San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-12-06
ST. JULIAN.
The Fastest Of allie Trots q
Mile In 9.l9 J.4.
a Horse that Can't be
Bought for
$4,000:
San Franci,co Chronicle. October 70.


The pretty trotting. park at Oakland
presented yesterdaya bright and ami.
mated appearance on the occasion OF
the invitation of the Golden Gate Fair
District association to Gen. Grant to
visit some trials Of speed, in which
were engaged two of the best
horses owned in California, The
grand stands were were we'll fillod with
ladies and their escorts, as was also
the balcony Of the hotel, which was
covered with an awning, and profuss.
ly decorated with flowers. shrubs, and
the national banners. The quarter
stretch on either side was thickly
lined with equipages, in which were al
so countless ladies in light costumes
that shone replendent in the suns soft
rays. The weather was beautiful, and
the general view of the bay and the
pretty grounds and the picturesque
range of hills in the distance, impart-
ed charming variety to the scene.
The first on the programme was
trot for the 2:29 class for a purse Of
$3.50, in which were entered Alonzo
Hayward, selling in the pools for SIS
Volunteer for $40, Pinole Patchen for
IS, and others, Stranger, Pete, Lady
Gertrude, Lady Emmett, and Gentle
Annie, comprising the field, for $40.
This was won by Pete in 228l
Then came the great event of the
day. the attempt of st. Julian with
running mate, to beat the best trosting
record for purse of $500. The track
was in very favorable condition for
fast time. After a short delay, St.
Julian passed through the gate and
proceeded leisurely down the track to
take a little preparatory exercise pre-
vious to the trial in two dashes, to
eclipse 2:l3f the record of Rarus, the
king of the trotting turf The horse
looked wonderfully fit and strong, and
moved with such ease and freedom
tnat those who had seen him make a
mile at Stockton, and do even faster
time at San Jose, were confident that
he would lower that record, but were
too skeptical to imagine that the
name of St. Julian would be flashed
last night all through the land
WITH 2;122 TO HIS CREDIT.
There was no betting on the event,
but bets were freely offered at $50 to
$25 that. not even in honor Of the
presence Of General Grant, would the
record of Rarus be beaten. At the
second attempt the bay gelding, dis
daining the aid of the running mate,
came down to the score at grand
swinging gait. and Hickok nodding as
sent, the bell sounded and St. Julian
sped along on his first trial, and hun
dreds OF watches were set clicking to
that time with his own miniature weap.
ons. Gen, Grant stood in the corner
of the grand stand and nearest the
distance pole. and followed with an
intense gaze the the feeting animal as
it passed around the lower turn and
when he reached the quarter mile in
3S seconds, or at 2:l2 gait, there was
perceptible movement of surprise
that was intensified as the noble horse
stillincreased his stride and reached
the half in l:05i, or the second quarter
at the rate of 209. There was a sub
dued murmur, and the spectators be-
came seemingly imbued with the idea
of witnessing grand performance as
st. Julian sped on his way ard reach
ed the the three quarter pole in LAO;
or the third quarter at the rate of2:19;
but when we'll into the home stretch,
he again increased his stride. and
urged to his utmost. he came along
with a magnificent stride and passed
under the wire in
THE UNPRECEDENTED TINE
Of212;, without the slightest skip or
break. the last quarter being made at
the superb gait OF 2:ll to the mile
St. Julian appeared none the worse
for his arduous feat. save that he had
displaced his boot on the Of hind leg
and this was mainly the cause that
with another boot that did not fit we'll
be could not make as good time in
the succeeding trial. This was also
made without skip or break. 10 OBI
to the quarter. 1.06F to the half. and
2:l5l to the mile, amid immense ap-
plsuse. St julien. the present won
der Of the trotting tart. is BY Vol7n-
teer. his dam being By Cyrus s. Clay.
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