Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-09
KING OF THE TURF.

lands.
GRAND RAPIDS, Oct. S.-Allerton is king.
Fully two thousand people saw the son of
Jay Bird wrest all claim to the title from
Nelson in the SIC, 900 race between the two
stations on the fast Grand Rapids track
to-day. 1t was long way from an ideal
afternoon and once or twice fugitive rain
drops found their way into the grand
stand. The weather was chilly enough to
preclude any hope of record breaking time.
The Hon. Daniel j. Campau of Detroit,
Mich, owner of the Chicago Horseman.
acted as starter. S. A. Browne of Kalama-
zoo, Mich, G. L. Benjamin of Saginaw and
L. 9. Webb of Mason, Mich, were the
judges. S. w. Taylor of Independence,
Ia, A. R. Munger of Detroit and William
McAlson of Bangor, Me-, were timers.
Ben j feathers, the owner of Monbars,
who had offered the purse, announced that
the race would be the greatest and most
important in the history of the turf, as it
would be battle to the finish between the
two kings of the track. The throng gave
Nelson shade the best of it in the way
of applause when the two stations ap-
peared, but Allerton was very decidedly a
tavorite in the pools. Both horses were
driven by their owners, and it was evident
rigid training to reduce weight. When
the Maine stallion made his 2:1O record
on the Grand Rapids track recently the
weight of his owner and driver was given
at 1873 pounds. When Starter Campau
announced the weights after the horses
were called for the first heat Nelson's was
given as ITO pounds, and twenty pounds
over the regulation weight, and Williams
as 100 pounds, fifteen pounds overweight.
Allerton coquetted in the scoring, but
the horses got away in beautiful style on
the fourth attempt, with Nelson closely
hugging the pole in advance. The pace
was the sort that kills from the start.
The quarter was made in thirty-tyo
seconds, with Nelson a length in advance
and both horses trotting with the pre-
clslon of wonderful pieces of mechanicism.
Around the half they swung at the same
terrific pace, Nelson making it in 1:054,
two open lengths in advance of Allerton.
The western stallion narrowed the gap
before the quarter was reached in 1894:
and then Williams gathered his deep
chested beauty in hand for the finish. But
just as they swung into the stretch with
Allerton at his rivals wheel, the indie
pendence stallion went off his feet for an
instant and the heat practically decided
right there. Williams made little effort
to regain the length lost, but wisely saved
his horse, while Nelson rushed under the
wire with that long, swinging stride
which had never faltered all the way
round, winning by an open length in 2:13
The crowd went crazy over tho result,
but its roar disturbed the bookies very lit
tie. They promptly offered Nelson at s14
and Allerton at $25.
In the second heat the two got away on
the first trial. To the three quarter pole
the heat was nearly repetition of the
first. Williams still played waiting
game, but hanging closer to the Maine
horses wheel than before.
The quarter was driven in 324, the half
in :O6 and the three-quarters in 1:411.
AS they swung into the stretch Nelson
swerved toward the middle of the course
and faltered for moment. Inch by inch
the western horse closed up on the great
eastern horse. At the distance post Mel
son brought the whip down upon his horse
sharply, but the latter was already going
at his best stride and both stallion and
driver seemed to grow faint-hearted when
thirty yards from the WIRE Allerton made
marvellous finish, winning by half a
length in 2:144. The crowd yelled itself
hoarse over Allerton and Nelson
dropped in the pools to g..
In the third heat the stations got away
again like twin pieces of a single machine.
Nelson gave an exhibition of rash driving
at the outset by showing his horse to the
front at terrific gait, taking the pole on
| the first turn, The quarter was made in
80 and the half in 1:03I. Around the
back stretch it was a procession, Nelson
leading by half a dozen lengths, while
Williams sat back easily in his sulky and
held Allerton well in hand. Before the
| the third quarter was reached in 1:40 he
had glided within fighting distance of his
| adversary. Down the stretch he pulled up
| even with the eastern horse by one of his
| phenomenal bursts of speed. Nelson des-
perately piled the whip, but his horse
had been pumped out and Allerton trotted
| easily under the wire, winning by an open
| length in 2:15. Nelson in tine fourth heat
held his horse in check, the two making
the quarter neck-and-neck in 334. They
were head by head all the way to the
the home stretch, and it was the
prettiest heat of the race. The half was
made in 1:07t and the three-quarters in
1:42. In the stretch Allerton again showed
his superiority and passed the grand
stand leading by an open length, which nc
one doubted he could have increased tc
four or five had he so desired, winning the
heat and race in 2:164 The enthusiastic
crowd broke through the fence and packed
| the track about Allerton and his owner
and hung garlands on the Iowa king.