The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-19
AN UNFORTUNATEDECISION
THE RACE BETWEEN ROBERT y. AVID
JoHN X. gENTR Y ENDS IN A FIzELE.

II the Desperate Hinish sr the FJrst Meat
the stsuto. Gets His HEAD .. Fro-t. "a
Ne Is Generally Claimed, but the Jusees
Declare Ne . Dead Meat .. sros-ee-try
rs Then Drawn o. Accent OF ss Hsiury.
NASHVILLE, Oct. ts.-By q most unfortunate
decision regarding the first heat, the great
match between the star PAGERS Robert J. and
John r. Gentry ended In q flzzle here this after
noon. The two champions made most ssnsa-
tionsl finish. In which Gentry clearly had the
best OF 10, yet the three men intrusted with the
decision rendered the verdict of q dead heat It
was some time before the indignant crowd Of
about 5000 persons would allow starter
Walker to complete his announcement, and
the judges came in for an unmerciful
guying that only ceased when darkness
caused o postponement. The conditions Of the
contest between the two lightning PAGERS made
IL one Of mile heats and the race was put last on
the card. This was an unwise move, for unless
two heats ended matters the race would have to
be carried over, as there was scarcely an hour Of
daylight left when it was called. There was not
much betting. as Robert j. sold favorite at 10 to
3. and was in great demand at that price.
When the two horses scored down the first
time Robert J. had the pole, but this was found
TO be an error, as John II. Gentry had drawn the
inside position. A start was effected on the
third score. Gentry having a neck the best of
It. Robert J. closed on the stallion, and they
were on even terms at the quarter in 31h SEQ
onds. Along the backstretch Robert ]. gained
little but could not take the POLE and the stall
lion had made up the difference as they reached
the half In 10lI6 In the next quarter the
eelding showed ahead again, but not enough to
permit of getting the inside place as they swung
Into the homestretch.
The clip to the sixth furlong was 33, and
then began magnificent battle in which Gentry
responded to the rein. while Geers had to resort
to the whip as he found that Robert J. was
losing ground. AT the distance the two whirl-
winds were again even, but as they neared the
wire GENTRY made a rush. which was splendidly
timed by MCllenry, and the stallion showed y
head in front as the two giants flew past the
From the spectators side there was not the
least doubt as to the result, so that the official
expected. For a moment there was dead
silence, then the air was filled with groans and
Misses in which everybody. seem to join. A
OF the finish. but said 1t would take some time
TO develop the plate, so the decision was render
derstood that the Judges were not unanimous.
One of them was In favor Of John X. Gently,
another selected Robert J., while the third man
Geers himself did not hesitate TO say that Gem
ground, who was In q position to see. voiced the
same opinion. While the affair was being Wig
orously discussed Ii. ID. Mckinney, one OF tho
Judges and well-known turfman Of GAINESVILLE.
Wis, came to the starters stand and asked to
have a hearing. He said nothing of the merits
of the decision that caused all the trouble, but
merely denied the rumor that the Photographic
plate Of the finish had been destroyed, and stated
that no picture had been made.
When the time came for the second heat Rob-
ert !. appeared but John X. Gentry remained In
the paddock. Later he was led out. and cut
that was bleeding slightly on his near fore leg,
iust above the pastern, shown to the Judges.
Two, veterinary surgeons were called, and their
opinion that It would not be safe to start the
PAGER again, He was taken back to the stable.
There is little. doubt that this pretext was
used to avoid going on, for the wound
scab that had formed over the place where Gen.
try hit himself at Detroit. To round out the
comedy of errors bets on the first heat were de-
clared of, and Robert J. WAS sent fast mile as
II sop to the Disguised spectators. The cham
pion reeled OFF u mile In 2:O3lS. going to the
quarter in O:3l. the half in 1:OlIf. and the
in :32tS.
The 3:l5 pace was left undecided, and the two
classes for trotters were ended in four heats
each. The, meeting has got black eye by the
stupid work done In the stand to-day. but will
continue until Saturday. Summarizes: