The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-14
BROKEN IN THE MUD.
How the stallion Nelson Lowered His
Record Saturday.

knowledge of events to transpire at Rig
by Park, near the city, Saturday after
noon, there was an audience of 5000
people present for preliminary meet
ing to show the people the best track in
the world according to the Judgment of
many of the most experienced horsemen
in the United States, and to see the
great Maine stallion Nelson start to beat
his Grand Rapids record of 2.10.
The judges in the stand were Messrs.
Charles M;iliken of Augusta, starter; E.
II. Greeley of Ellsworth, Alonzo Libby
of Westbrook, with VIM. A. Whittier of
Old Orchard, clerk, and john F. Barrett
and George M. Stanwood as timers.
The races in the 2.40 and 231 classes
were pretty. best two in three, and
quickly settled with but one split heat as
will be observed by the summary:
2.31 CLAss-PURsE 500.
Johnny Wilkes, b $. B. +. French. sire
Wllkes.... .-...-...-...-..s.......2
Rockefeller b 5, t. F.&F. H. Briggs, sire
Time 2.291a.
Brenda, b M j. d. Arthenay, sire Nelson..1
MATCHES AGAINST TIME.
Polly Nelson 6 m, Harry Williams, sire
Conrad, 2.3O1a, CHI S, VIM. Gregg, sire Nell
son, PIG, to beat 2.3O1a ......-.......... 2.31
2.4o cLAss-PURsE 500.
Topaz. Oh s, Ira Woodbury.. sire Hardin
ZINE > aaiS 80
Faith, b m, Harry Williams, sire Nelson. L
eipsey. T IN IN n, E. {. R. Chute, sire Lothian
Royal Boone, br $, F. r. Hayden, sire Don
Matte Wilkes. b IN. L. Hutchin. ...........3 4
Several fine horses were shown upon
the track. Polly Nelson by Nelson was
started to beat her record of 2.39a. She
made her mile with ease in 2.3o, and
some of the watches in the stand made
it as fast as 1924.
It was great afternoon for one of
Names most successful horse breeders,
G. H. Nelson. Three of his breeding
went into the list Brenda, Faith and
Polly Nelson. Faith was Dictator
Chief colt, and the others were Nelson's,
and the colt Conrad OF the same family
The yearling Westland colt, Westfeld,
owned by Mr.. Ernest Cross, the Portland
druggist, was exhibited to great advan-
tage.
NELSON Makes Good Milo.
All interest was conferred in the effort
of Nelson to lower his record. The
great horse was in perfect form and the
conditions of weather were fairly favor
Al but the track was against him from
y wetting the night before and early
morning. A large amount of water had
been put upon the inside portions and
neither sun nor wind had come to dry it
off. 1t was unfortunate, but of course
an accident of weather and miscalcula-
ton.
Nelson was first given warming up
mile in 2. that seemed to be merely
fun for him.
Mr.. Nelson then announced that the
condition of the track was such that he
could not expect to accomplish what he
had hoped, but thought he could show
fast mile and would do the best he could
under the circumstances.
Evidently educating his horse for an
other great race, Nelson requested: 1.-THE
first time | come down ring the bell and
the second time if the horse is going
level, give me the word"
The conditions were complied with
and the second time the great horse
came down he was going like beautiful
machine, the perfection of the trotting
action. Nelson nodded and the word
''go' was given.
Away shot the beautiful piece of ma
hogany bay equine mechanism, weighing
thousand and fifty pounds, and the
quarter was reached in 324 seconds; on
he flew and the half mile pole was passed
in 1.O11, the three quarters in 1851. and
the rnile was finished with the horse still
III great form and exhibiting no signs .of
firing or distress, amidst great applause.
The five watches in the stand-among
them those of President Geo. Burnham
and H. Wesley Hutchins, the owner of
The Seer, another of Names great stall
rHons-did not vary fraction and the
mile was made in 2.09
When the time was hung out there
was another great cheer for Nelson and
the horse and the excitement for the
time was intense.
1t was the fastest mile ever made in
this part of the country and the great
Maine stallion had dropped his record a
full second under adverse conditions.
An experienced gentleman in horse
matters, who made careful examination
of the track after the trial, considered it
from two to two and one-half seconds
slow. That opinion was fully shared in
by all the others who examined the
track.
1t was the common belief thatif Nelson
had fai :. chance Saturday in the way of
the condition of the track he would easily
1..,, l,,oI1o,, +ba uerican stallion racord