New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-29
TWO MINUTE MARK GONE.
STAR POINTER PAGES MILE AT READ
VILE IN 1:50i4.
THE THIRD QUARTER THE FASTEST OF THE
FoUR-HORsE AND DRIVER cHEERED BY
AN ADMIRING CROWD-POINTER
AND PATCHEN MATCHED.

AND PATCHEN MATCHED
Readville. Mass, Aug. 2S.--Star Pointer. the
Chicago pacing stallion, owned by James A.
Murphy, to-day wiped out forever the two-mn
ute mark and thus ended n controversy which
has been going for years TO the speed
qualities Of the light harness horse. Accom-
panied by a runner the big Tennessee bred bay
beat two minutes. and had three-quarters of
second to spare when he went under the wire.
1t was the most wonderful performance ever
shown by light-harness horse, and wit
messed by about eight thousand people.
The day perfect for record breaking Not
a breath Of air stirring when at 1 o'clock
the horse came out with his running mate The
first score was not satisfactory to McClary and
he worked the horse way down below the turn.
The second score worse than the first,
FOR while scarcely moving at q twO-minute clip.
h. went To "A break right under the wire. This
made the friends Of the horse more than q little
nervous. He was acting as II he were not up to
thu task.
The third tine down there was no hesitation.
McClary nodded Tor the word and off the pair
went the runner right at his saddle The first
quarter was done at an even two-minute gait,
in 80 seconds. AS McClary called on the PAGER
to move in the second quarter there was great
made the second quarter in 292. seconds Could
he keep 1t up? Yes, and more, for the third
quarter was the fastest of the mile The dis
tance was covered in 2914 seconds, l:57 gait.
Around the turn Pointer seemed to waver for
the smallest fraction of a second, but McClary
had him right almost before one could see IT, and
then they Strengthened into the stretch the
runner moved up even closer. Both PAGER and
cd m Sfe ~ MrCa In
the whip on the runner but McClary asked little
Of his horse and gave him word of encourage
ment At the drawgate Star Pointer was reefed
little Coming stronger from the distance. he
appeared to freshen in the last few strides. Gath
ering strength and courage he neared the
wire he finished with rush in the record break
ing time Of l:5914
A mighty shout went up. for the thousands
knew that performance had been made in har-
ness the like of which was never witnessed be-
fore in the annals Of the turf. In the grand
stand the owner Of the horse had his hand wrung
until il nearly off. over the fences jumped
the men who knew horse and driver. or who
We're carried away with the enthusiasm Of the
moment Hardly had McClary got the horse to
a standstill before they had him on their shoul-
ders and he was born down the stretch 10 the
judges stand and there. as the band played
Hail to the Chief he was introduced to the
throng tip Of the hat and then renewed ap-
plause for the horse owner and trainer rang out
in the dull air.
A fairer mile was never timed. There was not
a watch in the stand that did not agree with the
time announc ID. while on the other side OF the
stretch the grandstandites caught it as fast. or
better C. w Marks. of chic ago owner Of Joe
Patchpn the great rival of Pointer. looked at
his watch and then remarked: IF anything, the
mile was faster rather than slower. My watch
barely got over to the fifth Of the second 1t
was a / 30 performance
Since 1894 when the game little Robert }.
paced a time mile in 2:Oli2. the horse world has
been looking for the two-mnute mark to be
reached In 1895 il looked as though Robert j.
or John r. Gentry would get TO II. Last year
some Of the more ardent i'm their BELIEF were III
clined. in the middle Of the season, to think that
il would be many years in coming. as the canal
dates then did not look promising. But in sep
tember Star Pointer forced John K. Gentry To
race record OF 2:Olic at Glens Fals. ana tneil
both horses were counted likely candldateS'
..RIlv' Andrews with Gentry. got a chance To
shoot at the mark at the Rigbv track. in Port
land in October but on Pointers day ram inter-
fered Gentry made the mile in 29"l2 ana tooN
the crown which to-day was wrested from hlhl'
To-day was the first time that POINTER was
really sent for the mark His owner has heen
content to win race hOnors, but after having de-
feated Joe Patchcn twice out Of the three times
and John r. Gentry the only time ne got
chance al him. and as no other Candidates We're
in sight the owner decided To take time honors
How evenly he had Judged the horse was amply
evidenced to-day.
Boston. Aug 2S.-Star Pointer and Joe
Patchen. the world-famous PAGERS. were
matched this afternoon for mile race az Mys-
tic Park on September II for a purse of $1,000.
he winner - AXE all.