The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-28
TIMELY TROTTING TOPICS.

ItcVle" OF inc campaign unAC C1OSeu ~
Philadelphia.
With the close of the grand trotting al
Philadelphia ends long campaign that
has furnished its share of sensations to
that branch of sport. Cleveland, with it's
splendid track, which always attracts the
best class of horses. and favored by the
choicest weather, has again borne off the
palm for average speed and record break
ing. The wise breeder who wants a fast
mark for his stallion or mare sends it to the
well-kept and elastic course near the Forest
City, where he is sure to obtain better results
than over any other of the elliptical mile
courses. The latest innovation, the kite
shaped track, has scarcely been constructed
before it proves to be better suited to e1-
treme speed than the regulation track with
two turns, and for trials against time it has
probably a full second in advantage. TAX
ing this into consideration and the fact that
several tracks similar to the one at Inde-
pendence, Iowa, are now projected, there
should be discrimination made between
performances over such courses and the or
binary ones, just as there is now due allow
ance made for the difference between rec
If Sunol, for example, should trot in 2:O615
at Independence, the feat would not rank
with the mile in 2:0SA made by Maud S. at
Cleveland, though a record of POT over the
Fasig style of course would entitle the Cali
fornia mare to the crown.
Up to the present time. however, the track
at Cleveland holds more champion records
than any other. though to Washington Park
belongs the honor of the fastest mile in
harness, as it was at Chicago that Johnston
paced i'll 2O614 his best mile at Cleveland
being 2:O61a,. made last year. During the
Grand Circuit meeting at the Ohio city this
year the two notable events were the new
race record OF 2:11I made by Adonis in the
free for-all pace, and the even more remark
able performance of Dallas, who eaualed
that time two days later. 1t is also worthy
of note that but for slip at the last mo-
ment Hal Pointer would have beaten Adonis
in that memorable finish, and thus kept the
horses of his sire, Tom Hal. whose speedy
son, Little Brown jug. had previously
held the race record. The famous Teu-
nessee stallion, who has been the greatest
sire of pacers having got Brown Hal be-
sides the two geldings named, has for
and several other nimble- footed performers
at the lateral gait, the Chestnut mare Gold
Leaf being the fastest by the records.
OF the achievements by trotters at Cleye-
land, the spotted mare Leopard Rose car
ried off the laurel by her mile III PISA, the
Dest ever lnaue III the Z:iU CLASS. III con-
nection with this fast daughter of plebeian
strain. it may be said that she has been by
all odds the most unsatisfactory cam
paigner of the year.
Budd Doble has had decidedly an un-
lucky season, though he started with a
promising lot of horses. His favorite, Jack,
began we'll by beating Palo Alto at Detroit,
but after that did not score a victory,
though he compelled the Electioneer stall
lion to lower the race record to 2:13 in their
duel at Chicago. The gray gelding has
more than once ended the season
brilliantly, and his mile in 2:l2h
at Independence a few weeks ago shows
that he has not lost his speed, SO that he
may redeem himself in the later meetings
at Terre Haute and Lexington The cham
plon PAGER Johnston has had complaining
leg this season, and was not fit for exhibi-
tions as before. His sale to Buffalo parties
does not indicate anything as to his prob
able doings in the future, as he has changed
hands many times since he scored his best
record six years ago. His value has been
lessened by the fact that he is barred from
races. Now that such fast PAGERS az Adonis,
Dallas, Hal Pointer, Roy Wilkes and
Cricket on the turf, there is no reason why
Johnston should be shut out from the free
for-all events, as any one of the quintet
named could give him race.