Walla Walla's Day at the Races
Thousands of residents gathered at the track to watch local favorites Francisco and Belladi dominate the harness events, while a pony race provided unexpected comedy.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
This was the day for Walla Walla horses to shine at the races. Three thousand people saw Francisco, Charley Le Roux's speedy little pacer, win the free-for-all pace from Reta H. and Sam Bowers, and Judge Brents' Belladi won a splendid race in the 2:20 trot. Both were popular wins, and the crowds showed their appreciation by much handkerchief waving and cheering. Belladi especially came in for a generous amount of applause from the ladies, the beautiful little mare being a keen favorite with the fair sex. Francisco showed his superiority over the other two horses by winning by a length from Reta H. in the first heat and distancing both horses in the second heat. Le Roux had his horse well in hand and drove him in every heat without so much as a skip. Both heats were won in 2:14, which was excellent time as the track was somewhat heavy. Belladi took her race in straight heats from Idol and St. Patrick. The Shetland pony race was a roaring comedy from the time the little animals first made their appearance on the track until the rider of the winning horse was pitched head-first over his mount as it attempted to shoot sideways through the gate. Billy Crow, a fat little black pony, shot under the wire two lengths to the good. Time: 19 seconds.
“The Shetland pony race was a roaring comedy from the time the little animals first made their appearance on the track until the rider of the winning horse was pitched head first over his mount.”
Horse racing was a central pillar of social life in Walla Walla a century ago, serving as a primary weekend entertainment for thousands. While the town has outgrown the need for frequent local track meets, the deep cultural affinity for livestock and equestrian heritage remains a core element of Walla Walla's local identity.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.