. “I don’t want this day to end.”

“Neither do I,” She said tearing slightly. “It has been the best.”

“I will be leaving for college before the races are over. I didn’t want to tell you.” She wasn’t going to tell Gilbert that night, but it appeared they may not see each other again.

Gilbert forced out a smile, “I’m glad for you.” Then he gently kissed her.

When the races ended that year, Rush Park in Independence held many new world records. The trotting speed record by Nancy Hanks at 2:05 1/4. The record for trotting in a race by Martha Wilkes at 2:09 ½. The world record for pacing in a race by Flying Jib at 2:07. The yearling world pace record Belle Action at 2:22 ½. The world record for two year old pace by Online at 2:16. The world record for three- year- old pace by Manager at 2:11 ½. The world record for stallion pacer by Direct at 2:06.

The track also held world records of the fastest three and four heat races ever trotted, and the fastest four and five heat races ever paced.

‘The American Trotter’ magazine stated, after the August races of 1892, “Where on the footstool of the Almighty is the course that can beat it?”

The world’s eyes were on Independence during the races and their minds were on Independence for what this town would do next to top it’s record.

A gypsy family remained behind in camp near Independence for a few weeks. They had a horse they wanted to enter in the races, but were not able to register him in time. A local businessman challenged them to a race, he felt the Gypsy’s had cheated him. When the Gypsy horse was able to win easily.