The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-22
DIREcTUM BEATEN.
Alix Proves Herself the speediest Trot
ter.

Boston, October 20--The long looked for
battle between Alix and Directum took
place this afternoon and Alix easily won
While the race was more or less disap-
pointing in its character and in the prema-
ture withdrawal of Directum, still the result
was no surprise to those who were capable
| of judging critically the respective work
and action. of the two horses.
Besides the big event of the.day. there was
an extra race in the 2.26 pacing class on the
programme with a field of six good horses.
| and this was sandwiched in with the Alix
Direot tum race.
In drawing for positions, Alix secured the
pole. thus still further increasing he1
chance of winning in the minds of her adj
| mirers. 1t took but one scoring to get a
good send off. Alix having her nose but
slightly in the lead. To the first turn, size
| gradually left Directum. until at the
| quarter there was a good three lengths be
| tween them.
| just after getting the word. Directum
| offered to pace, but was quickly gotten un-
der control by Hickok, and he then settled
| down to steady work. He could not shorten
| the gap that AK had opened up, and three
| lengths in the rear he followed her TO the
! half mile.
| After passing the upper turn coming into
| the stretch, Directum appeared to be closing
| up on the leader. He gained but little,
however, and as they came down the
stretch Alix hada lead of.nearly five lengths,
which could not be lessened and she
finished in jog in 200.
Alix tIotted beautifully with neither a
skip nor a break during the heat and
~ X
quarter.
In the second heat Alix came down to the
wire half a length ahead of Drectum and
| the horses were sent back for another start
| The next time they got beautiful send
off. When the word was given Alix shot
ahead like rocket, and as she was sheaded
for the quarter post .exclamations of s'see
| her co. could be heard in every direction.
And go she did, leaving Directum in the
rear so far that he was never in the race
during the heat. At the quarter she led the
| stallion by five lengths and there was no
| stopping her. To the half she kept pulling
ahead and when that point was passed the
mare was eight lengths to the front and
Direotum could not help. himself. The mare
was trotting in beautiful form and was not
| forced in the slightest. After passing the
| three-quarter Alix was SO far in the lead
| that there were some fears of a.distance for
Directum. but Mcdowell kindly pulled up
and Alix finished as she pleased with
| Directum six lengths behind her.
! The time was the same to the quarter as
| in the first heat, but the remaining quarters
were considerably slower. Time for the
| mile, e. 3-4.
| 1t was plain to be seen that Directum was
| no mate h. tor the turf queen and that there
was surely something wrong with him.
After the horses had gone to the stable
there were rumors that Direotum had gone
lame and sore, and that he would be with
drawn. This was soon confirmed by an an
nouncement by Starter Burgess, that the
| judges, at the request of Mr.. Salisbury, had
| with a competent veterinary, examined
| Directum and found .that he was utterly
unfit to continue the race. To offset the
disappointment of the crowd, Mr.. Salisbury
\ had offered to send Alix for very fast
mile. This in measure satisfied the throng.
| but there was great regret felt THAT Direc-
| tum was unable to finish out the DAVIS
| work.
| After a little wait, ''Hod' Nelson came
| out with runner to act as pace maker to
| the queen, and had the satisfaction of fol-
| lowing Alix closer than would have been
| the case had he been driving Nelson in a
race.
| ak trotted without skip, making the
quarter in 81 Ia; half in 1O3 "a; three
| quarters in 1877, and the mile in 2.G7 3-4.
| This broke the Mystic Park track record
| of 2.0s Ia. held by Nancy Hanks, and closed
! the racing for the day. The summary;
Match race between Alix COB 40 and
Directuni eos LA. Purse S1l, ,0G0
| Alix, b m by Patronage, dam by
Attorney tMeDowelD l
| Directun, bl by Director, dam by
| Venture, (Hickok)) 2 dI
| Time-2.G9, 2.l4 IA. 2027 S-4.