The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-10-23
Diroct Wins.

sThere was a mighty throng of people
and a great horse race in Nashville last
Wednesday. Twelve thousand people
saw Direct win the laurels so prondlV
worn by Tenpessee's hitherto tnVin'l L
BILE Hal Pointer. 1t was the greatest
race ever seen on the American turf,
and by this victory little Direct makes
the record of the fastest three consecu-
tive heats ever paced or troIteu;
In their preliminary Work the StaIs
were cheered to the echo, although IL
was plain TO be seen that the sympa-
thies of the vast audience were with
the Tennessee gelding. Three times
did Ed Geers, driver of Hal Pointer,
have to tip his cap to the enthusiastic
admirers of the champion PAGER.
Equally as many times did George
Starr, driver of Direct, dof his cap.
1t was one grand, spontaneous Demon
stration of good will to the greatest
horses ever seen in harness, ana 10 the
master hands who guided them.
When the kings appeared on the
track to do or die the applause was ter
rifle, and yet when they came down TO
the wire, like two pieces OF mechanism
working in unison, the spectators helu
| their breath, so great was the interest
in the result of the contest. 10 per
| feet start they went away. Hal Pom
ter having the pole. Direct seemed TO
be going very freely, and yet rounding
| the first turn the Tennessee morse 10 IN
a slight lead. At the quarter poie ne
after passing this point he seemed to
falter, the black stallion going forward
| at the half, having the advantage OF
length. The quarter was covered IN
1929, and both drivers appeared TO oe
feeling of each other, Direct leo
around the turn, with Pointer at ms
wheel, and forcing him to keep right
down to his work. Geers endeaXored
to bring his horse up to the nylng
leader in the stretch, but the black al
WAYS held him safe and eventually We
by a length and half in 2:lO, the last
est time ever recorded on southern
race course.
In the second heat Pointer sold in the
pools at $50, while Direct brought only
SIS. Another perfect start was made,
with Direct having slight advantage
rounding the turn. Geers seemed 10
he bent upon forcing the black to go his
best. but lie only succeeded in making
him fly to the quarter in :32H, nalI d
second faster than in the previous neat.
Here Direct led by half a length pacing
easy. Going 10 the half it was "hOss
race fit for tie gods to see. They moved
as a team, and Pointer was at Directs
throat latch at the half in 1:O44. Gong
round the turn Direct showed a bit OF
daylight between him ana MS game
opponent, and though Geers drove as
only a master ''nechanic" can, he could
not get up. III the end the Californian
on in 2:09I4, the fastest time ever made
by harness horse in a race IN the
throats greeted the little black stallion
as he came back to the judges STAND:
The third heat was u repetition OF the
first Direct had the pole and at the
start took the lead. Try as he might,
the "silent man from Tennessee" could
} never pass the Californian, and coming
in in 2:lI, Direct had won the greatest
race on record and was the King OF the
Turf.
The widest enthusiasm prevailed
, and the first question on the lips OF
| everybody, was, lean he do 1t again?
Each of the famOu- horses now have
race each, Hal Pointer won at Ferrt
, haute; Direct WOO at NasnVllle
Which will win at Columbia? donors
are easy between them now aud the
race here next Monday will be for the
) championship. 1t will be the race o
their lives, and will.go down in turf his
tory as one of the great events OF the
wear, The result at Nashville adds al
hundred fold to the interest in the meet
. ing here, and nothing else Is talked
about in turf circles. Lovers of The
, horse and the race will come thousand
of miles to witness the event, and I'M
horse that wins will go faster than b.
has ever gone before.