A GREAT HORSE 



saw only the hero, and Cresceus jogged back and 

 forth with probably the least attention of any of the 

 stallions. Monterey, the big burly light chestnut stal- 

 lion from California, was one of the best looking 

 horses in the bunch. Charley Herr, with John Kelley 

 up behind him, appeared. He looked coltish, old-fash- 

 ioned and level-headed and seemed to know nothing 

 but- trot. The Kansas-bred stallion Askey, a long- 

 necked, long-bodied brown horse, symmetrical of form, 

 was another of the candidates that caught the eye of 

 all observers. Dare Devil, who had recently gone 

 down before Cresceus, looked stale and jogged lame. 

 Askey also nodded and Benton M. was distinctly lame. 

 At last they were lined up for the word, and there 

 was repeated scoring before Starting Judge Frank- 

 Walker got them properly aligned, and gave them the 

 word. Oakland Baron drew the pole, and just as the 

 horses got the word "Go" Cresceus made a losing 

 break which left him four or five lengths behind the 

 leaders. The pole horse held his position in the lead 

 around the first turn and half way up the back-stretch. 

 Bingen was at his wheel all the way, however, and 

 when his driver once got him straightened out in the 

 back-stretch the favorite held Oakland Baron safe, 

 and he was two lengths in front as he struck the upper 

 turn. Meanwhile Askey, Cresceus, and Charley Herr 

 had closed on Oakland Baron and given him the go- 

 by. They swung round the upper turn all in a bunch. 

 Coming into the home-stretch Titer drove wide with 



58 



