New-York tribune., 1896-09-03

JOHN r. GENTRY WINS TIE FASTEST
HARNESS RACE ON RECORD.
THE NEw-YORX STALLION PAGES THREE HEATS
At FLEETWOOD PARK IL 2.M2t 203i. 2o3i..


At FLEETWOOD PARK IN 2oat.. 2o3'.. 2:o3i..
IN the presence Of 5000 spectators at Fleetwood
Park yesterday. Willian Simpsons handsome
stallion John r Gentrt lowered the colors Of
Robert j. Frank Agaa nd Star Pointer. winning
the most remarkabl, harness race on record. and
pacing three heats in 2O3a. 2o3i. ana 9:o3i,. the
fastest time ever known FOR three consecutive
miles The weather chilly and stiff breeze
retarded the horses In the homestretch. that
the conditions not ut all favorable for fast
time The absence OF Joe Patchen from the cor
test detractcd somewhat from public interest IN
the race. and the fact that Robert had defeated
his rivals repeatedly this season led great many
persons to believe that the big pacing Of the
Fleetwood Grand Circuit meeting would turn out
to be Il one-sded affair. 1t is safe to say however.
that if the race-eoing public in New-York had
known Wha. in store for them yesterday
the old track would have been crowded to tho
limit. The result, however. surprise Rob
ert red-hot favoric in the betting before
the start. 3 to 10 being the best odds obtainable
while John t. Gentrys chance was placed at
4 to
The prolonged scoring of the trotters in the 2I5
class. delayed the calling up of the ampion PAGERS
for the Of the day. and it well past
o clock when Starter Frank Walker got the drivers
Of Robert j.. John r. Gentry. Frank Agan and
Star Pointer together on the quartersretch dra
lots for positions IN scoring.
Slr Pointer TIE first of the noted pa GERS 10
jog up The stretch past the crowded clubhouse
steps. He had never appeared In public in New
York and few Of the spcca except the regulars
who follow the circuit recognized the low-headed
big bay stallion
The next TO show was Frank Again. the horse that
has been Robert IS most formidable rival this
season John r. Gentry and Robert j. the two
peacocks Of pacerdom. monopolized the admirat tion
Of the spectators and 1t was hard to say which
horse made the more handsome appearance as
they logged up the homestretch for the start
Star Pointer held his place in tho rush round the
first turn. with Robert J. and Frank Agan pacing n
storm his side. The pace was terrific as the trio
str.ck the straight work on the steep decline which
lea J. down to the halfmile pole. They flashed past
the half in loli2 Then inch by inch Roberts clean.
bony head was beginning to draw ahead Of the bis;
horse at his side when suddenly the favorite jumped
off his stride near the point Of rocks and the king
pin PAGER was hopolessly beaten when he settled
back into his gait Geers making further EFFORT
10 win the heat.
Gentry still two lengths back as Frank Agan
shot past the threequartor pole In l225 and every
body in the big crowd thought the heat was all over
but the shouting when just as the leader headed into
the hOmestretch. pacing al clip which If main
taincd. would beat the track record Andrews called
upon Gentry and the little bay stallion ushed through
the stretch cutting down the lead Of Frank Agan A,
every stride Mccarthy shook mp the big bay gedng
and urged him with voice and reins. His horse
finished game. but PAGER in the world could with
stand the rush Of Gentry when the stallion got up
to even terms. and with his speed seemingly increas
ing at etery stride the NewYork horse flashed 10 the
front dozen lengths from the finish line and won
by the best part of length in 2:03&4. Applause
greeted the announcement that the track record had
been broken AID big crowd followed the victorious
PAGER TO the cooling-out shed.
Although the lime was phenomenally fast consid-
ering the condition OF the weather and track. Siarter
Walker had scarcely given the word for the second
heat when Robert J. left his feet. and making a
tangled break. fully six eight lengths behind
the leader when he recovered his stride. Agan was
again alone In the lead. and Mccarthy, anx Gus u
quasi against repetition OF the first neat, kept his
horse moving up TO his limit, going to the quarter
pole In 3os. seconds and to the half in lOlis. The
handsome stallion was winging his way three
lengths away with S'ar Pointer and Robert J. so far
lehnd him that they we're out OF the The
unchanged as the horses breasted the hill at the
heart breaking pace which had been maintained
Throughout
Then however. the spectators saw the most
phenomenal burst OF speed witnessed on the
part OF harness horse. As Andrews gathered
Gentry for the inal effort the spectators rose as
Frank Agan fully three lengths In
the lead and pacing the finish OF his life when An
drews drew out from behind until well into the
middle Of the track, where the footing was good
and gathering his horse well together. came on
with n speed which made old timers gasp with as
tonishment. Frank Agan was pacing a two minute