Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-07
KING OF THE TURF
Robert J. Proves His Claim to
the Championship.
BEATS AGAIN IN A GREAT RACE.


CoLrMBUs, o., Aug. 7-Robcrt J. has
again demonstrated that he is the greatest
PAGER ever harnessed 20 sulky. Frank
AFan was the favorite In the frec-for-all
pacc, and relying upon his remarkable
performance at Cleveland nearly every
horscman on tho track yesterday backed
him to win. Previous to the second heat
oil the great race Robert J. hal few back
crs outside 81 Hamlin and the attaches OF
the VillaEc. Farm stables. When Robert J.
took the second heat, however. by n fine
squirt at the finish, tho bsc crowd became
enthuscd and he at once became hot
favoritc. It was evident from the first
that Robert J. was to be driven TO win.
and the fact that Agan was 90 heavily
Backed made IL certain that the race
would bc holly contested. And so It was
Was u Eceord-N Making; Race.
II was the greatest race of the year. the
snstcst four consecutive heats, and the
fastest fourth heat ever paced or trottcd
ON any track, boing mndc. In the first
heat, paced in 2:O3si, Agan lowered his
record half "a second and broke the tract.
record. Tho second and third heats in
2:oii3 were considered phenomenal, but
the crowd was not prepared for the great
surprise when the fastest fourth heat ever
paced or trottcd was made the time being
s:V!a.. II wHs about 2:3D when the first
heat oi the great raco waS paced. The sky
was covered with heavy dark clouds that
fnrcbudcd u storm, and scarcely a breeze
stirrcd. The track was fnstcr than any
day since the races began.
Robert j. Third i'm the First.
The Immense grand stand was filled
with people and there was u perfect jam in
the betting sheds. There were three start
Crs In the racc-Frank Agun, driven by
MCCARTHY; Robert j.. driven by Starr, and
Rubcnstcin, driven by Laird Grcrs cx-
pcC,Cd To- drive Robert j.. but had not suf-
iiciyntiy recovered from an accident
"Wednesday. In the first heat the horses
startcd away we'll, Agnn taking the lead
and holding it all tho way rounl with
lSubcustcin second and Robert j. third.
In the second heat Aglr took the lead
and iubcnstrin dropped behind Robert J.
before The FIRST quarter wis pass d. Rob
crt j. kept u close second all the WHY
round &" the stretch, when he began to
move up
isnn Gocs OT Ills Feet.
'url W lnt lLiiNh ASr3u was rUll-i oil
his feet and Robert i. went under .he
Nirr "a length ahead. The third heat was
almost IA repetition of the second Acan
took the lead and Robert J. Rugged his
sUlky until they came into the stretch,
when Robert !. moved ahead easily. In
the fourth heat "A pretty start was made
nnd EuhruS,cia set the pace, the three
horses going iu bunch almost t. the
thrccpulrtcrs pole, with Agan in the lead.
After tAAt l.ubcnstcin dropped back and
Robert j., as m thcprryious heats. hugpstl
Agan.s sulky until they tuyucd into the
stretch, whcn Hobcrt j. moved up and
passed undsr the wire n length ahead of
Agan. The time by quarters in the last
heat was; o:ao'4. I:0n's. 81, a:W,a,.
The Day Was CcncralIy EvcntIui.
There were two other rlc,.s on the card
besides the .;2J rucc postponed from
Wednesday. Or the eleven heats raced
and truttcd during the afternoon the slow.
est was 2:llis. franklin won the -:i7 trot
In straight hcats-s;l0' =. 2;IUai and s:ilis.