Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-09-07
woRLp REcoRp BEATEN.
Robert J. PAGES in Two. Two and
One Half.

1NDlANAFOblSY Etpts t'-hhSt uiBhs
the flag OF h, nors q ,ated over the track
cf the Indianapolis Driving club and
The sun Of Terre Haute and of Fort
Wayne has teen ecIipeed. Robert ],
the great sun of Hartford, feigns su-
preme as king Of the turf and the PEN
nant waves above his stall at the fair
grounds.
The match race for purse of 5000
between Robert ] and Joe Patchen
was expected to bring forth some phe-
nomenal speed but not one of the TO-
600 people was prepared for the terrible
slashiDg of records that began with the
word ''go," thundered from the stand
by Starter Walker at $50 o'clock. The
day was perfect and all necessary ele-
ments were present which enter into
the production Of great speed. Scarcely
had the two horses turned for the start,
when the brown and the black gave q
great leap forward and shot down to
the stand at terrific pace. Both driv-
era held back and Patchen was rem
dered unsteady by the lines. Starter
Walker saw the situation and called
them back. The second start was a
success. Both horses were at their
strides and less than a neck apart.
Down the track they came at tel
rible pace with perfect motion and even
stride. Co." yelled Starter Walker,
leaning far over the railing of the
stand, and the crowd arose as one man.
Around the turn the two rivals shot,
and at the quarter, 9ll was announced.
1t was as though the two horses were
impelled by some unforeseen force, as
the movement of the legs on the back
stretch could not be seen. l:G21 at the
half was called out, and the crowd
cheered.
Geers forged ahead nose as the two
swept into the turn. 1:34 st the three
quarters was yelled from the stand.
Then began the race for home. Curry
spoke to the handsome black and Pat
chen responded by straining every
muscle. The great horse came up to
even terms and the distended neck and
flaming nostrils thundered along at the
little browns side. The two rushed
down the track at 8 mad pace. Up
they came like wbirlwfnd and left
the crowd in uncertainty as to the vic
tor. Geers spoke to Robert ] and
Curry made low exclamation of en-
couTagement TO the black. Both uu-
ders.ood and responded,
The little brown seemed to be sur
prised at the audacity of bis big rival,
and as he dashed under the wire he
stuck out his neck and with mighty
stride, gained q nose. 1t was a gran d
finish to grand race and the crowd
yelled itself hoarse. A moment later
when 2'0Si hung up great wave of
extravagant delight dashed across the
amphitheatre and the air trembled as
q great roar of triumph went up.
Again the two horses faced each
other and the word was given. Like
two rockets they shot from under the |
wire and started on the trip around the
turn that was to bring them glory and |
fame. Robert j. went right to the
front, moving like piece of mechaD-
ism. At the quarter he led the big fel. |
low by two lengths. Patchen closed |
up the gap going down the back |
stretch and was hanging TO the little !
browns wheel at the half, which was
reached In l;O2sI the three quarters was
reached In l:301. On came the great
gladiators smoothly and moving to per-
fiction. Robert J. moved away from
the black at the distance stand with a
mighty burst Of speed and passed un-
der the wire two open lengths In front
OF his determined competitor In 2:O2lI.
@Patchen was marked at 2:O2I. The
crowd could not contain itself to see
King Robert ]. pushed under the wire.
One long cheer burst forth and contin.
ued until Starter Walker announced
the time and the time had been posted.
The third heat was won by Robert ].
by half length; time 2:0f "a. Pat
chen was marked at 2sO5. The average
time OF the three heats was 0sO2