A GREAT HORSE 



Cresceus drew the pole for the opening heat and after 

 a couple of scores they were sent away on even terms. 

 On the first turn Britton made one of his rushes, and 

 in a twinkling had the track, and as he flashed past 

 the quarter in 32 seconds it looked as though Cresceus 

 was not going to be able to head him. The same clip 

 was maintained up the back-stretch, the call at the 

 half being i :o4, and at that point Britton was a clear 

 length to the good and apparently going easy to him- 

 self. His clock-like stride carried him to the turn in 

 a jiffy, but as the pair passed the three-quarter pole 

 in I 138, Cresceus had quickened his gait and his nose 

 was at Britton's wheel. Ketcham was urging Cresceus 

 slightly, but it was nothing like a hard rally, and under 

 it he crept up on Britton until half way down the home- 

 stretch he was nearly on even terms with the brown 

 stallion. Then West went to work very industriously 

 on Britton, and for a few strides the two stallions 

 swept along on even terms. At the long distance 

 Cresceus had Britton "by the neck," as a horseman 

 says, and those who knew the two horses were confi- 

 dent he would win. The brown horse hung to him 

 for an instant, but Cresceus was trotting in bull-dog 

 style while Britton seemed to falter. A few feet fur- 

 ther and he had quit in earnest in spite of West's urg- 

 ing with bit and line, and from there to the wire it 

 was Cresceus all by himself in 2:10, everybody seeing 

 the race was as good as over although another heat 

 was to be trotted. 



68 



