A GREAT HORSE 



with a mile in 2:10. This is the coldest day I have 

 ever attempted to drive him fast, and the wind is some- 

 thing awful. We will lose several precious seconds 

 in the third quarter and rounding" into the stretch. It 

 is a great disappointment for me, for I had hoped for 

 more favorable conditions. The horse is right and 

 ready to go, and I had expected to clip at least a frac- 

 tion of a second from his mark. The track is excellent, 

 except for a short space in the third quarter ; however, 

 we can not do any record breaking to-day. If the mile 

 is in 2 :io it will be a credit to the horse." 



At 3 125 Cresceus came out for the trial. Tim 

 Murnen accompanied him with the pace-maker, Mike 

 The Tramp. Al Pennock, with another runner, waited 

 at the half-mile pole to help him on from there. The 

 champion was scored down four times ; on the fourth 

 attempt he was fully extended on his stride, and 

 Ketcham nodded for the word. Tim Murnen, with 

 the runner, was close beside him, and they rushed 

 away with the eyes of five thousand people bent on 

 their fleeing forms. The first turn is the sharpest of 

 them all, but the champion rounded it as if he were go- 

 ing straight away, and plunged on past the quarter 

 pole. The time was hung out, 130! . Into the back- 

 stretch he swung and the wind was half against him, 

 but he breasted it on his sturdy way, and trotted brave- 

 ly on. The three-quarter pole was reached in i 134^. 

 It was a magnificent spectacle to see the champion bat- 

 tle the wind through the home-stretch on the journey 



168 



