Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-30
DlRECTUM WON THE RACE
Saladin Took First Heat and
Then Fell Back.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT CONTEST
Saladin's Time Was EqualIed,
But Not Beaten.


The great race between the brown pacing
stallion Saladin and the black trotting
stallion Directllm, best three heats in five.
was decided Monday afternoon over tho
Point Breeze course, the latter winning
after four of the grandest finishes ever
seen on any track.
The first heat was scheduled for Q
o'clock but long before that hour four
special trains of 10 cars each from Broad
street station, and scores of coaches, car
riages, buggies and vehicles of all descrip-
tions, had landed fully 1000 persons at the
track Directum naturally was the favorite
N the netting, the opening. pools selling
for SIS on him to S5 on Saladin. The sup
porters OF the little brown PAGER. however.
were loyal to their choice. and held the
odds down so well that the best bid on
Directum at the close was only Sl5.
Saladin, who was driven by James b.
Green, his owner. secured the pole, and,
after the two horses had scored four times,
Starter Joseph A. Wenderoth gave them
the word on passing the wire the
fifth time. AT the quarter-pole, which
was reached in 3i4 seconds, scarcely nose
separated the two horses. Here Saladin
made slight break. but Green caught
him before he had lost much ground At
the half-mile post, which was reached in
l.O4. Directum, driven by John Kelly. was
"a lengths ahead, which distance he in
creased to lengths ut the three-quarters
Tho time at the three-quarter post was l.372.
On entering the straight Saladin first
showed the gameness in his makeup and
the remarkable speed he possesses by
gradually gaining on the black stallion
foot by foot until opposite the club house,
when he drew up along side of Drectuim.
Nearer and nearer the wire they came, the
distance between the champion and chal-
tlenger growing less and less, until Kelly
was finally compelled to use the whip.
Green urged the progeny of Sultan on
with kind words, and, amid the widest
excitement, he went under the wire,
scarcely head in the lead. The time was
2.l0t. 1t was estimated that Saladin paced
the last go yards in 15i seconds, 2.02 gait.
While the two horses were being rested
prior to the second heat, the bay gelding,
Flying Jib, 2.04, was driven by Mr.. Kelly
against the pacing record. The quarter
was done in .321, the half in los the
three.quarters in 1854 and the mile in
2.O94, which now becomes not only the
track record but the fastest mile ever made
in this city. The best previous track
records were: Pacing, 2.l24, by Vitello. on
September sth, 1893, and tIotting, 2.134, by
Muta Wilkes the same day. -N
After the usual rest Directum and Sala-
din were brought out for the second heat.
They were given the word on the first
score to good start. At the quarter pole
they were even, the time being 32A sec.
onds, but at the half, which was reached
in LOS, Directum was II lengths ahead.
Between this point and the three-oua uarter
post Saladin broke badly, and Drectum
had placed six clear lengths between them,
the watches showing l.37. On entering
the straight Saladin again broke, but
after being steadIed he came up the stretch
like yeritable whirlwind, and what at
first looked like a bad beating proved
aat nj Et,fu l.
barely length, in 2.10f.
The bay mare Alix, 2.073, was now
brought out for an exhibition trot. She
was driven full mile, but only speeded
in the last half, the time being 2i91 for
the full mile, and LOST for the last half.
Directum and Saladin, each having won
q heat, were now brought 10 the wire for
the third heat, and were sent away on the
second score. Directum led by l length
at the quarter in .324, and by 3lengths at
the hall in los Here Saladin made a
skip. but was quickly brought down by
Green. At the three.quarters. which was
reached in l.SSS' DirStum was still 9
down, and. when entering the straight,
again challenged the speedy son OF
Director. Kelly used his whip, and after
a game iinish Directum went under the
wire in Fila, u length and half il front
of Saladin.
before tne TWO racers were Drought Ia
the wire for the fourth heat the betting
was $50 to Sc on Directum. They were
away OH the first score, Directum receiving
the benefit of the start bv half head At
the quarter, Directum was barely length
in the lead, the time being SO seconds, and
he led the same distance at the half. which
wasIuade in LOG. Saladin broke again at
this place and lost lengths by doing SO.
The three-quarter post was reached in 1.39l.
Saladin broke twice in the stretch and be-
fore he could be steadied; Directum had
passed under the wire, 8 lengths ahead of
him, i'll 212. Summary
Match race for $500, with $1,000 added
by the association
Directum ttrottel blk.s., by Director,
(kellyl2 /
(Green)1 g 2