Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-07

and an advance of full second made over
it by both Nancy Hanks and Mascot with
in four months from the date when the BIZ
cycle sullly was first tried in public.
Other skeptics regarding the feasibility
of the record at either gait being placed at
two minutes arc now forced to acknowl-
edge that this crowning feat is likely to be
seen before the close of the century, and
the New York Times declares that the
more sanguine spirits are hopeful that the
hitherto unapproachable goal will be
reached during the present season.
In selecting the most likely candidates
for this great honor the trottors must be
rejected. Not Alix herself or any of the
younger stars that give promise of reach
ing high place in the armament that
bounds the diagonal gait have even a re-
mote chance to improve the present speed
limit at the trot by the 334 seconds that
stand between it and even time. Monroe
Salisbury will be satisfied if his famous
protegce gets down to 2:02 in her 7-year-old
form. She has not made n very brillian;
beginning, though her milo in 2:0.2l At
St. Joseph is considerably faster than she
could go during the first week in July last
season.
The apprehension that Alix was on the
verge of breakdown when she made her
debut at Red Oak last month is not shared
by Salisbury or his trainer, Mcdowell
Both admit that the mare was treated be
fore she left California, the process known
as "dotting" being employed. They stout
ly aver that there was no serious trouble
the needle being used merely to take down
the swelling that is found about the ankle
of almost every horse that has been il
training for any length Of time. 1t is fur
thcr explained that Alix has not had sufli
cicnt work to enable her to carry hcl
speed, as shown at Red Oak, where sh,
stepped the first quarter in 30&, but
could only do the milo in 2:11. As thc
season advances those who have charge OF
the tlotting champion are confident thai
she will improve and be able to hold he,
own against all Corners.
The challenge issued on behalf of tho
queen for ms-tch with any other trotteI
up to So, 600 side was doubtless sent GU
to show that the mare is ready to dcfcnt
her title in spite of the reports that she
lame or sore.
There are two other trotters whose form
entities them to be considered in Il contes
with AliE. Of these Dircctum has meas
ured swords with her on two occasions
the first time late il 1898, when he was u;
his best, and she had been practically OUT
of training for q month The race, which
was really a hippodromc, came off at Fleet
wood park New York, and merely showot
how trotter of the highest class lik,
AliX, when out of condition, can be madt
to look very cheap beside one that was III
to the form Directum had reached after hi
brilliant campaign III the south and west
On the renewal of the rivalry last October
at Boston the conditions were reversed
and il was the black giants armor that
proved SO vulnerable. AS both of these
cracks seem TO be doing well at present, :
third meeting between them should result
in farer test of their respective mcrits
than has yet been obtained. Dircctum ha
already trotted in 2 :0G and seems approach
ing his 1898 form. His owners have offcreC
to trot him against the turf queen fol
IS, 0G9 side.
c. j. Hamlin gives no sign that n,
thinks Fantasy equal to trying conclusions
with the present mistress OF the sulky
After her victory over Dircctum at Mime