A GREAT HORSE 



throu.i^li the grand stand, and the trial began. Cresceus 

 going Hke a mighty piece of machinery, his every move- 

 ment a picture, inspired the spectators. Ketcham 

 merely held him with a steadying rein, and the cham- 

 pion was drawing away from his speedy running mate 

 as he went to the quarter. 



A hundred watches were held upon him, and as he 

 passed the quarter in 30^ seconds there was much figur- 

 ing on the time in which he was likely to do the mile. 

 The champion was going easily on the back-stretch and 

 negotiated the half-mile in i :oi, which proved that he 

 had trotted the second quarter well within the figures 

 established by Alix, the previous holder of the Belmont 

 track record. At the half Mike The Tramp, who 

 had to run like the wind to keep within hearing of the 

 champion, relinquished his place to Corn Cob, another 

 pace-maker. The pick-up was faultless, and the runner 

 cut out a fast gait. As the pair made for the three- 

 quarter pole, Mike The Tramp joined them, and a 

 ])recty race was witnessed. Coming up the hill to 

 the three-quarter pole a man in the stand shouted, 

 "He's broke." With the two pace-makers neck and 

 neck with the champion, it looked from the stand as 

 though Cresceus had made a mistake. A sigh of dis- 

 appointment could be heard on all sides, but the next 

 instant Ketcham called on the champion, and as his 

 fine head showed in front of his pace-makers it was 

 plainly seen tliat he was going as well as ever and 

 had not changed his stride. The three-quarter pole 



148 



