156 THE TWO-MINUTE PACERS 



champions of both great pacers are correct. They were a 

 mighty pair when in their prime and on two occasions, each 

 being returned once winner, showed the public two marvel- 

 ous contests. Directum I winning in 1914, in 1:58 and 2:00, 

 William winning the next year in 1:58^/2 and 2:00. A 

 tick of the watch marks the recorded difference in their 

 racing ability on those two occasions and, furthermore, 

 neither can profit at all by any attempt to detract from the 

 abundant merit of his rival. They did great things and 

 Directum I, let it be recorded, did more of them. May we 

 be allowed to see more of their kind. 



John Ryan brought Directum I before the public, and 

 drove him in a lot of sparkling races. Raymond Snedeker 

 had him later and it was he who drove him to his world's 

 race record of 1:58. Tommy Murphy was his next driver 

 and he drove him to four world's records — a half mile in 

 55^4 seconds; a mile and one sixteenth in 2:09'^; a mile 

 and one eighth in 2:16%; a mile in the open in 1:56%. 

 It will not do to say that the pacer was badly driven by any 

 one for the proof of the ability of his pilots is shown in what 

 he did for them. Indeed, in talking about this wonderful 

 pacer Mr. Murphy but recently said to an acquaintance: 

 "Directum I was a great horse for every trainer that had 

 him. John Ryan brought him out and did great things with 

 him; Ray Snedeker had him in world-beating form; the horse 

 did great things for me. Give the horse some of the credit, 

 but do not take any from the boys who had him before he 

 came to me. What he was as a race horse and what he 

 could do when asked to beat the watch fills no inconsiderable 

 space in the history of the pacer." 



It is noted in the annals of the turf that Directum I 

 was foaled in 1907 and that he began his racing career as 

 a four-year-old and that John Ryan brought him out and 

 that during his first season he made a total of nine starts 

 winning five races and retiring with a record of 2:16%. 

 There was not much in that to create any great amount of 

 enthusiasm nor to indicate that a new turf star was about to 

 burst forth. But as little as it meant, there was at least one 

 trainer who knew something. He let the public in on the 



