CRESCEUS, 2:02 1/4 



of ten thousand people crowded the great grand stand, 

 and overflowed on to the lawn. It was an enthusiastic 

 audience and they cheered each horse as they paraded 

 before the stand waiting for the word. It was con- 

 ceded among the betting contingent that Cresceus 

 would prove the winner, and the advance pooling was 

 Cresceus, $200, and the field, $50. There was consid- 

 erable betting, with Cresceus 1:)arred, and in this Dare 

 Devil sold for even money against the other two to 

 finish second in the race. 



The four horses were hard to get away in the first 

 heat ; eight times they scored down and each time 

 Starter Merrill rang the bell and called them back. 

 The trouble was mainly due to the bad acting of Grat- 

 tan Boy, who w^as determined to come to the wire on 

 a canter. When he did come right Dare Devil would 

 spoil the start. Cresceus, as usual, was plodding 

 along with his long easy stride, apparently oblivious 

 to the surroundings, intent only on winning the race. 

 When they at last got the word Cresceus quickly 

 stepped to the front. At the quarter in 13 1 J it was 

 Cresceus by a length. Then came Charley Herr, with 

 Grattan Boy at his wheel. Geers with Dare Devil had 

 dropped back several lengths in the second furlong, 

 after going the first one with the bunch. Cresceus 

 raced along in front and won the heat from Grattan 

 Boy by two lengths in 2 :oy^. 



The fast mile enthused the audience, but the second 

 heat stirred them to still greater enthusiasm. Only 



75 



