Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-08-19
NANCY HANKS IS QUEEN
THE BEAUTIFUL. MARE TESOTS
A MILE IN e:O7I.4,
Ten Thousand Persons Applaud
the Flying Daughter of Happy
HIedium-Shc Drew Budld Doble
and the Pneumatic Sulky.

CHICAGO, Aug. 17.-Ten thousand
lovers of the trottcr shouted themselves
hoaI SC at Washington Park today when
Nancy Hanks, the gallant little blue
grass bred mare, sped under the wire,
covering mile in 2:07l., eclipsing her
own and every other record made in the
history of tic ttotting turf. Then Budd
Doble was fairly lifted from his sulky by
the horsemcn that gathered about him,
and it was fully half an hour before the
multitude could be coaxed into any kind
Of order to witness the closing event of
the day.
The time set for the great mares bat
tie with Father Time was S o'clock, and
promptly at that hour Doble drove
through the gateway at the head of the
stretch, and logged down slowly toward
the staad, where he was received with
rounds of applause. Just behind him
came Frank Starr, to act as peaCcmaker,
with thoroughbred hitched to a sulkv.
AS a preliminary, Budd sent the mare
slow mile, going the wrong way of the
track, and then he wheeled her at the
head of the stretch and speeded around
the first turn at 2:10 clip.
There was a moments delay while
helper spungcd out the mares mouth,
and then the king OF drivers settled him.
sell in the sulky and prepared for the
struggle. AS he tuurncd to break, Starr
| l,a -, ,,,,t;,,, lao
flew down to the wire, going like piece
of machinery and as steady as clock
work.
Are YOU ready 7" shouted one of the
gentlemen in the timers stand, and Do
Bile nodded his head, while the point of
his whip lash just hicked the mares
back.
Round the turn and past the club
house she trotted SO rapidly that many
old-time horsemen declared the clip was
too fast and that she could never stay
the route at that pace. The quarter pole
was reached in 3l12 seconds, and still
Nancy was going as steadily as when
she started, and her driver sat as still as
il he were carved out of stone. When
she flashed by the hat-mile polein 1:03a4
murmur of astonishment rolled through
the stand, and then Starr, who had been
trailing behind with the runner, moved
up to Doble's wheel; but further than
this her driver was not urging her to any
greater effort.
When the man stationed at the three
quarter pole dipped his red banner the
watches clicked at 1;3612, and then only
could the spectators see that Doble was
urging the mare. Down the stretch they
with the runner, and already the more
enthusiastic sent up a cheer. Would she
break, or could flesh and food stand
such a terrific strain? wa the thought
that flashed through every horsemans
mind. Still the peerless mare swept on.
When the last eighth pole was passed
Doble's hands went up, and as he earcd
over, urging her with voice and rein. he
was exercising every device known to an
expert among experts to wheedle the
last iota of speed from those flying
hoofs.
81 want all the ladies and gentlemen
present not to applaud until the mare
has finished" shouted Judge Walker and
lne applause lnal was dlTcuuV Dcpuu
died away. Doblc lifted Nancy Hanks
under the wire i'll 2:07il. In doing so he
won for her world record and placed
Nancy Hanks the undisputcd ruler in the
trotting kingdom.
The scene that followed was wild.
Long before the official timers could
hang out the numbers hundreds Of horse
men who had timed for themselves knew
that the record was broken and they
manifested their enthusiasm in every
conceivable manner. Milionaires, breed
ers, trainers and common folks struggled
for space to shake Doblc's hand, and
the great driver smilngly accommodated
all that could get near enough to do so
The mare showed little or no fatigue
and was blown ont before she reached
her own stable. Doble said later that
she would have gone faster had there
been no head wind on the back stretcl
4 and had the track been faster.
II hope to best It with her before tin
season is over" said he, "and | fee
pretty confident OF doing it,"
The trial was made in ono of the new
pneumatic sulkies which the majority o
the trainers at the present meeting hav
been using. The track was fast, bu
extra work with more rolling and SCRAP
ing would have made it at least half
second taster.-N. Y, Sun.