Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-09-27
The Story oi the Heats.

Directum was big favorise in the pools,
selling for 500 to $40 on the field before
the race. He WAS greeted with cheers when
he appeared. When Nelson came out the
crowd was much more demonstrative. Long
and loud applause greeted horse and driver.
Orrin Bickok sat behind DireCtum; "Hod"
Nelson piloted his own horse. Arion was
looked after by Bud Dohle, and did not
appear until nearly starting time. Arion
was suffering from congestion of the lungs.
His owner, Commodore Forbes, was warned
by veterinary surgeon that the horse was
liable to drop dead if started. The desire
of the owner not TO disappont the big crowd
led him to permit Arion to run. AIion
nobly responded to the demand made upon
him.
The track was tfife heavy and a good
stiff northeast wind met the trotters as they
came down the stretch and around the
quarter. The western trotter was only
headed once, and that in the second heat,
when, for nearly quarter of a mile, Mel
son led him by neck. Very little time
was lost in scoring. For the first heat
Directum won the pole, Arion second Nell
son outside. On first scoring the horses
came trailing to the wire and were sent
back. The second time they settled down
to business at once and were given the
word. To the quarter they went at a
.2.14 clip, Directum and Arion neck
and neck Nelson half length
behind. This relative position was
maintained to the half with Nelson
creeping up little. To the three quarters
DireCtum was unable to shake off Arion,
whom he led by only nose. In the stretch
Arion fell off slightly, and Nelson was close
at his wheel. Directum trotted as steadily
as a clock, and gradually opened distance
between himself and Arion, until it showed
about length. In that position they
crossed the wire. Nelson was scant length
behind Arion. For the second heat an ele
CANT send off resulted on the first trial. A
blanket would have covered the three.
To the quarter Direc,um had a slight
lead, with Nelson fast ining, and Arion
holding his own. Around the turn Nelson
kept steadily pushing ahead, and finally
overlook Directum, leading the latter
by half length at the half, with Aiion
close up. Here Nelson's driver tried 10
force him little, with poor result. Nelson
began to lose advantage, and at the three
quarters post he was again in second place
with Arion hot after him.
On coming into the stretch, Arlon pushed
into second place, after Directum increased
the lead to nearly two lerg,hs. Down the
stretch the three closed up, and made
pretty race for the wire. DIrectum cleared
the wire about length ahead of Arion,
Nelson third. The third heat was started
beautifully with one scoring. The three
went to the quarter in group, a pretty
race. Then Arion seemed TO drive ahead
for few seconds, but the lead, if any, was
very slight. Dire ctum swiftly put himself
in the van. Along the back stretch the
three kept well toge ther, all trotting steadily.
In fact. not break was made during the
entire race. In the stretch they kept to-
gether, making an exciting contest. As
they came down the stretch Directum was
under a slight lash AMI opened a gap in
front of Arion, which increased to two
lengths at the finish. Nelson was length
farther in the rear.
Directum received first money, 10000
Arion second, $500; Nelson third, $500.