The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28
STATISTICS OF TR0TTINc
interesting Facts and Figures About
Trotters and PAGERS.
RECORDS THAT STILL STAND
IL the Open Glass. Queen Alix Holds the
2:0S So and Fantasy In Proud
Of the Thres.Year.Old
Championship.

The new record books OF trotting and
pacing contain some interesting stat
tstics relating to harness racing In 1895.
Although no account is taken Of races
In which the winners time Is slower
than 80. summaries OF over $500 har-
ness contests are printed this year,
showing u slight Increase over the vol
ume of sport In 1894. "A only about
two thirds or all harness races are won
In standard time. It Is probabl that no
fewer than 5000 OF 10000 trotting and
pacing contests took place last year
OH the tracks OF the United States and
Canada.
Something like 1900 meetings were
held by the 1000 or more driving clups
and fair associations, and at these
meetings nearly $4,000 different horses
started for the s3,0O0.O00 or more hung
up in prizes and stakes. says the sun.
According to the trotting turf guide the
total number of trotters in the 2.3O list
at the close OF 1885 was IL .SS9. but the
compiler has rejected on technicai
grounds a good many records whicn are
generally accepted by other authorities
SO that the roll Of honor now really
exceeds 1900 trotters. OF these about
/. 400 gained their best records last year,
and something like 1000 PAGERS also
entered the 80 list.
STRONG SHOWING OF PAGERS.
The strong showing made by the
PAGERS IL one of the notable features OF
the statistics Of 1895. Ten years ago
the complete list Of go PAGERS num-
bered less than 500 horses. and at the
close OF 1890 there We're only l,.5l SIDE
wheelerS having records as fast US ~.
Yet 80 rapid has been the rise OF the
once despised PAGER that the list now
comprises more than $500 animals ana
II is increasing ut q rate when Dlas
fair some day TO place the ia1eraI
gated horses In the majofity. JUS.
how many PAGERS there are In the ."o
list at present IL matter ct some ur-
certainty. In 1891 the 10 llst coh,-
prised S04 PAGERS. while the turf guide
four years later gives the names ana
records Of 3,456 side-wheelerS that nave
eaualed or beaten this mark.
For the first time in many years the
compilation for 1895 shows no change
in the list of champion trotters. not q
worlds record having been shattered
during the last campaign. Alix, with
her mark of 2.O3A, made at Galesburg.
September 49, 1894, holds the palm In
the open class. The dead Ralph Wilkes
still heads the list Of 5-year-old trot-
| ters with his record Of 2.O6s4, gained at
! Nashville in 1894 DirectmS 2O5h re-
mains the best time OH record FOR a.
year. -olds and for trottinS stations OF
any age.
FANTASY THE CHAMPION.
Fantasy holds the champion 3-year
| old record, but 1t is 2.OSs.. ana not
o.OSl., as the turf guide has it. Ariohs :
marvellous mile in ..lOa4. to old style
| sulky as a 2-year- in 1891. still
stands unapproached. and it is the only
champion record which has withstood
the advent OF the speed increasing
pneumatic wheels. The Searling rec
| ord Of Adbell. 2.33, made in 1884, was
! not approached last season, mainly be-
| cause there were few yearlings IN
training, and almost no races at all fol
colts OF this age
A report has been going the rounds
that William Simpson has decided te
change the name OF his cha mpion pac'
ing stallion from John Il. Gentry tC
plain Gentry Mr.. simpson says that
the handsome son of Ashland Wilkes
will start this year az heretofore undel
his old name. Another name woult
better suit the owner of the noted
horse. but this would Involve confusion
Of the records, and no change Is to b.
made Mr.. simpsons Empire City sta
Bile promises to be one of the most for
midable strings of trotters and PAGER!
in the east this year. Besides John r
Gentry, Trainer W. ]. Anderws Is nov
working Bouncer 2.10h; Orangelander
2.l6h; Quality. 2.2l. and the PAGERS
Spalpeen. 2.11A; Adornment. 2.l6A
Katie Greenlander.. 2.174: Mimi, 2.l9