The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-09-07

CJSo AASA' a..
OFF AT THE WORD "so!'
At the word go both horses
Jumped together, Helmbold two
lengths in advance. A death-like
stiffness hung over the grand stand
The jockeys stood in the field like
statues, Longfellow slowly closed
up the gap and forged ahead At
the first quarter he was two full
lengths in advance. AS they NOV
ed down the opposite stretch,
Helmbold Increased his gait, and
nearly closed the gap. Longtel-
low moved
LIKE TnIsTLEDcwN IN A FAIR WIND.
There was beautiful, even play
to his head and neck, as though his
|ioints were well oiled. His legs
were as regular in their motion as
the driving levers of locomotive.
His tail lay upon line with his
back. Helmbold was full Of pluck
and dug along the track as though
HE MEANT WIN OR DIE.
Occasionally he would crook
himself as if putting on all extra
pound of steam, and squirt ahead
like q well:ballas-ed yacht in a
gale. Al the half.mile LongfelIow
only led by quarter of length.
Around the lower turn they came
like well-matched swallows. Hold
ing the same position, they entered
the home stretch and sailed down
the muddy patch fronting the
grand stand at an extra burst OF
speed. This was stroke of poll
cy on the part of Mcclellan, Helm
bold's rider. He was crowding
Longtellow through the mud 10
break him down. Past the grand
stand they sped, amid five thous-
and cheers, Longfellow leading by
a quarter of length.
THEY HAD ENTERED IHE sECoSO MILL
uelmbold laid his nose on Long
fellows tail, and in this position
they passed the quarter pole. The
pace was little hotter than on the
first mile. Helmbold gained. At
the halEmile he. had Tapped the fa-
vorite. He lost nothing at the
three. quarters, but as they again
entered the mud on the home
stretch Mcclellan once more crowd
ed the Kentuckian. Longfellow
responded gallautly and increased
his speed amid wild cheers and
waving Of handkerchiefs, AS they
entered the third mile Helmbold
had again dropped his nose Oh
Longfellow's tail. They went
around the course like dragon flies.
Longlellow apparently endeavoring
to increase his lead, and Helmbold
ban ging on his quarter like all i'm
Fortunate Irishu.an. At the quar-
ter post he still kept his nose on
Longtellow's tail. For the third
time they swept down the back
stretch. This was
THE DECISIVE MOMENT.
Helmbold lunged ahead under q
terrific pressure. As they entered
the mud they were neck to neck.
The negro dug his rowels into the
ffavorite, but it was no go. Bah
cock stood on the track fronting
:. the left of the grand stand.
AS they dashed through the
mud,
uELMBoLD TAKING THE LEAD.
slowly but surely, 1t became impos-
sible to control the thousands upon
the grand stand. They rose to
their feet, ladies and all, despite the
efforts of the police, and hoarse
rear went up from the multitude
like the dashing of the waves on
the rocky beach. Men who had
wagered their all upon sure thing
were as pale as sheets. Helmbold
passed the ladies stand and enter
ed the fourth mile a full length
ahead. Longfellow was gone.
He!mbold's eye was full Of fire.
His thin nostrils were distended,
but there was a frmness about
them that indicated a conscious
winner. The pretty horse was
waning away amid the sympathetic
exclamation of the ladies, and
THE oM1NoUs HEAD-sHAKING.
of old John Harper. The negro
gave him the spur and the whip
without mercy, but the beauty was
, scraping the bottom and responded
very feebly. At the quarter mile
post Helmbold was two lengths
ahead. Longfollow ran down the
back stretch like a ship without q
rudder. At half mile be was five
lengths behind, and at the three
quarters fully ten lengths in the
rear. The result was that Helm
bold dashed through the mud, heae
and. tail erect, twenty lengths
ahead, and passed under the string
a winner in 7.49f, amid an i'm
merse yellsof delight from those