The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-10-02
THE EMPEROR OF THE TURF.
How Oceident Trotted n Mile at Sac.
ramento I'm 2:i6 81.

I
How Oceident Trotted Mile nj Sac
ramento I'm 2:i6 81.
| SACRAMENTO, September l7.-Cslifor
mia has always claimed without contra
diction that she raised the greatest as.
sortment, finest and largest fruits, yege'
tables, and cereals; that any thing edi-
BILE above ground or beneath that grew
in the wide world hourished well in bel
cosmopolitan climate. Among many
other small things she boasted that eh.
raised the finest children and the fast.
est race-horses. The latter boast reach.
the Atlantic slope. and Goldsmith
Maid and Lucy were Immediately dis
patched to beat Californis's roadster.
Occident, which was accomplish
ed. For several months past the
people Of California have heard reports
that "Stanford's Occident hiss made a
mile in 2.l6 ia private" or that he
has made 1:064 in private" Human
endurance ceased to be virtue, and
the public demanded that his owner
either show the time or quit his TALK
ing. The State Agricultural Society
took the matter in hand, and after due
deliberation resolved to offer "a piece
of plate, valued at $1,000 in gold, to
any horse who in trotting beat the best
time on record in Californis." The
time made by Goldsmith Maid last
year over this same course was 2:l7t,
and when it was known that Occident
was entered to compste with old Father
Time, thousands Of his admirers
could be found who were willing
to risk their fortunes that he
could not accomplish the feat; for
your readers must bear in mind that,
while your Eastern flyers have q
long and illustrious pedigree, and are
carefully trained for trotting, Occident
is OF obscure origin and is not profes.
sional trotter. Long before the hour
announced the grand and main stands,
the quarterstretch, and every available
resting place near the score were COM
pletely filled. The bell rang TO bring
out our pet, and on his appearance,
drixen by George w. Tennent, be was
greeted with applause hearty and long.
Six gentlemen, (amoug whom were DR..
Brewster, OF Sacramento; Governor
Bradley, Of Nevada and NJ. D. Boruck
OF San Francisco,) were chosen to act
as timers. Besides these gentlemen the
representatives Of the press in the
judges stand, and at least one thou-
sand outsiders, held stop cbrouometers
ready to mark the time. Pools sold
briskly in favor Of Father Time, and
ae high as $1,000 to $200-James
Eoff, who drove the horse in his trot
against the Maid last year, betting that
2:lS would not be beaten il PIG were
reached. Only a few, who had wit
messed his performances in private,
were willing to risk money on the horse.
After three trials the gelding got down
to his work, starting of at q fine 2::27
gait. He had for runner that old
time nag, "Crown Dick" On he sped,
increasing his pace visibly until the
quarter post was reached, when the
watches showed 36i. or that he was
speeding along at 2:26 gait. Now
he increases his etrides, no skips
nor breaks, but trottlng nicely
and easily. "Tll bet $4,000 he beats
2:l7," said his owner, but could 6nd
no takers, when it was discovered that
the time the hall mile was made in was
PIG. This was something like it, for
the time showed 220 gait. The turn
was passed; and now for nearly three
eights OF mile did the noble young
horse have TO strain to prove 10 the
world that he was the Emperor Of the
turf" The little horse now increased
his already marvellous speed, and
seemed to fly along the ground 80 rapid
were his steps. He passed the three-
quarter mile pole and now was on his
last quarter. On, on he comes, nearer,
nearer; he will teat it; he has reach
ed the score and passed it, every timer
stopping his watch. Before
the judges announced the time
made up goes shout loud and long.
Again and again it is repeated. "He
has beaten Time be has made 2:l6t |"
shout all in the grand stand. Even
skeptical Jim Eoff shouts, with the
rest, "2:l6!." The judges, however,
say 2:l6i, and at that it remains. This
was glory enough for one day. Gold
smith Maids time was equaled, and
Dexter's beaten. 81 would not take
5000 900 for Occident," said the Gov
ernor, although Bonner ought to keep
his word and offer me 500 600. Some
future day l will show that Occident
can beat 2l6." When it is remem-
bered that the last half mile was run
in the unprecedented fast time OF l:63
there is no reason to doubt the asser-
ton. The plate, which represents a
trotter attached to sulky. was pre-
sented by Governor Stanford to the as
sociation, to be given to the horse beat'
ip1 0coiJenfs tirna