The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-22

The Great Race of Rarus Asainss
Time,

Inc sreat Race Of Rarus Against
Time.
Buffalo special (Aug 81 % the
Cincinnati Commercial: il was a
great day for Buffalo and the trot-
ting world, that afternoon In Au-
gust, 1857, eleven years ago, when
Dexter trotted a mile IN harness in
2:lIh eclipsing the 2:I94 of Flora
Temple, which for eight years had
stood at the head OF the record, and
the only performance by a trotter
In harness better than 2:2O. To-
day was equally memorable, how
ever, Rarus having trotted a mile in
2;l3h the fastest time ever made in
the world.
It was 40 T.. NJ. when Rarus an.
peared for the contest against time.
Lulu, Great Eastern and Hams,
who had been entered for the event,
were drawn. When the great fiyer
came out with Splan behind him, no
was greeted with round after round
OF applause. A running horse was
provided TO accompany and stimu-
late him.
After a rough warming up To sat
isfy Splan, the horse came down fly
ing, the word was nodded for and
given, and of he started on his fret
heat. The mare did not get out for
him until he was one hundred Yards
from the score, and when he reached
the quarter the watches marked
O:35a, it was evident that 2:l4
would not be beaten in that heat.
The half mile was made in l:09R
the three-quarter pole in / SAB, end
2:l7 was hung out as the time OF
the mile.
This was fast enough TO show
that the horse was at himself but
left it an open question whether he
could beat 2:14 that day. In the
pools he was the favorito at about
$50 TO $50 against time.
In about half an hour be came
out again. The mare started with
him from the score, and Kept close
up. On he flew, but just before
reaching the quarter-pole he left
his feet. He was set going again,
and when he came home watches in
the judges stand marked $3.50 The
$1,000, the main purse, was lost,
and IL looked blue for the $500, con.
ditioned on beating 2;14. Without
leaving the track, the horse again
came down and got the word, but
broke almost Immediately, and was
turned before reaching the draw
gate, brought back and blanketed
for a couple OF minutes.
Again Rarus came flying down
this time as steady as clock work.
The word was given, and with the
runner at his girth he aew along.
When the quarter. pole was passed
the watches marked 33t seconds, a
2:l4 gait, and the slowest quarter
of the track. Straight work for tho
back stretch was now before him,
where his mighty stride could have
It's perfect work, and along this he
dew at terrible pace, reaching the
half mile in ;054 Tor a 2:113 gait,
and trotting the second quarter In
324 seconds Ia 200 gait. His
speed was slackened very little on
the third quarter, the gallant trotter
never making a skip or faltering,
and when the timers noted 1884 at
the three quarter pole, the exclama-
ton, "IIe'll do itr' was heard all
over the track.
Now the seconds became precious.
The horse was thing as Splan could
feel, and as the wire was approached
he gently touched him with the
whip on the hind quarters, and two
minutes was recorded by witches,
and he was nearly at the distance
stand; 2:l0, and he was within one
feet Of the score; 2:II,
2:l2 and he's only fifty feet; 2:I3,
and he is here, and "click" 90
scores Of watches as he sweeps
under the wire and index-hands
point 10 the hereafter memorable
figures, 2:l34. Everybody knew
the horse had done IL, but the shout.
ing did not begin until the board
was hung out from the Judges
stand. Then the cheering was ire
mendous. The quarter stretch was
alive with people, waving their hats
and hurrahing. The crowds In the
grand stand rose up ia a body.
The ladies clapped their gloved and
eweled hands and waved their
landkcrchiefs, and the men hal
ooed themselves hoarse. Directly
Splan appeared in the Judges
stand, and received an ovation, aRd
was presented with basket Of love-
y flowers. IL was an occasion long
10 be remembered.