Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-02
PRIDDY IS A WINNER.
He Defeats McClelland in the Great
Foot Race.
SOME VERY FAST TIME MADE.
Slosson and Schaefer Play an Exciting
Game of Billiards.
THE SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

1t is not too much to say that one of the
best foot races that ever took place in Penn
sylvania was that between Priddy and Nc
ClelIand yesterday afternoon at Recreation
Park. The stakes, $3.50 side, were big, the
men were first class and the crowd was
large. Betting was lively and excitement was
intense. AS a result the time made. consider
ering the track, was remarkable.
There is little history connected with the
race, and in consequence of its national import
few words concerning it may not be out of
place. Some time ago the same two men ran a
mile race at Exposition Park, now the Brother
hood Baseball Park. Priddy won and the
stakes were $500. THE DISPATCH then. as
yesterday, was final stakeholder. In the mile
race McClelland was an out and out favorite,
but Priddy beat him handily.
M'CLELLAND's NEW PARTY,
After the race another party took hold Of
McClellaEd and offered to match him against
anybody in the world in three-mile or ten
mile race. After a long delay the Priddy party
accepted the challenge. and a match was made
for the pair to run yesterday three-mile race.
at Exposition Park, for 81, 900 side At the
last hour it was discovered that there
would be no track at Exposition
Park. and after negotiations Recreation Park
party had declined to run for more than $3.50 a
side Fred Goodwin was appointed referee,
and he, accompanied by representatives, meas
ured off track at Recreation Park yesterday
morning. The track, almost all turf, was
quarter of mile IN length and was in tolerably
fair condition.
When the two runners appeared at the mark
yesterday there were about 300 present and
betting was spirited. Speculation at first was
even, but Priddy soon became favorite and
just before the race started he was a to fav-
orite. Mr.. Goodwin dispatched them to
splendid start and McClelland at once went to
the front. He made the pace merry one and
led Priddy by about three yards riget round to
the quarter in l:04
PRIDDY LIKE A SHADOW.
Priddy stuck close to him, and it was evident
that Priddy's mission was to make waiting
race of it; in other words. Priddy was content
to allow McClelland to please himself about the
gait. This McCIelland did, and he did it in
way that encouraged the Soho contingent re.
markably, Quarter after quarter was travelled
without any change. McClelland still held
command by two or three yards. When mile
and half had been covered 1t was evident to
experienced judges that McC1elland was against
better man than himself. Priddy, without
any apparent effort was trailing him. and Nc
Bets of to / and 5 to 1 we're offered on
Priddy at the mile and half. He looked
sure winner bar accident, although McClelland
was making the pace hot 1t was simply a very
lively procession, with McClelland in the van,
until the last half mile was entered. Here
Sam Day urged Priddyto the front. About l50
yards from the two and half mile point
Priddy put on a squirt and passed McClelland
within three yards. The cheers were deafen-
ing. McClelland lik; the game runner that he
is, struggled like a demon. He knew the
but he hadn't speed enough to hold the Woods
Run man. The latter went to the front by
about seven or eight yards, and the jig was up.
McClelland fought every inch, but he could not
Priddy eventually won remarkable race by
about Is yards in 1913.
SOME REMARKS.
The race needs little comment. McClelland,
who has been looked upon as remarkable
slayer, is not of the class in that line that his
friends have placed him. He ran yesterday in
the best possible fashion for himself, but as
has been remarked in this paper more than
once, he cannot command the speed to beat a
finish. Yesterday he had his own way of doing,
and kept up an excellent average of speed on
the turf for almost the entire distance, but his
pace, which was his best, was not equal to that of
simply passed McClelland without much
trouble. McClelland was pitted against bet
ter man than himself in all respects. ami that
more stamina than McClelland; in fact at the
mile and a half McClelland was completely
beaten had Priddy desired to step out.
Although beaten McClelland is an excellent
runner and it is question whether there are
other two men in the country who can beat
him in two or three-mile race. Priddy, it is
safe to say, can hold his hold against any man
in the world. He is natural runner and in
George Smith has one of the best mentors in
the country. The time, 15:l3, on soft turf. was
one of the best in the country. The American
record on a good track, made by Ed Case, is
1451 and the best on record is that of 2. Can
non. I4l9L Had the track been good one
yesterday the American record most assuredly
would have been broken. Following is the
time in Yesterdays race in detail: