Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-07-14
MARTHA WILKES AND MACK.
THE RECENT TROTTlNo MEETING AT
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION.
From the Mirror and Farmer,

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION.
From the Mirror and Farmer.l
The greatest harness meeting ever
held in Vermont, outside OF the Dig
breeders meeting, went on record at
White River Junction June p and IS
The opening days attendance, with
threatening weather, was l2OO, and the
second days crowd aggregated 5000.
This was great gate-drawing and fur
nlshed fresh example that as railroad
center for big crowds White River
Junction is equaled by few places in
New England. 1t is doubtful if any
other point in New England could have
drawn in one afternoon 5000 people as
the Junction did with the attractions it
offered. People came from all parts OF
Vermont and New Hampshire and many
from Massachusetts. 1t was gala oc-
casion and the entertainment furnished
was worthy of the magnificent patron
age. especially on Wednesday, when the
eyes of Vermont rested upon faster and
better-blooded horseflesh than was ever
stabbed before within its borders. The
star of the meeting was the great race
mare Martha Wilkes POS, who gave
exhibitions on both days, the first day
trotting half in l :07, last quarter in
321s; and the second day going full
mile in 2:141, first quarter in BIS, the
half in :064 and three quarters in ;4O5.
Neither performance looked like much
more than big Jog for the daughter of
Alcyone, who seems to be taking kindly
to the preparatory handling of young
Bard Palmer.
But splendid az was the exhibition of
America greatest race mare, 1t was
somewhat oyershadowed by the unex-
pected and brilliant performance of Yer
mont's meteorc piece of horseflesh,
Mack, whose recent sensational trotting
at Hydeville, VT, has been fully de-
scribed in these columns. Mack was
entered in the % class and the eXpec-
tation of ''blood' race between him
and Alexander was one of the strongest
factors in collecting a crowd on Wednes-
day. But for some reason Mack was
withdrawn from the contest Tuesday
night, bringing deep disappointment to
hundreds, who came prepared to wit
ness a hight to the death" between the
stallion kings from each side of the
mountain. Alexander was ON hand ready
for the fray, his owner, Mr.. Brownell,
and his driver, Homer Brewster, both
confident that in fighting race of
heats the chestnut son of Alcantara
could lower the colors of the gallant
bay from Rutland, though neither un'
derestimated his phenomenal turn OF
speed. The meeting did not come, how.
ever, and Alexander had an easy tasl
winning the event, while Mack electr
fled the crowd by the greatest burst Of
speed ever seen in Northern New Eng
land. At the close of the 2:22 class
which Alexander won in straight heats
reducing his record to :204, placing i
on an equality with the newly, acquired
record of Mack, the latter was brought
out and the announcement made that III
would give an exhibition, trotting the
last half at full speed. The handsome
son of Thought, after little warming
up, was sent off, and with the elastic
tread of colt and the style of the Nor
gan in his best estate, marched around
the kite track to the tune of 2:l71, the
the last half being stepped in :054.
When Starter Burress announced tn,
time wild cheers went up from tn,
multitude, for the most remarkable exhi
bition of speed ever seen in Vermont haC
been witnessed, and more than all, tn
horse who had furnished it, apparently
had not been fully extended. He crossel
the score at the end of that j :051 hal
with the same gingerly, graceful carriag
that he had manifested going away, a
If what he had done was mere play am
exercise. Not break was made in tn
mile, not touch of the whip for tn
fastest performer the Green Mountai
State has ever produced.
In the excitement which followed tn
trial all other events of the meeting wer
forgotten. Horsemen declared 1t a maj
Yelous performance for horse wit
such an inexperienced tmtion,-for Mac
was driven by Guy Bentley, youn
man who is far from being a teamstel
Declarations were made by some of tn
most enthusiastic that Mack could bea