The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-05

Thursday occurs the race between Nelson
and Allerton upon the track at Grand Rap
ids, Michigan. All persons are not interest
ed in horse trots, and not few regard such
events with something like dlsapproval on
account of the bad name the track has re-
ceived from the tricks of some interruptions
jockeys. But there is no reason why horse
trot properly conducted is not as good form
Of entertainment as a base ball game, row.
ing contest or running match. And we
think that the staidest citizen of Maine may
be pardoned an interest In the great race at
Grand Rapids Thursday. 1t is true that G.
III. Nelson's performance at the race between
his horse and the Kentucky trotter Alcryon
was such as to destroy public confidence in
him as manager of the horse. But the sit
uation at Grand Rapids seems to be such
that both Of the owners, Nelson and Will
liams, will lack inducements to enter into
any such arrangement as that between
Nelson and the owner of Alcryon. Each
man now has stallion which he claims to
be the fastest trotter in the world. They
are about to meet to decide the supremacy.
The stake money is small pal of the profits
Of winning. The increase In value of the
winner will be so great, and the deprecia-
ton in the value of the loser so considerable,
that arrangements to sell the race would
seem to be most unlikely. Apparently the
lace must be honest, and as such 1t will be
one of the greatest sporting events in these
modern times, which are so given over to
the enjoyment Of sports. Here a-e the two
fastest.trottiDg stations in the world, SO
evenly matched for speed that the first place
is claimed for both; and they are to contest
on the same track and together for the prize
Of king Of their kind. The sober citizen who
never Intentionally saw horse go a mile in
less than five minutes, may be pardoned for
taking lively interest In Thursdays event
at Grand Rapids. One Of the leading agri-
cultural journals, the American Horse
Breeder, has made an interesting summary
of the apparent merits OF the two horses
1t is probably as fair as can be made before
they have been seen together.
While It is true that Allerton's record ia faster
than Nelson's, every candid, unprecedented horse
man must admit that the 2.10 OF Nelson, cOnsjd-
ering the conditions under which It was made is
more creditable mark than the 2O0iI of the
great son OF Jay Bird. Nelson's record was made
over regulation track. His driver was some
obtained over kite shaped track built unon The
most favorable soil that can be found, ana is adj
mltted TO be from two to four seconds faster than
gooq mile Track OF the regulation pattern. 1t is
ceeded In troiting 2.l0A. This signifies nothing.
however, as the horse might not have been in con-
1 quo 70 20 50 last mile as be was in Michigan.
we do not wish 10 disparage the Performance Of
Auerton, but until he trots mile in 2.lO. pulling
100 pounds weight over a regulation track he
cannot be rated the equal In speed TO the Maine
bred son OF Young R0lfe (2.2114). No doubt
Alerton Is as game trotting stallion as ever
look the word: and 1t IS not improbable that he
can beat the New England idol in race hut he
mas never given so meritorious performance as
nelson's mile IN 210 over the Michigan regula-
ZION track, pulling 1S0-pound driver.
1t is evidently the opinion of this journal
that the Maine horse is the better. Whether
OF not this is SO, Thursdays event will prob
ably show.