The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-30
HE REGAINED HIS LAURELS
THOUSANDS SAW ROBERT J. DE-
 FEAT JOE PATCHEN.

It Was the First Time That the Two Horses
 Had Met Since the Memorable Event of a
 Month Ago at C1eveland-The Talent
 Stallion.
 New York, Aug. 2S.-Twelve thousand
 persons saw Robert J. regain at Fleet
 wood to-day in the free-for-a -allithe laurels
 he lost at Cleveland month ago whenIJoe Patchen caught him out of form and beat him in one of the most sensational
 races on record When he met the big black Kansas pacer, Joe Patchen, again to-day along with John R. Gentry and Mascot, the little record holder was second choice in the betting, the talent
 almost to man backing the stallion
 at 4 to 5. The other two starters were
 held at longer prices.
 When the horses were called at 2:15 every available point on the grand
 stand and club house, from which the
 race could be seen, was occupied, and
 the crowd overflowed upon the rocks
 and hills which rise above the home stretch. Joe Patchen, when he came up in the track, looked as fit as fiddle. Robert J., too, was more like his old self than he had been since Joe Patchen beat him at Cleveland and at the tempt ing odds of z to 5 he had many support CTS in the betting.
 The opening heat was good deal of a fluke. John R. Gentry was laid up from the start, McHenry's evident in tention being to let Joe Patchen and Robert J. fight it out while he gave his horse an easy mile. Geers sent Rob- ert J. into the lead in the first furlong followed by Joe Patchen. At the half | in 1:02h Robert J. had lead of two open lengths and was going at ease. | Curry called Joe Patchen as they turn ed from the point of rocks in the third quarter and the stallion commenced 10 cut down Robert J.'s lead. The specta- | tors expected a rattling finish, but Joe Patchen made a break and was fol- lowed In by Robert J. near the three | quarter pole. Mascot, who was third, | shot to the front, opening a gap of five lengths before Robert J. settled and started after him. Andrews tried hard to keep Mascot in front to the wire, but Robert J. came on with brilliant | rush in the home stretch and beat Mas
 cot easily in 2:06A. Joe Patchen's lstandstill break left him so far in the
 rear that Gentry beat him out for third place. Robert J. was now an even
 money fayorito. Curry let Joe Patchen
 rush off his stride in the first furlong of
 the second heat, and he was laid up af- l ter recovering from his break
 l McHenry was out in earnest this time and Gentry chased the leader, Robert
 J., down to the half in 1:00%, showing a length in the rear as they passed l that point The terrific pace slackened as they struck the hill in the next | quarter Gentry not being able to find
 the limit of Roberts speed and trailing two lengths back. In this order they
 came into the home stretch, McHenry making a hurricane drive with the North Carolina horse, Robert J. going slightly within himself, finished an open | length in front of the whipped out | Gentry Mascot was third and Joe I Patchen poor fourth. Cheers greeted | the announcement of the time, 2:041s, which beats the best mile ever before made in harness on the Fleetwood course.
 It was now odds on Robert J. In | the third heat the quartet went away | closely punched at a record smashing clip. The time to the quarter was 201a, and to the half an even loo, Robert
 J. at the pole was half a length in front, | with Gentry lapped, Joe Patchen's nose | at Gentry's flank, and Mascot half a | length back under a pull. Turning | for the point of rocks, Patchen was l seen to be gaining steadily, but slowly, | when all of a sudden he made a tan | gTed break and fell away behind. ] Gentry, too, faltered, for Patchen had
 run into his sulky, tearing off the rim of the wheel From there to the wire | it was a stern chase after Robert J.,
 whom Geers had simply to steady and | let sail without even coming to drive. | Gentry was four lengths behind at the finish in 2:04%, Mascot as far back of him and Joe Patchen just inside
 of the flag Geers said after the race | that his horse was almost at his best to-day.
 The race was disappointment to | horsemen as Joe Patchen never paced
 single heat without break, thus | leaving in doubt the question as to | whether he could speed with Robert J Lynn Bell won the 2:25 trotting in handsome style. He was all out in the last heat. Iron Bar was the only one i in the field that could get near him
 King Harry gave the talent a scorch- ing in the 2:21 class, as he was an out | slider in the betting, B. L. c. being | placed to win at odds on.
 Tomorrow ends the meeting. The
 special feature of the end will be Azote's effort to beat the worlds trotting record
 of 2:O4&.