Morning journal and courier., 1891-09-11

present generation of race goers were born,
aud to a race that was at that day equally
sensational, and one that would tomorrow
draw such crowd as would fill the Golfers
of the association giving it, as they were
never before filed.
The race was at ten miles Cnot ten heats.
remember) for purse of $40, 900, and the
horses that measured strides were the trot-
ter Prince, driven by the late Hiram Wood
ruiz, and the PAGER Hero, handled by the
renowned George Spicer. The meeting
took place on the old Centerville course in
the fall of 1858. can remember the dar
quite distinctly. The weather was fine,
the atmosphere clear, cool and bracing
Within the ground and in the trees and on
knolls surrounding, were assembled fully
10,OOO persons, who came from far and
near to see the event that had been held in
lively anticipation for months.
Among the throng that packed the stand
and overhowed the lawn were politicians of
national prominence, lawyers of great re-
pute, solid men of business, sporting men
pure and simple, and even clergymen, and
ladies God bless 'em). And what would
you say to-day to see men at the track
dressed in swallow-tail coats, with wide
expanse of shirt bosom, and cravats, that
could in emergency, be used as table COW
ers. That was the way we dressed in '53,
and the w1de-brimmed tiles worn then
wonld appear ludicrous now.
The race was called about three O'Clock.
The track was in excellent order, and the
the horses appeared in superb condition,
trained, as we say now, to the minute
Hero was the fayorite, and one hundred
to seventy-five was staked on him, prob
ably to the amount of $40, 900, or $50, ,OOO
in those days considerable money.
The judges called the drivers up to the
stand and stated the conditions of the race
and cautioned them, in much the same
manner sometimes practised nowadays,
regarding any violation of rules, and
then they were given the start, and PAGER
having the pole and leading round the
tirst turn. In my minds eye can see
the race as plainly as though it were but
yesterday instead of nearly forty years
ago.
On the back stretch the PAGER waited for
the trotter and let him come alongside. it
being apparent at this early stage that
Spicer did not intend to go any faster than
Hiram would make him, at the same time
keeping the later on the outside all the
way round, thereby making him 90 a great
er distance in the race. They kept side by
side until they reached the lower turn,
when Hiram pulled in behind Hero and
waited until he reached straight work on
the home stretch, where be came out, and
the two came to the stand with the wheels
of their sulkies as close together as it YVES
possible to get them without touching. The
first mile was done in 3:44
On the second mile Hiram, seeing
through Spicer's tactics, began to crowd
him. The pace of both horses now became
accelerated, and it was evident that Hiram
intended to force his adversary to a break
down, believing presumable that his horse
would prove the better slayer Spicer kept
the PAGER well in hand, and would not 60
any faster than he was absolutely com
PEELED to. The trotter again fell in behind
on the lower turn, and again made brush
up the home stretch, the pair coming to
the stand head and head. The time for this
mile was 2:36.
On the third mile Woodruff pursued the
same tactics as in the two preceding miles.
only putting on little more steam, which
compelled the PAGER to add a little more
pressure, and away they dashed around the
upper turn and down the backstretch at
killing pace. They came to the stand on
even terms in the third mile. Hiram ex-
claiming to friend as the passed: 'I've
got him sure" Time, 2:33 Is.
The fourth and fifth miles were run in
precisely the same manner, both horses
coming to the wire like a team The time
for the fourth mile was 2:39 and the fifth
2:37. On the sixth mile the trotter became
the favorite, any amount of money being
offered on him, without takers. He took
the pole on the first turn in spite of Spi-
GERS efforts to force the PAGER to extend
himself, and the latter began to show symp-
toms of distress. He struggled bravely
however, but the trotter opened the gap at
every stride. At the half mile pole he was
fifty yards in front, without the slightest
abatement of his speed; but on the lower
turn Hiram let him up, and took it more
moderately up the home stretch, coming
to the line in 2:46, having performed the
six miles in 1855 1-2, an average of less
than 2:40 for the six miles.
When the PAGER reached the stand it was
evident he had had enough and he was
stopped at the wire. A more exciting
race, as long as it lasted, have never
seen.
The trotter was then slowed 10 an easy
gait, as 1t was unnecessary to drive him up
to his speed any longer, and he walked and
logged the next three miles, keeping as
fresh as possible for the last mile, his own
er having wager of $500 that he would
make the tenth mile in less than three min
utes. The time of the seventh mile was
sos, the eighth 6:1S, and the ninth 6:l9,
but he was let out on coming to the wire,
and started to decide the wager, dashing
off at an astonishing rate of speed, which
he kept up throughout the mile, prefUrm-
ing the distance in 2:39-the greatest feat
ever known.
How many horses are there in training
to-day that can trot six miles in less than
sixteen minutes, jog along three miles fur
ther, and the wind up by doing a mile in