The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03
Robert j., Frank Agan and Star
Pointer Defeated by John II. Cen
try in Straight Heats.
TIME, 2:O3 ga, 2:O31-4, 2:O3i-4
MARVELLOUS PERFORMANCE ON THE
SLOW FLEETWOOD TRACK.
Press stakes of $4,000 Won by AIci-
daIia, While Benton NJ, the Fa-
vOrite, Finished Last.

NEW YORK, Sept. I'm the presence
of eight thousand spectators at Fleetwood
Park to-day William Simpsons pacing
stallion, John r. Gentry, defeated Robert
j. Frank Agan and Star Pointer in the
fastest harness race on record, the gallant
little son of Ashland Wilkes stepping the
first heat in 2:03A, the second in 2:O3A,
and the third in 1904. All of the finishes
were very close and exciting and the con-
test was, from every point of view d
great one, SURPRISING in interest and i'm
portance any harness race OF the present
campaign. John r. Gentry is owned in
New York and this victory was as popular
as it was unexpected.
If the public had foreseen the brilliant
race which took place this afternoon prob
ably twenty thousand people, instead OF
eight thousand, would have witnessed the
contest but Robert j. he'd beaten his rival
SO often of late and he was known to be
in such good form that everybody, in
GLIDING the keenest circuit followers, ex-
pected him to win the champion purse at
Fleetwood. The odds were 10 to on him
before the first heat, and so confident were
his hackers that he would win that the
record holder remained favorite until the
end, starting at even money against the
field in the final heat.
Marvellous IS the only WORD winch ue-
scribeS the performance of John X. Cen
try The day was too chilly to favor fast
time, and stiff breeze retarded the horses
in the home stretch. Fleetwood, never a
fast track, was in good condition, although
not quite at it's best, the soil giving way
in places under the flying feet of the pac-
ers. Gentry got two lengths the worst of
the send-off in the first heat and he trailed
the leaders while Robert ]. and Frank
Agan went off in the lead to the three
quarter pole Robert J. made a break
near the point of rocks in the third quar-
ter, leaving Agan in the lead, but John X
Gentry came on with terrific burst or
speed and beat him a short neck in the
drive to the wire. The second heat was a
repetition of the first, except that Robert
J. broke before reaching the hrSt turn urn, ana nc
the head of the home stretch when An
drews made his drive with Gentry. Like
an arrow, the little stallion came on ana
cut down the gelding's lead winning IN
the last strides by a short neck IN 2:05E.
In the last heat Gentry got away on even
terms with the others and he was never
headed The pace was terrific all the
way this time Agans head being on Cen
try's shoulder from start to finish, While
Robert J. was open length behind 70
the head of the stretch, where Geers made
his drive for the heat. 1t was rouSlng,
killing struggle to the wire and the three
great PAGERS were neckS apart at the nm
ish but little Gentry's nose was there first
I'm 2:03A, and the greatest harness race on
record was his.
Benton M was hot favorite in the 2:15
class for trotters. but Alcidalia easily out
trotted the field and the favorite, winning
from wire to wire in each heat. Benton
M was last Tomorrow the big free-for-all
trotting race will take place. To-days
summaries: -