CRESCEUS, 2:02V4 



position during the entire mile, trotting all around 

 his field. The fractional mile was 131, i :o4, i 135!, 

 2 :oyi. 



The second heat proved still more sensational ; Cres- 

 ceus, seemingly fresher and better than ever, led them 

 a killing mile, and was never in danger throughout 

 the route. Cresceus stepped away like a runaway 

 horse, and Tommy Britton went with him to the quar- 

 ter in 30J seconds, and then dropped out of the hunt. 

 When Cresceus went to the half in i :o2^ the audience 

 arose en masse, horsemen clicked their watches and 

 looked surprised as the great trotter came on faster 

 and faster, and when i 134! flashed from the timer's 

 stand as he passed the three-quarter pole everybody 

 knew the mile would be sensational. The others were 

 trailing far behind from the three-quarters, and as 

 they came around the back turn Cresceus was leading 

 by seven lengths. When they came down the home- 

 stretch Foote had John Nolan going at the top of his 

 speed, but he might as well have tried to have caught 

 the Empire State Express as to catch Cresceus, the 

 chestnut stallion passing under the wire six lengths 

 to the good, pulled up in 2 :o6f . The audience was 

 standing on its feet, hats were waving, men cheered 

 themselves hoarse, and as Cresceus was driven back to 

 the stand after the race he was accorded one of the 

 grandest receptions ever given a horse. From any 

 point of view this race can be classified as one of the 

 greatest in the history of the light-harness horse, and 

 stamped Cresceus as the greatest of his kind. 



73 



