The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-19
Quickest Mile Ever Run in America
Time l.4O.

Time lao.
The telegraph has already reported
the surprising performance at Saratoga,
on Friday, of the new Kentucky horse
Longfellow, a four.year old, belonging
to Mr. John Harper, the veteran turtle,
now in his eighth year. Longfellow
is powerful brown, sired by Leaning
ton, dam Nantura. The following par
ticulars of the great "event" are
collated from the New York papers:
The great event Of the day was the
contest between Longfellow and King
fisher, none of the other ten entries for
the cup daring to run with them. This
race had the appearance of a match
between these great celebrities. Since
the entries were made, and during the
whole OF last winter and this spring,
discussion has been rife on the merits
Of these distinguished racers, and large
amounts have from time to time been
posted on the issue. Before the ap
pearance of Longfellow at Long Branch
the betting between Kingfsher and
Longfellow was commonly at even; but
when this great Western giant defeated
Preakness and Helmbold in such hol-
low style at Monmouth Park, odds
began to be asked by the friends Of
Kingfsher. One hundred to eighty
was given, and in some instances more;
but when Lyttleton and Express (both
belonging to Mr.. Harper, the owner Of
Longtellow,) were beaten by second
class horses, fears were expressed that
the stable was amiss, and it was
thought that Longfcllow himself might
not be up to the mark when taken to
Saratoga. Thus the betting in favor OF
Kingfsher again advanced. Mr..
Belmont's Finesse and BY the Sea ran
here, and as they were palpably out Of
condition, fears again arose to the
minds of the spectators about King
fisher. When the crowds, however,
reached here, and were satisfied that
both horses were up to the mark, and
were in the finest possible condition,
one hundred to seventy became the cur
rent odds on the race.
THE RACE.
The Saratoga cup, for all ages; $50
entrance play or pay $1,000 added two
and quarter miles.
John Harper entered br. c. Longfellow, by
bennington, dam Nantura, years
Old
A. Belmont entered b. C. Kingfsher, by
Lexington, dam Ethan Lass..............2
Time i.24.
THE BETTING.
Longfellow. ........S6OO 655 200 $50 6l0 so
Kingfisher 80 3O5 3lj 3I5 3oO 80
THE RUNNING.
The horses had a good start, and
Longfellow went to the front at once.
As they ran up the home;stretch from
the three-quarter pole, which was the
starting place, Longfellew opened the
gap at every stride, and passed the
stand with three lengths Of daylight
between them. Going around the
turn there was little change in the dis
tance between the horses. Longfellow
was Looping along with his grand, easy
stride at a tremendous rate, while
Kingfsher, seemingly at the top Of his
speed, kept as close as it was possible
for him to do. Longfellow showed
three lengths Of daylight down the
back stretch, and around the lower
turn he made the distance between
them four lengths. Kingisher was
still being forced at this early state Of
of the race, but he did not shut up any
of the gap. As they came into the
home stretch Longiellow came away
further from Kingfisher, and he passed
under the wire five lengths in front.
Cries were now heard all over the
track, 100 to 90 on Longfellow,
without a response from the hackers of
Kingfsher.
Going into the last mile the big
horse let out an additional link, and
Kingfsher was being forced to the
top of his bent. There were six
lengths of daylight between them at
the quarter pole and eight on the back
stretch, and 100 to 10 went begging.
Kingfsher was still urged, and the
gallant colt labored with a will to shut
up the gap without effect. Longtellow
was then taken in hand, and King
fisher closed a trihe at the half-mile
pole; but on the lower turn Longfellow
was again given his head, and in an
instant eight lengths divided them
again. Coming into the home stretch
Kingfsher was completely beaten, and
Longfellow was taken up and came
home easily, winning the race by five
or six lengths, making the distance in
4.023. Longfellow did not seem to
mind the race much, and appeared as
if he could have gone a much longer
journey. Longfellow was timed the
first mile ofthe dash by competent men,
who stated that he ran it in LAO, three
seconds faster than ever mile was
run in this country. Kentucky, in his
race here six years ago with Ru inodyne
and Captain Moore, beat the time made
by Longfellow in this race one second
and a quarter, but Longfellow undoubt-
edly could have beaten that time
several seconds had he been pressed all
the way. Longfellow ran the mile
from stand to stand in l.42, and he
made the first two miles Of the race in
3.33. Is there a horse IN England
~ -. o,n bo., b;pn9