CRESCEUS, 2:02 1/4 



reversed, for Tammany was out in force and would 

 have torn down the grand stand had Big Chief Scan- 

 nell's champion won. 



At the conclusion of the heat the crush in the pad- 

 dock was immense, and the ropes stretched around 

 Cresceus were tested to their full strength. Almost as 

 many besieged The Abbot. Neither horse seemed at 

 all distressed. Both horses blew out quickly and stood 

 firm and stout on their legs. Cresceus is always in- 

 different to stolidity, but The Abbot was full of fire, 

 and tossed his head and looked about him with brilliant 

 eyes and eager ears. 



For the second heat they scored at 4:17 o'clock. 

 Cresceus again came down like a raging lion, tugging 

 for his head and begging to be freed from restraint. 

 He was fairly appalling to look upon as he swept past 

 the stand for the start. The Abbot could not get to 

 him, and they tried again, when they came down per- 

 fectly aligned and footing at a dizzy pace, but fully on 

 their stride and trotting smooth as machines. 



As before, Cresceus immediately began to draw 

 away. Twenty yards from the wire The Abbot threw 

 up his head and tried to break. His driver steadied 

 him and he went on, but just as he entered the turn 

 he jumped off his feet. They went the first eighth in 

 thirteen seconds, time unparalleled in racing. There 

 was a groan of dismay from the Tammany braves. 



Every one who knew The Abbot's breaks knew it 

 was all over. If Ketcham knew what had happened 



^33 



