New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
THE THREE GREAT PAGERS.
ROBERT J.. JOHN r. GENTRY AND 'oD
PATCHEN LIKELY TO MEET AT
FLEETWOOD.
1T rs UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY ARE ENTERED n
THE 5000 FREE-FoR-ALL-THE RECORDS
AND BREEDING OF THESE WONDER
Full cAMPAIGNERs.

Full CAMPAIGNERs
Although the entry books for the s. 90 free-for-an
pacing race TO be decided at the Fleetwood Grand
Circuit meeting do not close until tomorrow. 1t II
generally understood that the great PAGERS Robert
J.. 2Olih: John r. Gentry 2O8A. and Joe Patchen.
2 have already been secured for the affair. Others
will probably start for the big purse. but Robert
Joe and John appear to be the only ones that have
a chance to win. They are unquesuonaDly the three
fastest harness horses in sight and as they seem
to be closely matched. the coming race at Fleetwood.
which In ali likelihood will bring them together Tor
the first time, is exciting more Interest among the
followers OF harness racing than any tnat mas 'a"en
place In the metropolitan horse world for many
years Even the running horsemen are loohihs
forward to the contest for the cham
pionship OF pacerdom with eager interest ana IL -
safe to say that "the legitimate will be well repre-
sented at Fleetwood. provided the race does not
conflict with the Coney Island Jockey Clubs faI
meeting.
As the Grand Circuit programme now STANDS tho
race Is scheduled for Thursday August p. whicn ID
one OF the regular race days at Sheepsnead BAY
There is still ample time for the Driving CLUB
officials 10 change the card as to avoid CLASH.
however and II is to be hoped that they Will do IL,
for the race Is that everybody who admires
good horse will want to see. II should be the anair
OF the year on the trotting turf and by odds the
most notable and important pacing race That mas
ever taken place on any track.
On public form John r. Gentry just now seems
to have a shade the best chance to win. for IL
will be remembered that he defeated Joe Patchen
in straight heats at Freeport three weeks ago.
pacing three-quarters OF a mile in one OF the heats
at a twominute gait. and at Cleveland. week
later Joe Patchen Unexpectedly defeated Robert
j. after one OF the fastest and hardest-fought
harness contests on record. SO close was the ne
between these two rival flyers that less than
length separated them at the finish OF any heat,
and the victory OF Joe Patchen by many sx-
cIfu A.
vantage that his superior size and power gave him
In breastng the wind which met the horses in the
homesretch.
THE BUFFALO RACE.
The honors were so evenly divided in this race
that when the horses together again. 1t
Buffalo last Thursday for renewal OF the strus-
gle with Robert ]. on his home track, the little
gelding started favorie over his Cleveland victor.
the Bunalonians and Eastern horsemen backing
him almost TO a man against the Kansas stallion.
Again the big fellow from the plains came out OF
the fray victorious. but the race was repetition
OF the Cleveland contest and when IL was over
c. J. Hamlin the owner OF Robert j.. expressed
the belief that IL his horse had been lucky enough
to draw the inside position at the start, Joe
Patchen could not have beaten him. Patchen
having the pole, Robert j. forced to pace a
long mile each time the outside, but he
beaten less than half length in each OF the first
two heats and in the third round he managed to
squeeze home nose ahead or MS rival HIS
triumph short-lived, however for a bad break
at the outset in the fourth heat lost him the pole
and left him in the rear Joe Patchen this time
winning easily.
While Joe Patchen has now beaten Robert J.
twice in succession, Eastern horsemen not yet
satisfied that the big horse is the better Of the two
They point to the time OF the heats at Cleveland
and at Buffalo where the fastest mile paced In
204la, as proof that Robert ]. not just right
and at his best when he met defeat. Last year no
defeated Joe Patchen IL straight heats at Indlanap-
oils, pacing in 2O3N, 202ia and 2:0is the fastest
time made in race. 1t is said that Mr. Ham :
lin will give the little horse a rest until the
date of the Fleetwood free-for-alI while a match
between John r. Gentry and Joe Patchen is among
the possibilities for this week next at the Buff
falo Rochester Grand Circuit meetings. Joe
Patchen is probably in better shape now TO give
Gentry close contest than he was at Freeportf
three weeks ago. the there having been his
first start in company this season. Besides, the big
fellow threw a the first heat. and the mis-
hap was repeated in the second round, causing him
to break both times, so that the result talleu 10
give true line on the relative merits OF the par.
GENTRY's GAMENESS.
The impression is abroad in quarters thae
John r. Gentry while exceedingly fast is not able
to carry his wonderful flight Of speed as well as Joe
Patchen, and that when 1t comes TO race Tor
blood between the rival stations Patchen will wear
the other down and beat him before Gentry can
land three heats. 1t is not easy to discover why
Gentrys gameness or stamina should be doubted,
for he is bred to be slayer and nobody has yss
land Wilkes 2:17i. was fair eamPEaliigner ana z
Of the noted trottng sire Red wilkes 9 na
Wood is daughter of the old-time trotter Weage.
hs ever H vent 9ns I'll through the Grand Circuit
Wood was bred and raised by John 5 Clark or
dam. the trotting mare. Fancy. 2:so by winton.
thoroughbred racehorse OF some note that was KEPT
the Eastern Shore OF Maryland many years
Gentry is thus backed all sides by stout ,rot,
ting blood. and although he has never yet peen
forced 10 pace three heats up TO the limit OF MS
speed 1T will be surprise to horsemen VINO fe mem.
in the trial +" when the test comes The horse IS
six X 5 0 H. wa Bred sfs BY G. who
sold him to John r. Gentry and j. F. Ramey, ot
S to h when sM2 Ga
Carolina, at the close OF the Detroit crane Src s
s'osls. He was placed in charge OF the Western
rensman. NJ McHenry who or caam Gsp i rn
the fastest time ever made by stainon A
Nashville in October he started against r, F snsS Tor
the first heat beat the champion q heaa IN ~;
The judges called ae ssce nsa his wisdrswai
Robert j. won the race .,.. -.
Kansas The the big black stallion having foaled the
property of Charles Rathbone, at Peabody, In lsss
as s sire Pa Wned by W Henry Jewtt e OF
Patchen Wilkes is by George Wilkes and his Dam cam
Patchen the full brother 10 Lady Thorn 2:lsN-
Joe Patchen gets good deal OF MS metcniess rae.
ing capacity from his dam. Josephine Young, VINO
was by the game lasting old campaigner, Joe
Young 29 trotter that few horses IN me rss
BY Star of the West 2:26i2, famous old sire owne!
By ex-Congressman Walter J. Hayes, or Iowa, ana
his dam was by Green's Bashaw. Nothing y
definitely known about Joe Patchens grandam, out
II Is said that she common little range pony
PATcHEN's CAREER.
Joe Patchen made a record OF 2:lsA as four-year-
old In Kansas but II was not until last year. when
Jack" Curry. the man who used TO drive Aiixs
took Patchen through the Grand Circuit winning
all his races in hollow style that he came into
prominence At Buffalo In August he met John II.
Gentry for the first time and took his measure In
straight heats. Keeling of the miles In 209+, 2osN
and 2O9k with ease. Al Terre Haute week iater
h. I21,hon md ted strdlghl