CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 /4 



derful feat of dethroning the world's champion trot- 

 ting stallion, the black whirlwind, Directum, 2. 105 \. 



Before shouting thousands Cresceus was crowned 

 king of trotting stallions, and proved himself to be 

 the gamest and most wonderful trotting stallion the 

 turf ever knew. Ever since 1893 Directum's record 

 of 2. 105-1 had stood as the record for trotting stallions, 

 and many well-informed horsemen did not believe that 

 his record would ever be beaten, but the son of Robert 

 McGregor added another star to his crown by trotting 

 a mile in 2, :o4f . It was one of the most wonderful 

 exhibitions of speed ever seen in America. Cresceus, 

 by his wonderful performance, placed himself in a class 

 by himself, and earned the title of king of all trotting 

 stallions. 



When it was announced that Andrew J. Welch had 

 wagered Ketcham $1,000 to $i that Cresceus could 

 not trot a mile below 2. 105 J the effort to be made over 

 Charter Oak Park track during the Grand Circuit 

 meeting, it created a sensation among horsemen and 

 race followers, and speculation was rife. The chances 

 of the great young stallion accomplishing the feat had 

 been discussed pro and con among the circuit follow- 

 ers, and while all conceded the extreme speed of Cres- 

 ceus, the consensus of opinion was that he would fail 

 in his attempt to wrest the stallion crown from the head 

 of the great Directum. 



The day was a perfect one, warm, yet not oppres- 

 sive, with hardly enough wind stirring to cause a rip- 



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