CRESCEUS, 2:02i/4 



down the stretch only a few minutes before. Now he 

 was more of the king. At the eighth, Cresceus was 

 leading, with Mike The Tramp at his throat. Down 

 the back-stretch the two moved like a team. As the 

 champion flashed by the quarter the watches showed 

 that he had covered the distance in 33 seconds, not 

 fast enough to break the record. Going around the 

 upper turn, Ketcham called on the pace-maker for 

 more speed. Murnen moved the runner up, and Cres- 

 ceus opened up another notch. Coming down the 

 stretch he was trotting like the wind. The crowd was 

 too absorbed in watching the wonderful animal to 

 applaud as he dashed by the half. He had trotted 

 the half in 1 104^, the second quarter in 31^ seconds. 

 "He'll do it. A new record's coming," shouted an en- 

 thusiastic admirer. 



It was noticed that Ketcham pulled out from the 

 pole as he rounded the third turn. The champion was 

 too long gaited to hug the fence, and go at the great 

 rate of speed. With the wind behind him, Cresceus 

 fairly flew down the back-stretch, reaching the three- 

 quarter pole in i :36J. This left a margin of 33 seconds 

 for the rest of the distance, provided a new record was 

 to be established. Cresceus covered the distance in 

 just that time, finishing strong and well within him- 

 self. The crowd realized that a world's record had 

 been broken even before the time had been announced, 

 and as the champion slowly jogged back to the judge's 

 stand, the spectators gave vent to their pent-up feel- 



163 



