CRESCEUS, 2:02V4 



was simply a walk-over for Cresceus ; John Xolan 

 merely acted as a pace-maker, and did not appear to 

 have speed enough to make the chestnut stallion ex- 

 tend himself. 



The great Kentucky Breeders' Association Meeting 

 at Lexington, Ky., was the scene of Cresceus's next 

 race. The Lexington Association, in the hope of 

 bringing together all of the most sensational trotters 

 of the year, had offered a purse of $2,000 for free-for- 

 all trotters. It was hoped to bring into the contest 

 the greatest and most sensational field of trotters ever 

 seen on a race track in America. In point of numbers 

 the race was a disappointment, as only three horses 

 remained in the event. The Abbot, Bingen and Cres- 

 ceus, but from a racing standpoint it proved to be one 

 of the best and fastest races of the year. The Abbot 

 had shown rare form throughout the season, and was 

 regarded as the coming champion. Bingen had shown 

 such extreme speed that, regardless of his poor show- 

 ing during the preceding weeks, many regarded him 

 as a certain winner. Cresceus was also highly re- 

 garded, and his admirers knew that he would give a 

 good account of himself, even if he failed to win the 

 race. The entire horse world was gathered at Lex- 

 ington that October day when the three greatest trot- 

 ters of the year appeared to do battle over the famous 

 Kentucky course. The audience knew the race would 

 be a duel to the death between these great trotters, 

 and the excitement and enthusiasm was intense. All 



63 



