A GREAT HORSE 



runners made the journey home with him. The crowd 

 was getting anxious, and every neck was stretched to 

 see Cresceus make the upper turn. He was going 

 steady and true. Ketcham had not spoken a word or 

 used the whip. When the time was hung up for the 

 three-quarters, 1:31^, more cheers were given. Cres- 

 ceus was now on the last quarter, and on his efforts 

 here depended his success or failure. 



Down, down the stretch he came, thundering toward 

 the wire. One runner was next to the rail, and the other 

 was on the outside, while Cresceus, in the center, was 

 coming like a conquering hero. With true gameness 

 the champion responded to the first w r ords spoken by 

 Ketcham during the flying trip against time. As the 

 draw-gate was reached it was seen that the record was 

 broken, for hundreds of people in the grand stand 

 were holding their watches. It was the last eighth of 

 the mile, and when a short distance from the wire 

 Ketcham tapped Cresceus lightly with the whip, the 

 great animal again responded, and went under the 

 wire at an amazing speed, while the great audience 

 vented their delight with mighty cheers for Cresceus 

 and his driver. 



It was several minutes before the time was announc- 

 ed, as the men in the timers' stand wanted to be care- 

 ful in announcing the coming of a new world's champ- 

 ion. When it was marked up as 2:o2f, another great 

 cheer was given, and a dash was made for the track. 



Cresceus was being driven back to the stand, but 



112 



