A GREAT HORSE 



ings. They yelled and stamped and pounded their 

 hands together until they were weary. Mr. Ketcham 

 was presented with a huge basket of flowers, and he 

 bowed his thanks, his face wreathed in smiles. 

 When 2 :o9^ was posted up by the timers there was 

 more applause. 



Ketcham w^as very happy over the result. He had 

 driven the champion to a new world's record in his 

 own home, and had demonstrated to the people of 

 Toledo that their city was the abiding place of the 

 greatest horse that ever lived. 



At 4 130 o'clock the champion again appeared on the 

 track apparently as fresh as ever. This time he was 

 hitched to a wagon, and announcement was made that 

 he would attempt to beat the world's wagon record 

 over a half-mile track. There was no preliminary 

 miles, and with little delay Ketcham mounted the seat 

 and drove back to score for the word. He was away 

 on the first trial. Cresceus trotted perfectly true, and 

 was at the quarter in 34 seconds. The half was reached 

 in I :o6^, and it was at this point that the drive began. 

 Without the use of the whip, Ketcham urged the cham- 

 pion to renewed effort. Cresceus was ready and will- 

 ing for the final struggle and the next quarter was cov- 

 ered in 32 seconds. As he faced the wind coming 

 down the home-stretch it appeared to retard him 

 slightly, but he came bravely on, and reached the wire 

 in 33J seconds, completing the mile in 2:12, beating 

 the world's record. 



164 



