The Republican journal., 1896-10-01
1t is Now 200 I=2!
John r. Gentry Makes a New Worlds Record
PAGES the Fastest Mile Ever Made By Horse
In Harness.

John X. Gentry Makes New WOrid'S Record
PAGES the Fastest Mile Ever Made BY Horse
In Harness.
PORTLAND, Sept. "A. 1t was threaten
ing all the morning but the skies partly
cleared in the afternoon, so that the rae
ing at Rigby came off according to pro-
gram. There was fair attendance con-
sidering the weather, and the races were
up to the mark. 1t was an eventful day
for Rigby, because the worlds pacing re-
cord was broken by John r. Gentry; this
magnificent horse pacing the fastest mile
ever made in harness, and placing the
worlds record at only half second over
two minutes, or 200 1-2.
Gentry was roundly applauded when he
appeared on the track for his great trial
of speed. He had been out on the track
several times before and had been the
centre of all eyes. When W. S. Andrews
drove him on the track for the effort to
break his record, the air was chilly and a
light, northwesterly breeze blew up the
home stretch. 1t was to be great effort,
for Andrews was resolved to send his
horse for all he was worth. His record
before starting was POI 1-2, which was
made Sept. s, 1896, at Glens Falls, New
York, in the second heat of the race with
Star Pointer.
Andrews had given Gentry two warm
ing up miles and it was nearly sunset
when he was ready to start for the event
full mile. Andrews rode his sulky easily,
with an air of confidence, but among the
spectators there were very few who be-
lieved that the record would be lowered so
near IN tba o-minuta mark ,1ppar an
peared with Gentry to pace him.
After scoring twice Andrews came down
to the wire to begin the fastest mile ever
accomplished by horse in harness. The
crowd cheered as he approached the
starting point
"Go, shouted Starter Culbertson and
hundreds of watches caught the PAGER at
the start.
The runners nose was within two feet
of Gentry's nose as they made the first
turn on the stretch. Gentry was going
gracefully and steadily, getting over the
ground in great shape, and the runner had
to work hard to keep up.
The first quarter was given by the
judges as made in % IA seconds. The
people began to wonder when the half
mile was finished in 80 l. seconds, and
to look for a 2minute pace.
At this point the runners driver was
using the whip and making great effort
and succeeded in keeping at the wheel of
Gentry's sulky. The third quarter was
reeled off in so 81, making the time at
the three quarter post 80 IA. This was
great going and now came the last quarter
and tile home stretch.
AS the horses turned into the home
stretch and caught the wind in their
teeth, the crowd began to shout and hur-
rah and Andrews shouted encouragingly
to his horse. The runners driver also
urged his horse and used the whip spar
ingly
All this nerved the PAGER to a supreme
effort and it can be seen how noble an eff
fort he made, for, with the wind in his
teeth, he made the last quarter quicker
than the third quarter doing it in 80 4,
and thus covering his mile in two minutes
and one half second.
This was a whole second less than his
former record, which had never been sur
passed by any horse and only equalled by
Robert j., 1.01 1-2 in 1895, at Ierre Haute.
When Starter Culbertson announced
the time of the great mile the crowd broke
through the fence and surrounded the
famous PAGER, anxious to touch him or
even his sulky.
The first pacing record of note was
made in 1892, by Mascot, 2.04 Nancy
Hanks equalled him in trotting, the same
year. Mascot's record stood until 1894,
being equalled however by Flying Jib and
Orline. In 1895, Robert j., kept lower
ing the record until finally it reached the
mark that held until to- day. If the wind
had been a trihe more favorable, to-day,
Gentry would have lowered the record to
2 minutes.