A GREAT HORSE 



pie in the folds of the big flag in the infield, and no 

 better day as far as weather conditions were con- 

 cerned, could have been selected. Ketcham drove the 

 stallion a couple of warming-up miles in 2 124 and 

 2:14^, and each time he appeared the "hoss" crowd 

 looked him over carefully, and it was the opinion of 

 all that he was in fine condition and fit to make the ef- 

 fort of his life. Yet there was hardly a man who be- 

 lieved that he would trot the fastest mile ever trotted 

 by a stallion, and establish a new record that was likely 

 to stand for many years unless he himself should 

 lower it. 



Every race on the card was finished, and it was 

 almost six o'clock when Ketcham drove Cresceus in 

 front of the stand and announced that he was ready. 

 John Dickerson scored along side the stallion with a 

 runner, Joe Patchen's old pace-maker; and Ben 

 Walker was stationed over at the half-mile pole with 

 another runner, ready to accompany the stallion home 

 in his trip against time. Twice Ketcham scored him 

 down to the wire ; Starter Frank Walker was ready 

 to give the word, but Ketcham shook his head each 

 time and took the coming champion back. The third 

 time down Cresceus was trotting steady and true, and 

 as he neared the wire Ketcham nodded. Starter 

 Walker, leaning far out of the stand, yelled "Go !" 

 and the great horse started on his record-breaking 

 journey. Dickerson moved the runner up alongside 

 him, and was on his wheel to the quarter in 31 J sec- 

 onds. Cresceus was trotting like a whirlwind, and 



84 



