St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-04
KING OF THE TURF
Commodore Kittson's Johnston
PAGES a Mile at Chicago
in 2:06 IA.
Minnie r. with Running Mate
Makes the Circuit in
2:03 Ia.
y
Fannie WitherspOOn also Breaks Her Rec
Ord-0ther Sports of the
Day.
Phenomenal Pacing.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. [

Especial Telegram to the Globe.I
CHICAGO, Oct. 3.-The fall meeting Of the
Chicago Driving Park association opened yeter-
day witk an attendance much smaller than
might have been expected in view of
the attractions which had been announced,
but what the audience lacked in numbers
is fully made up in enthusiasm, as was shown
during the noble work of Commodore Kilt
sons Johnston and Minnie Il, the former of
which made the most wonderful record ever
credited to any horse in this country or else
where. Every condition, both of track and
weather. was generally conceded to be as favor
able as nature could make it, and although
the track promised to be little heavy as a re-
suit of the rains of Tuesday and Wednesday last
the harrowss did such excellent work that by
clock the course was as smooth and spingy
as could have been desired. The regular order
of racing as announced was reversed in order
that the track might have all the time possible
in which to dry out before Johnston, Rchball and
Minnie r were brought out to make their great
effort against their records. The first race con-
sequently took place between Fritz, PAGER, and
Fannie Witherspoon, trotter, best three out of
five, exhibition race. Fritz took the pole at the
start, and wnen the word go given was half
length ahead of Witherspoon. This
distance he increased until at the half
mile pole he was full length and half ahead
of the trotter. In the last half mile the mare
gained steadily, passing under the wire = good
neck in the lead. Witherspoon took the pole in
the second heat, aud starting half length ahead
increased the distance to u length and half at
the finish. In the third heat WitherspOOn
gained an advantage of a full length
at the start and Fritz, breaking
badly on the half mile stretch; the mare came
under the wire six lengths in the lead. winning
three successive heats, time 2:1SH, 2:19A,
2:16A, breaking her record in the last
After interval of twenty minutes Johnston
took the track and made his warming up mile in
2;19A
Richball also went over the course, but the
time of his warming up mile was
not recorded, his driver making attempt at
speeding. In the final start Johnston led off
fully five lengths ahead of Richball, the race be-
ing not between the horses but against their rec
Ords. splan leaned closely over the PAGERS
withers, but refrained from urging
HIM until the three quarter pole
was reached, at which time his clear
ringing shout of ''Hi, there, boy; go on, boy
came echoing down the track, was taken up by
the crowd at the grand stand and sent back to
the ears of the noble PAGER who was coming
down the quarter stretch at speed never before
| equaled by any horse in single harness In the
distance the gallant horse looked to the crowd as
| if he but jogging, so evenly was
| the pace kept up and in turning down the
three-quarte stretch when his head sighted
| the audience became confident that once more
| side-wheeler was TO eclipse the most wonderful
| of all previous performances. "He will beat his
record, - 'sHes bound to do it, and similar ut
terances could be heard now and them from
those whose excitement had to be
| given vent and murmurs of hope
and doubt mingled with occasional
CALCULATIONS of surprise until everything COM
bined in the shout when the ordeal was over,
''He has done it, At times the silence of the
assembled on-lookers was oppressive. 1t seemed
| strange that great a crowd could remain in
breathess interest wondering at the outcome
| of horses effort. Were life at stake and
hearts bleeding in agonized expectancy
of hoped for reprieve, the welcoming shouts
| which greeted the near approach of the noble
animal and the grand triumphant refrain as he
passed under the wire could not have been more
! enthusiastic. With arms outstretched and
body leaning to an acute angle with his
| horse Splan coaxed and petted the animal
feeling confident of success, but little dreaming
| OF the great victory he was to win. JohnstOn's
feet seemed to scarcely touch the graveled track
ere they were yards distant from the first point
of contact. and down the stretch he battered,
| beating q reveile to the dead past, and calling
up the ghosts of the departed great
TO join the ovation to the wonder OF the turf.
The crowd surged toward the judges stand
each individual doubling the correctness of his
own timing until cheer after cheer greeted
2:06A 1t was hung out from
the judges stand. 1t seemed incredible,
but verications were plenty and proved the
achievement. Even losers of bets took their dis
comfture with good grace.
Riehball kept at his work faithfully until the
end of the second quarter, when he broke badly
and came in under the wire Span was slowing
Johnston down fifty yards beyond. Time, 2:14.
Great as was Woodmansees qualification at the
performance Of johnson, the afternoon had In
store for him still another and equally great a
surprise, and surprise it was. So far as could be
learned not d man on the track anticipated that
either Johnston or Minnie II would win for them
selves the great records that they did.
Minnie r. and running mate, Firebrand, next
took the track, and Splan took them early
round the course for their warming up. The
mare was impatient and skittish and in half a
dozen efforts to start her she behaved in manner
which, at most, was discouraging to those pres
ent who had harbored high hopes her breaking
her record. On the sixth and last unsuccessful
attempt at starting, Splan drove the team almost
TO the last quarter pole, and turning them there,
came back toward the judges stand with both
horses under fine control. The little
mare settled down to her work in q manner that
eYnced her determination to stay, while heI
mate sprang forward with long and powerful
strides that threatened TO lift the pole horse of
her feet, but with break, the
mare kept ahead, increasing her speed
until at the second quarter pole her pace became
simply tremendous and she covered the third
quarter in the phenomenal time OF 291l seconds.
As she neared the three quarter pole Span's en-
couragng shout was again heard at the grand
stand and the crowd arose to its feet anC
checTed itself hoarse the gallant marc came
| under the wire in :03K.