Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-09

mp " bhiC W ihB' ~ al
of Gideon by Young Engineer by Engi-
neer I'd by Engineer, pedigree unknown.
a glance at this pedigree shows that
the two principal legs of the tripod on
which it rests are Diomed and Morgan,
the lesser limb bring the Messenger
blood of Gideon, so that the fight takes
added zest as being a new contest be-
tween old foes. 1t is also in a sense a
rivalry between the East and the West,
friendly it is hoped, but earnest without
doubt. These considerations make it
doubly essential that the battle be fairly
waged and thai each contestant be credit
ed with what he fairly earns, and no
more. "Let the best horse win"
On the 2lst of October last Nelson
took a record against time of 2:l0f on
the oval track at Cambridge City, Ind,
the fastest record then ever made by an
entire horse. Allerton, then four years
old, retired last season with a record of
2 :l3A made against time, November |, on
the kite track at independence, Iowa.
III oIpOu nv ltNOluS NhCns u lCM
weeks ago, news was flashed across The
country that Allerton had won the crown
by trotting "A mile against time at indie
pendence in 10. On the 18th of Sep
at Grand Rapids, Mich, in precisely the
same time; and the mex day Allerton
made a new trial on the kite track at In
dependence and was reported to have
done the mile in 2;09t. On the 9th
Nelson started on the oval track at Cam
bridge City, Ind, to beat 80 and made
the mile in 2:l04. Two days later at the
same meeting he repeated the attempt,
trotting the first mile (driyen by Nc
Henry in PIP. Thirty minutes later he
came out with his owner behind him, and,
according to the correspondent of Clark's
Horse Review who saw it, this is what
happened ale went to the quarter in
30, to the half in | :0l, to the three. quar-
tiers in / :3S. Now this is as your scribe
gets information from the stand. 1t
about compares with outside watches in
the hands of reputable timers. Then
came a division or opinion in the stand.
There was a consultation which lasted a
long time. Spectators became impatient
and left the grounds. Then a heat was
paced. Still they waited. Finally no
time lras announced. $50 1t appears
one watch timed it :0S!, while others
nnt IL ac Clnuy ~ D1D Hiuisinn nf
time making 2:094 was suggested, but
was not consented to by the Judges"
Mr.. Nelson's remarks were not taken
down. He claimed at Grand Rapids, and
faster than announced. This fasco will
certainly, if unexplained, give the par
tisans of Nelson added grounds for claim
ing that he is not fairly used. The ques-
ton as to which is the better horse in a
race will probably be tested before this
paper Is issued, as they are booked to
meet at Grand Rapids on the Sth inst.
best three in five for ten thousand dol
lars.
The manner in which these alleged
records have been made has excited much
comment not favorable to Allerton. Mel
son made his 2:l0 at Grand Rapids at a
regular meeting in the middle of the af-
ternoon before thousands of spectators
and under hundreds OF watches. So far
as we are advised all his contests against
time have been made with like publicity
and at regularly advertised trotting meet
ings.
On the other hand, Allerton's alleged
mark of 2:09t was got on his owners
track, without announcements and at nc
meeting at all. 1t was late in the after
noon, the papers say half-past six.
He was driven by his owner, and it is
fair to infer that friends of his owner
held the watch and judged the trial, or
what they could see of it. While it may
have been the most honest mile ever
trotted, it does not commend itself to
the minds of candid people. Aside from
other considerations, it would seem that
the money to be collected at the gate at a
meeting advertised for a stallion to beat
the worlds record, if he were really like
ly to do it, would be worth taking. But
comment is unnecessary-it is perfectly
obvious that if valid records can be OBJ
tanned in this way, the championship will
always be at the mercy of any one who
can command a horse, a track, and half a
dozen friends of easy virtue. 1t is stated
that the , 10 of Allerton was also got in
this way. If this be true, he has no such
record. Nelson Is king with a record OF
? 10. The same holds true in regard to
PAGERS. Johnston's mile in 2 :06t, made at a
regular meeting in Chicago, Oct. 3, 1884,
constitutes the best record, and is not
superseded by the alleged 2:O6 said to
have been made by Direct at a recent
"matinee' at Independence, which again
is NJ record. Direct as yet stands Sec
ond with Il record of ? :07! made at the
recent meeting at Cambridge City,
INl.aa, tIN aan, -..