Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-09-14
1T WAS A GREAT RACE
Robert ]. Lowered His Own Record at
indianapolis.
4 TWO-MlHUTE NILE NEARLY MADE
Ten Thousand People Watched the Little
PAGER Go The First Mile 10 2:0S 3-4
and The Second 10 2:02 ia.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. THE fastest
mile ever trotted or paced on any track
was made yesterday afternoon by Robert
J. Ia match race for purse OF 5000
with Joe Patchen. Robert j. won the
three first heats in the average time of
:0334, the second heat being won in
2:02R.
The day was perfect. All the neces-
sary elements were present which enter
into the production OF great speed.
Scarcely had the two horses turned for
the start when the brown and black
horses gave great leap forward and
shot down 10 the stand at terrific pace.
Both drivers held back and Pstchen was
rendered unsteady by the lines. Starter
Walker saw the situation and called
them back.
The second start was successful. Both
horses were at their stride and less than
a neck apart. Down the track they came
at terrific pace, with perfect motion and
even stride. 60" yelled Starter Walk
er, leaning far over the railing OF the
stand, and the crowd arose as one man.
Around the turn the tive rivals sped and
at the quarter 81 was announced. 1t
was as though the two horses were im-
PEELED by some unseen force, as the
movement of their legs on the back
stretch could not be seen. At the half
1.02% WAS announced and the crowd
cheered. Geer forged ahead nose AS the
two swept into the turn.
At the three. quarter pole "a was
yelled from the stand. Then began the
ride for home. Curry spoke TO the
handsome black and Patchen responded
by straining every muscle, the great
horse came up to even terms, and With
distended neck and flaming nostrls,
Numbered along at the little brown e
side. The two rushed down the track at
a mad pace. Up they came like whirl-
wind and left the crowd in uncertainty
as to the victor. Geer spoke to Robert
j. and Curry made low ex-
clamation of encouragement TO the
black. Both understood and re-
sponded. The little brown seemed to be
surprised at the audacity of his big rival
and as he dashed under the wire,
stuck out his neck and with a mighty
stride won by nose. II was a
grand finish to grand race and the
crowd yelled itself hoarse. A moment
later when 2:0334 was hung up great
wave Of extravagant delight dashed
across the faces and the air trembled az
a great roar Of triumph went up. Again
the two horses came beside 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 mechanism. Al
the quarter he led the big fellow by two
lengths. Patchen closed up the gap 60
ing down the backstretch, and was hang
ing to the little browns wheel at the
half, which was reached in 02a. The
threc-quarters was reached in :30R
On came the great gladiators, smoothly
and moving to perfection. Robert J
moved away from the black at the dis
lance stand with mighty burst OF speed
and passed under the wire two oper
lengths in front of his determined com
petitor in 2:021a. Patchen WAS marked
at 2 :05.