Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-26

The trotting season now just drawing
to a close has been in many respects a
notable one The record, 204, made by
Nancy Hanks on the four cOrnered
track at Terre Haute in October, 1892,
has not been equalled this year, either
by the queen herself or any of the
other aspirants to championship honors.
SO far the enthusiasts who predicted
that the two minute trotter would ma
terialiZe in 1893, have proved false
prophets. Notwithstanding the facts,
however, that the record has not been
broken and the two minute trOtter has
not yet been seen, the season of 1898
goes down into history as the most
brilliant one in the annals of the trot-
ting horse.
Records-o of the championship
have fallen thick and fast. Directum,
the lin-hearted four-year-old, in spite Of
Mr. Salisbury and his little chain, has
mOWn down the stallion and race rec
ords almost every time he started. At
Fleetwood he trotted Il mile in the
free-for-all in 200 81; later during the
same meeting he WreSted the crown
from StanbOul from going Il mile in 2.O1 !;
when Washington Park was reached he
cut a half second from that mark, set
ting the stallion record at 2.O6 Pa
full second faster than that of STAN
boul. At Lexington he won the free
for-all in the first, third and fourth
heats in 200 81, 2.OS IA and 2.OS,
Pixley, that unluckiest of all unlucky
race mares, taking the second in
2.0S Il To crown his victorious
career distance was waived in the
third heat of the free-fOr-all at Nash
Vile last week and the peerless little
black wiped out the race and stallion
records by going the mile in 2.O5 IA,
the first half in LOB and the last in
1.02 1-4-tr1ly a most wonderful per
Torrance Vive le Roi.
Second to Directum must be ranked
the three-year-old mare Fantasy, and
the 5-year-Old mare AliX. The former
started the campaign green or at least
as green as our Uncle Hamlin ever
starts a trOtter-tOOk a record of us II
in her first race and has never sJss-
tanned defeat. Her record was reduced
from 21S ID to 215 IA and then to
BIB 81, the best of her age going down
before her. Last week at Nashville
in tWO-in-three race for 3-year-
ODDS distance was waved the second
heat and Fantasy marched the mile in
pos 81, prompted by the winner from
the tive-eighthS pole home. All out she
would certainly have trOtted in 2:O7.
2:0S 81 Use the record for 3-yearoids
and one likely to stand for some time.
AliX began the campaign badly. She
was unsteady and got the flag in the
great frcc-for-all at Buffalo, won two
heats in the consolation at the same
place but failed to get first money. Then
she got her old driver behind her again
and when the gang got to Ft. Wayne
and jack Curry told the boys he would
win the free -fOl-all $4,000 purse at
Chicago, they told INN he was talking
through his hat. But the mare kept
coming, won Il great race at ChillicOthc,
o., going the fifth heat in 2:O9 81
J worlds record when made-and rs is
wei known, won the freefOr-au at
Chicago ard the greatest race ever
trottcd. She won the first heat i'll
2:O7 81 the fourth i'm 2.11 Il and the
ninth in 200 81. The sensational char
acter Of this race is too well known
to need comment here.
Princess Clara reduced the YearunS
race record to 2:26 ii; but the two
wear old record of Ariun 2:l0 b has
not been approached. Nancy Hanks,
though she has trotted some great
miles, 2:O6 is he fastest, still our
Nancy" is the popular idol and as Il
drawing card is unequailed. 1t is the
pace that kills and Nancy'S wonder
full miles of last year have told the IN
evitable tale. She is, however, IN the
hands of the greatest conditioner alive
and she may yet clip Il fraction fron
her 2:O4. Doble's skill is limitless Hui
da DOS IL was one of the most sen
sational of the seasons performers anC
a promising candidate for championship
bonors till an unlucky accident put
her out Hanietta, Little Alber
Lord Clinton, Walter Il. the Nightin
gales. Pixley have formed the WarmeS
division ever encountered on the cir
cult and many others might be named
The Nelson's horse and man, have
been at it all season long, the Northern
King having reduced his record t.
200 over a Maine track. Nelson, thu
man, has called every bluff made a
him and has done Il little in the same
line himself, backing, however, hi
Chat with 4 substantial deposit o
cash. Surely Holds cup must be ful
to overlooking, for his good horse ha
reduced his record, made him a lot o
money and put no less than fifteen 0
his colts in the list.
Nutwood, Onward, Electioneer, Me-
son. Alcantara, Robert McGregor, Ham
Inns Alaont and Atlantic, all but Elel
tfoneer having records are the lea6in
sires in point of numbers OF new pen
formers: but Mr. Hamlln'S Chime;
$50 ga, son Of Electioneer and Beau
tiful Bells by the Moor must be calle
the greatest of them all. He was foa
ed in 1854 and is the sire of siNtee
performers including Fantasy 81 2:S 3
Tiny Bug (2) 2:17 IA and other YER
fast ones.
There seems to be no end to the spec
of the PAGERS. The fastest mile of Il
season was by Flying Jib-2:04,
Washington park-and there is l
doubt that under favorable condition
he could have gone faster that da