The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-22
POINTER BEATS PATCHEN
PAGES THE FIRST HEAT IN 2:02 AND
THE LAST QUARTER IN 30 1-2.
900 People Witness the Match Race
at Washington Park-Both to
Go at indianapolis.

CHICAGO, Aug. H.-Those who went to
the Washington Park course this afternoon
and there were some fifteen thousand of
them-saw the fastest first heat ever paced
and one of the fastest fourth quarters.
The conditions were good for fast time.
The track was springy ard fast and the
weather was warm, but during the earlier
part of the afternoon there was quite a lit
tie breeze which the PAGERS had to breast
through the half mile of the back stretch.
The chief event on the card was the
match race between Joe Patchen, with
record of 20112, and Star Pointer, record
20l%. The conditions were that they should
pace three heats and to have the in
side position alternately. The toss of a
coin gave Patchen the pole for the first
and third heats. Notwithstanding this ad-
vantage and the fact that he had quarter
of a second the better of his opponent in
the matter of records, the race demon
strated that Star Pointer was too fast for
him, at least on this occasion, for the lat
ter won ali three heats handily.
For the first heat they went away well
together Rounding the first turn, Patchen
secured lead Of length. The first quar-
ter was covered in 301& seconds, 2:02 gait,
which proved to be the rating for the heat.
Turning into the far side they faced the
wind, but Pointer began to come up, lap
ping his antagonist, and the pace was in
creased, the half mile being done in one
minute fiat, or 2912 seconds for the second
quarter, a 1853 gait. Then the wind and the
terrific pace began to tell on them and the
timers caught them at the three-quarters
post in 1:3212, or a 2:10 gait for the third
quarter. At this point Pointer, travelling
On the outside, had fallen open length
behind Patchen. Swinging into the stretch
McClary called on the bay horse and he
responded gamely with one of the great
est bursts Of speed ever seen on u trotting
track. Steadily, inch by inch, he crept up
on the black stallion. curry shook up ms
horse, lifted him, laid the lash with sting
ing emphasis on his flank. He responded
nobly and let out another link, pacing with
out a waver, like a piece OF we'll balanced
not shake off the big bay. Inch by
inch Pointer crept up on him. :, Now
they neared the wire; but it was met with
the answering cry Pointer WINS and he
did win, but it was only in the last half
dozen strides, and only by a nose. The time
for the mile was 2:02 fiat, and fast
heat record was marked up. This made
the time OF the last quarter twenty-nine
Pointer was an open length to the bad
when the judges caught Patchens time at
the three-quarter post is taken into con-
sheraton IT is evident that Pointer must
have paced the last quarter IN about TWEEN
ty-nine seconds, or AT a LOO giant Wnlcn
was probably never before equaled in the
fourth quarter of a race in which pre-
vious quarter had been paced at 1:5S gait
Inc strength with which Pointer finished
in the first heat made it almost q fore
gone conclusion that he would win the sec
ond heat and the race, especially as he
would have the pole in that heat When
they were given t4.e word they went away
at evens, but Pointer was never headed,
and won at will by two open lengths in
2;04A. The first quarter was covered in
thirty SECONDS, the half in 1:00$4 and the
three-quarters in 1929.
The first quarter was covered in thirty sec
onds, the half in 1:0034 and the three-quar-
tiers in 1929.
The third heat was a repetition of the
second and was done in 204 fiat. The first
quarter was covered in 302 seconds; the
half in 1902, the three-quarters in :3315.
1t took four heats to decide the 2:11 pac-
ing event, Lady Nottingham taking first
honors. In the third heat Dick lost his
footing and fell just as he rounded into
the home stretch, throwing his driver,
Meagher. heavily to the ground and in
gerously. The horse escaped with a few
scratches. Summary:
Lady Nottingham ..,..........
L s