The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-22
Thu BLACK WONDER WON
1t Was a Great Day for Direetum at
Fleetwood Park.
HE RAN AWAY FROM HIS KEEPERS
in THE FORENOON

And Ran Away from Alix in Each of
Three Heats in the Afternoon--The
Third Mile Made in 2.OS, Wonderful
Time Considering the Condition of the
Weather-The StalIion's Forenoon
Frolic Threatened to Spoil the Contest.
Fleetwood Park, N. z, November 21.
-Directum and Alix, matched to trot
for a purse of $4,000, drew large and
enthusiastic crowd of sportsmen to the
historic Fleetwood track this afternoon.
The event was looked upon as the closing
event in year of marvellous events, and,
though it is late in the season for trot-
ting records, there was every Indication
sensational contest. Directum's
sensational lowering of the record for
four year-olds during the summer, until
he had done the mile in 2.05 IA, made
him the favorite in today's race.
There were many, however, who pre-
dicted great things of Alix, who comes
from the West. with record of 2.O7 3-4,
made in race at Washington Park, Chi
cago.
The day was not favorable for record
breaking. A slight haze in the early
morning gave way to settled cioudiness
before noon. and the air was raw and
chilly. The track was in good condition,
everything having been done to make it
as near perfect and trim as possible.
Both Directum and Alix appeared to be
in good condition.
In the warming up trots before the
first heat, Alix's action was much freer
than her opponent Directum acted
trihe sluggish. Both horses, according
to their owners, were in tip-top condi-
tion. Never before, probably, was such
a big event decided with such small
amount of money wagered upon the re-
suit The betting opened with 100 to 40
offered on Directum and 100 to 80 asked.
| AS soon as the horses scored, 100 to 25
| was offered on the Black Wonder, with
| no takers.
In the first heat, Directum got the pole,
with Alix neck in the lead. When
they got the word to go, she gradually
| forged to the front in the first quarter.
AS they passed the two furlong mark,
she was leading by half
| length In the back stretch Directum
! moved up to her, and for couple of fur
| longs they raced liked a team. AS they
neared the turn for the hill, Alix broke
| badly, ana in a tWinkling Uirectum was
half dozen lengths to the good. This
enabled Kelly to ease the stallion up at
the hill and he breasted the incline as he
| pleased, although Curry got Alix down
again, and she came strong and fresh at
the finish. Directum won without turn
| ing hair, by two ledgths. Time, 2.15a.
In the second heat, the betting was one
| to four On Directum. Directum again
| had the pole. He wasssat Alix's withers
when they got the word to go. AS in
the previous heat, the. mare forged to the
| front at the outset and was leading by
a good half length all the way down the
| back stretch. AS they swung around
the turn Directum began to improve his
| position. At the half mile, Alix broke
| badly and Directum shot away from her
| as if the race were over. Curry had to
nearly pull AliX togther to gain her feet
and in the meantime Directum had be-
gan the ascent of the hill in very
| strong and fast and well, but the Black
1 Wonder got the second heat practically
as he pleased by. three lengths; time Is
/ Id
The judges announced that Directum
| would trot the third heat against time.
Alix spoiled what would have been a
perfect start by breaking just as they
! approached the wire They got the
| word to go on even terms on the next
| attempt. Alix broke before they reached
| the turn and Directum took a lead of
| fully half dozen lengths. Directum re-
| tained his advantage to the second turn,
when Alix, who had regained her feet,
began to crawl up to him. At the far
turn, she was within four lengths of
| the black, but, as they came up the hill,
| Kelly let Directum go freely. He came
away from Alix without a skip or break
| or the slightest urging and came home a
| dozen lengths in front; time 2.0S; by
| quarters 80 IA, LOB Ia, 1.35. The time
was really phenomenal when the
weather and atmospheric conditions are
| taken into consideration. 1t is equal to
| DIrectum's worlds record made in warm
weather.
| The first heat OF match race of two
mile heats for a thousand dollars a side
between Wax and Ester Wilkes preceded
| the big event. Wax won. by half length,
| Wilkes breaking near the finish; time
4.51 IA. In the second, Wax led all the
| way and won easily by three lengths;
time, 4. So 3-4. Wax also led from the
| start to finish in the third and won easily
| by three lengths.
| An accident occrred this morning
| which came very near preventing the big
race. While being led around the track
F! TODAY the black racer broke away, He
| went fying over the fields with score of
| men and boys at his heels vainly trying
| to overta1le him. 1t was feared he would
| run into some obstacle and injure him
| self SO badly that he could not race this
| afternoon. After some time tho horse
made bold dash for one of the hills,
but before he reached the top he was
caught by one of the men connected with
| the track.