Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-05
SUNOL AND PALO ALTO.
They Fan to Beat Their Records at
Belmont Park.

The phenomenal 6ottlng mare Sunol and the
trotting stallion Palo Alto attempted to beat
their records at Belmont Park, near Philsdsl-
phia, yesterday afternoon, but neither suo-
ceeded in accomplishing the feat Each horse
trotted one heat Sunol making the mile in
2I1%, an unfortunate break mArring her per-
formance, and Palo Alto going the distance in
2:121<. "a
Sunols record is q 10k and Palo Altos 121.
Belmont Park, where the races took place,
10 located ABOUT nine miles from Philadelphia.
Within the past year many Improvements have
been made there, and the track 10 now consid-
cred eqnal to any in the country Previous
great performances on this track are Maud So
mile in q IL and successive heats BY Jay-Eye-
See in 2. II and 21O1{. When these records
we're made there was quite hill on the third
quarter, which has been removed during the
past year. The track yesterday was said by
the officials to be almost in perfect condition
1t had been sprinkled narrowed and scraped
until, as one enthusiast declared. IL was like
velvet" Driver Hickok, after taking Alfred
8. around for a warmlng-up mile, expressed
the opinion that it was little hard" and this
was afterward found to be also the opinion of
Mr. Marvin, who has the two California trotters
in charge.
GREAT CROWD N EXPECTATION.
The day was almost an ideal one for racing.
The sun was bright and warm, very little
breeze stirred, and there was a noticeable lack
Of humidity the atmosphere being particularly
clear. The crowd began gathering early in the
morning. and by 2:9O O'Clock, the hour an
nounced for the beginning of the sport. nearly
fifteen thousand people had assembled in the
club house, grand stand and along the fences.
Many prominent sporting mon from diff erent
parts OF the country journeyed to Philadelphia
hopeful of seeing wonderful exhibition of
arn Mr. poI.A H.
Sunol, was expected from New York. but let
ter received announced his inability to be
present. His sons, Fred and Allie, and his
brother David represented the family and wit
messed the efforts Of the horses from the club
house balcony. Other prominent hOrsemen on
the Rochester (N.Y.) Driving Association;
Hamilton Buzby, editor of Turf, Field and
Farm; P. c. Kellogg, the weli-known sporting
writer; A. j. Haws, president Of the Citizens
National Bank, Johnstown, Pa, and owner of
the PAGER Jewett, and many others
Palo Alto was exercised in the morning, but
Sunol was not taken from her stall until an
hour or so before her trial. After being fed at
1880 o'clock neither of the horses was given
anything to eat, their trials being made on
empty stomachs.
Promptly at 2:30 o'clock the first event on
the program, a match trotting race between
Orrn. Hickok's Alfred S. and Frank Bowers
Maggie b., best in 8, the former being to
wagon and the latter to harness, was started.
Alfred S. took the first heat in al. In the Sec
ond heat Maggie b. broke badly near the first
quarter post and Alfred 8. trotted under the
wire in the fast time of 2.16X.
sUNoL's TRIAL.
Then came the event of the day. Between
heats of the match race Sunol. the beautiful;
California-bred chestnut mare, had been
brought out by Driver Marvin and given
warming-up mile in 2.28. At the conclusion OF
the match race Sunol was logged gently past
the grand stand, and the assembled multitude
was given an opportunity to take in her won
derful build But little time was spent in get
ting ready, and after scoring onco Marvin n Cd
ded for the word and the marc sped ON her
journey against time. Her gait was perfection
and the crowd watched her every stride with
intense interest She reached the quarter
mile post in 30$l seconds. The speed was
maintained until within a hundred yards Of
the half-mile post when she left her feet A
murmur of disappointment ran through tho
crowd, as break WAS unlocked for. By the
time the half mile was reached sne had settled
down and the rest of the mile was made
without skip. A running horse. driven by
Orrin Hickok, joined her just beyond the half
mile and served to urge her on. The time OF
the half mile was 1.0l4. three-quarters /. SS1S
and mile 2.1134. Scarcely a sound escaped the
crowd as the mare dashed under the wire, az 1t
realized that she had lost her chances of maxim
an extraordinary mile by the unfortunate
break. Within a few yards of the wire Marvin
used his whip lightly on Sunol's shoulders and
urged her to ''go alons," "go along" and she
evidently did her best. After alightng from
his sulky MIR. Marvin approached the judges
stand, and in response to question said he
would not give the mare another trial.
Although he did not say so, she was apparently
somewhat tired A floral collar was placed
around Sunors shapely neck and she walked
back to her stall amid the plaudits Of the as
semblage.
PALo Altos SPIN.
Palo Alto was then hitched to the sulky
which Sunol had drawn around the track, and
that noted stallion trotted slowly past the
judges stand ready for his trial Mr.. Marvin
scored three times before he was ready for the
word. On the fourth effort he nodded for the
word and got it. The tactics were changed on
this trial, and the same runner, driven again
by Hick0k, accompanied the trotter from the
start instead OF joining him near the finish.
Palo Alto trotted the mile without a skip in
2121z. within one-fourth OF n second Of his
record. This time Driver Marvin did not use
his whip, nor did he urge the horse with his
voice as the finish was neareG. Although PaiO
Alto looked lit for another mile Marvin de-
clared himself satisfied and declined to make
another effort at record breaking. Another
floral collar was produced and placed around
Palo Altos neck and he went to Join his stable
companion.
Mr.. Marvin said after the race that he had
calculated to make the half mile with Sunol in
LOB. This, he said. he would have done but
for the break. He said the track was o trifie
hard and that what wind there was operated to
his disadvantage on the slight rise in the track
between the half and ree-quar ter-mile posts
The opinion was expressed by many experts
present that the mare was driven off her feet,
and that had she been held to q little slower
time on the first half she would have done the
mile in 2. 10 or bettor. Many thought also that
Palo Alto should have been given another
trial.
A race between double teams, which was won
by Nellie Southern and True Love, brought the
days sport to close.
Mr.. Fred Bonner said that his father had
almost decided to leave Sunol in Mr.. Marvn's
charge for another year. The present contract
| calls for the delivery Of the mare to Mr. Bon
nsr in November next. II Mr.. Marvin retains
charge Of her she will be taken back to Cali
fornia this winter. Palo Alto and Sunol will
probably be taken to Cincinnati on Saturday
THE SUMMARY
Sunol against time, purse Of o., 800, to beat
her own time of 210H, with an additional
purse of $500 if she boats 2.0ssl, the record
of Maud s. Time, quarter, .303<; half, 1045a
three-quarters, 1855; mile, 2.llX.
Palo Alto against time, purse Of 81, 500, 10
beat his own record of 2l2ll, with an add.
tional 81, 500 II he beats the stallion record OF
2.12 made by AxtelL. Time, quarter, .S2k
half, l.051; three-quarters, 1889; mile, AJAX
Colossal Statue Of John Bright.
Mr.. Albert Bruce Joy gave q reception at hi
London studio yesterday to enable invited