The Yellowstone journal., 1894-09-08
Two Heats Below 2:o4 and the
Third in "a "a, the I hree
Averaging 2:o3 3S.
Robert >. Reigns Unquestioned King 81
the Turf-Joe Patchen Only Frac-
tionaI Seconds Behind.

dianapOlis Driving club and the son Of
Terre Haute and Fort Wayne has been
eciipsed. Sir Robert j.. the great son
Of Hartford, reigns supreme gas king Of
the turf and the pennant waves over his
stall al the state fair grounds. The
match race for purse Of 5000 between
Robert J. and Joe Patchen was expected
to bring forth some phenomenal speed.
but not one Of the 10000 people was pre-
pared for the terrible slashlng Of rec
ords that begun with the word Go"
Numbered from the stand by Starter
Walker. All the necessary elements
were present which entered into the
production Of great speed.
Both horses were in the best possible
condition. and Jack Curry had promised
TO give the little horse the race Of his
life, \ mighty cheer went up as Geers
and Curry drove quietly down in front
of the amphitheater and logged to the
turn. The crowd became breathiess as
the horses came together and pulled out
for little warming up and down the
stretch. Then both drivers settled
tirmly IN their seats. The second start
was success. Both horses were at
their stride and less than a neck apart.
Around the turn ,he two rivals shot and
at the quarter 81 was announced.
Still the two horses remained together.
Curry hanging stubbornly At Greers'
. L. 81 1..ag
reins for the stretch and ]: "a al the
three quarters was yelled from the
stand Then began the race home.
Curry spoke to the handsome black and
Patchen responded by straining every
muscle. Up they came like whiriwlnd
and left the crowd in uncertainty as TO
! the victor. Geers spoke to Robert j.,
! and Curry made a low exclamation Of
encouragement to the black. Both re-
I sponded. The little brown seemed to be
surprised at the audacity Of his big riy-
| al and as he dashed under the wire
stuck out his nose and with mighty
! stride gained nose. 4 moment later
when 2.03', was hung up a great wave
81 extravagant delight dashed across
the amphitheater and the air trembled
as great roar OF triumph went up.
/ But the second heat 1t was conf
/ dentally said the great heat had passed
and some had left. 1t was the general
/ impression that both horses had done
/ their best and slow time was looked ior.
Like twin rockets they shot from under
the wire and started a trip arornd the
/ turn that was to bring them glory and
fame. Robert }. went right to the front,
moving like piece Of mechanism. At
the quarter he led the big fellow 10y two
lengths. Patchen closed up the gap
going down the back stretch and was
hanging to the little bays wheel at the
half which was reached in 1O2ls.
Patchen moved out a little more and
was well alongside Of Robert j. at the
thIee-quarters. This was reached in
l:3Ols, and it was realized that without
break even the fast mark of the prev
ious heat was to be placed into insight
canoe. Curry was urging the big fel-
low, and Geers, with faith in little
Robert, LET him out and he moved away
from fhe black at the distance stand
with mighty burst ofspeed and passed
under the wire twoopen lengths in front
of his determined competitor. in 2021ss
Patchen was marked at 2:02si
The crowd could not contain its pent
up enthusiasm longer than to see the
nose of King Robert pushed under the
wire. One long cheer burst forth and
continued until Starter Walker an
nounced the time and the time had been
posted.
1t was $50 o'clock when the third
heat was call d. 1t was a great start
and Robert j finished it In 204sl, hall
length to the good Patchen was
marked at 2;o5. The average time OF
three heats was BOB 80.