BLUE WILKES WON HUNTER CUP ON DEVON'S SPEEDWAY

Special to the Inquirer.

DEVON, Feb. 11 - Three handsome silver loving cups offered by William T. Hunter, of Devon, were awarded to-day after some of the most exciting racing over snow that has ever been seen on the Devon Speedway. Blue Wilkes, from the Malvern Stock Farm, won the cup in the trotting class: Weno, a bay gelding owned by J. K. Thomas, of Norristown, driven by Abe Finnigan, won the cup for pacers, and Sammy K., driven by his owner, Gardner Warner, of Devon, won the cup offered for a special race.

Mr. Hunter, who is a wealthy resident of Devon, and has furnished excellent encouragement for the races by offering cups, had the Speedway widened this morning and it was in splendid condition this afternoon, the snow being packed hard. What is known as the Speedway is the stretch of road extending from Devon Station to Devon Inn.

Fully a hundred sleighs containing spectators visited the speedway during the races and big crowds of people gathered on the sides of the road at the starting and finishing points.

It was a foregone conclusion that Blue Wilkes would win the cup for trotters, he having secured legs on it the three preceeding race days. Driven by his trainer, Abe Finnigan, Blue Wilkes came in first with a good lead in three straight heats. John Mather with his fast Walker was second and George W. Kendal with his bay mare Franconia was third in all three heats.

The crowd.has looked forward to a close contest in the pacer class between Weno and Farnum Wilkes, a brown gelding owned by Lincoln Castle of Wayne and driven by John Mather, but the gelding was lame while Weno was in finest form and carried off the cup.

The greatest interest of the afternoon centred in a special race that had been arranged with the following participants, each horse being driven by his owner, who was confident of winning the cup: Walker, John Mather, of Wayne; Sammy K, Gardner Warner of Devon; Franconia, G. W. Kendall; Andalusia, D. O. Sullivan of Devon, and Indian, William Stewart.

The above order was the way in which they finished the first heat, which was neck and neck down the entire stretch between Walker and Sammy K, while the other three bunched close to the leaders.

The order in the second heat was Sammy K, Walker, Andalusia, Indian and Franconia. Thurd heat, Walker, Franconia, Sammy K, Indian and Andalusia. Fourth heat, Sammy K, Andalusia, Indian, Walker and Franconia. Fifth heat. Sammy K, Walker, Andalusia, Franconia, and Indian. This made three out of five heats for Garner Warner's horse and Mr. Warner was handed the cup by the donor, Mr. Hunter, while Mr. Mather shared in the cheers.

Dr. William C. Thompson acted as starter and the judges at the finish were Dr. C. Z. Weber, of Norristown, S. E. Wilson of Malvern, and J. T. Thompson of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 1905-02-11