The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-04

The two weeks grand circuit meet
ing now on in Buffalo is pronounced
by experts the finest assemblage of
horse flesh ever brought together at
one track on the American continent.
Some of its features have been noted
from day TO day in the telegraphic dis
patches but it will interest all horse
men to know more of the history Of
the Buffalo track. The track was
thrown open in 1866. Then the fastest
trottlng record was 2:l9i, held by the
little bob-tailed mare, Flora Temple,
and during the Buffalo meeting that
year the spectators went wild over
seeing Dexter trot mile under saddle,
ridden by Budd Doble, in 2:lS. The
fastest time in harness during the
meeting was also made by Dexter, who
won the free-for-all, beating George NJ.
Patchen, .jr., and Rolla Golddust, the
fastest heat being in 2:25. The next
year Dexter was again the attraction
of the Buffalo meeting, for he had two
weeks previously reduced FL ra
Temples record of 2:l9l to 2;19, and
he was to make an attempt to
lower that record. Old horsemen
said that the feat was beyond the
powers Of the brown gelding, but un-
der the guidance Of Budd Doble DcX-
ter trotted mile in 2.17l, and the
spectators believed they had seen
feat performed that they would never
see equalled. DeXter's 2.17I remained
the fastest time made over the Buffalo
track until 1872, when it was Just
equalled by American Girl in the free
for all,which was finally won by Lucy.
In 1874 Goldsmith Maid reduced the
track record to 2.l54 and placed herself
at the head of all trotters. The follow.
ing year Lulu, driven by Charley
Green, reduced the track record to 2.l5,
where it remained until 1878. when
Rarus, driven by John Splan, reduced
it to 2.l3f and at the same time cap
tured the worlds trotting record. In
1881 Maud S succeeded in reducing the
track record to 2.l03, where it remained
until 1873 when Hulda placed it at
2.009. Not much account was ia EN-
of pacing records until the last few
years, but in 1892, when in the famous
race between Flying Jib and Robert j,
the track record for PAGERS was placed
at 2.092 by Robert J, the enthusiasm
was unbounded. The day following
Robert Us performance Hal Pointer
reduced the track record to 2.0S}, and
last year he again reduced it to 2.06.
%%%
The experiment of two weeks
meeting had never been tried until
last year. but it then proved so sue
cessful that it will doubtless become
fixed feature of future turf events.
There are numerous advantages in
two-weeks' meet. One is the saving
in expenses and another is the better
purses that can be offered. For in
stance, at Buffalo this week, the en-
tire purses list amounts to $4,000, and
among the pursee are six Of $1,000
each, fifteen of $1,000 each, seven of
81 800 each, and six of 81 900 each.
These rich purses would be extremely
attractive at any time, but this year,
when dollar looks as large to the
average hOrsemen as two usually look,
it is hardly to be wondered at that
they have drawn an entry list which
in numbers runs well up toward 500
and which contains the names of the
fastest trotters and PAGERS of nearly
every state in the union.
The first two days OF the second
week will contain no sensational feat
ures. On the third day of the second
week, however, comes the special two.
mile race between Nightingale and
Greenlander. This race has been
much talked about by horsemen in all
parts of the country. On the same day
that the two mile race will be trotted
the free for all trot will be decided, and
as the Village Farm. filly, Fantasy, has
been entered against Alix, Ryland T,
Belle Vera and Phoebe Wilkes, the
race is likely TO be one the equal of
which has never been witnessed over
the Buffalo track. AliX and Ryland
II will be the most fancied by betting
men, but fthe Chimes filly is all right
she will make magnificent fight for
the money. The 2.13 trot on the ninth |
day Of the meeting will bring Azotc, |
2,092; David b, 2.129, William Penn,
2.124; Egthorne, 2.12!, Ellard, 21ll, |
and q score of other good ones together,
and on the same day Robert j, 2O52; |
Mascot, 2.04; Saladin, 2053; Joe Patch
en-, 2.10, and Online, 210l, will do bat
tie in the $1,000 free for all pace. The
tenth and closing day of the meeting,
will be characterized by three good |
races, one of. which-the 2.l2 pace
should be sensationally fast, and thus
make brilliant closing to what from
present indications will be the greatest
harness racing meeting ever held.
Already predictions are being freely |
made that the present turf season will |
be tremendous record-breaker. In
fact some phenomenal achievements |
are anticipated, before the snow flies.
This general anticipation is the result |
in part of the steady improvement in
breeding, in methods of training and |
in the quality of vehicles and tracks:
and in part of the very pronounced re-
cent rise in general interest in the track, !
We have seen abundant evidences of |
this here in Scranton; where horses
and track performances have become
approved themes of polite conversation
in the ultra-swell circles; aud this is
only typical or the widespread growth |
in favor of racing among the people
Then, too, this year has witnessed |
numerous exciting turf events. Since
the opening Of the grand circuit in
Saginaw on July 8, there has been q
series of sensations. Erratic FLYING
Jim paced sensational heat in 2O7 |
on the fourth day of the Saginaw
meeting, and Fantasy (2.0Ss, which |
the Buffalo Express pronounces
the most formidable aspirant for the
worlds trotting record, lowered the
track record of 2:l13 to 200 with speed |
to spare. At Detroit the following
week Lord Clinton created sensa-
tion by equalling the Buffalo mares
performance, establishing new re-
cord for gelding trotters, AS August
approaches and the mercury rises the
sensations thicken. Lord Clinton only |