CRESCEUS, 2:02V4 



tie before 3 o'clock. The horse and driver were royally 

 received, and Ketcham was forced to life his cap many 

 times as they passed the stand. The champion jogged 

 three miles below three minutes, and was then allowed 

 to step one in 2 122. An hour later he came out again, 

 and after scoring several times stepped a mile in 2 \2^. 

 At 4:30 he was worked out for the last time in 2:15^. 

 Cresceus showed in these preliminary trials that he liad 

 much power in reserve, and the vast throng waited 

 patiently for the great test. 



It was evident that the wind would not decrease be- 

 fore dark, and at 5.40 the champion was brought out 

 and Ketcham announced that he was ready. It was 

 announced from the judge's stand that owing to the 

 high wind, Ketcham hardly thought it possible for 

 Cresceus to lower the record, but that the horse would 

 be driven as fast as possible under the unfavorable 

 circumstances. 



Tim Murnen, with Mike The Tramp, was along- 

 side the stallion, and Dan Lake with another pace- 

 maker waited at the half-mile pole. On the fifth score, 

 Ketcham nodded for the w^ord, but Cresceus was not 

 properly on his stride, and Ketcham pulled him up at 

 the first turn, and came back to try it again. Down to 

 the wire he rushed, the runner two lengths back, and 

 this time it was a go. Gamely facing the breeze the 

 champion started on his journey, moving with appar- 

 ent ease, and at this great speed the runner caught 

 him at the quarter, and a sigh went up from the breath- 



117 



