The record-union., 1897-08-29
Star Pointer Wipes Out the Two
Minute Mark.
Goes a Mile at ReadyiIIe in One Fifty Nine
and a Quarter.
Closing Day of the Weeks Races at
WiIlows-F. w. an Easy Winner
in the 2:2O Glass Pace-Jasper
Ayres Captures the 2:13 Trot-
Results on Other Tracks.

| Ayres Captures the 2:13 Trot-
Results on Other Tracks.
READVILLE (Mass), Aug 2S.-The
Chicago pacing stallion, Star Pointer,
owned by James A Murphy, to-day
wiped out the two-minute mark, and
ended the controversy which has been
going on for years as to the speed
qualities of the light harness horse. Ac-
companied by a runner, the big bay
Tennessee bred stallion wiped out the
mark, and had three-quarters of a
second to spare when he went under
the wire. This wonderful performance
was witnessed by about 5000 persons.
1t was the more wonderful, for on Fri
day Joe Patchen, with Geers behind
him, had made try at the mark made
| by John r. Gentry last October, and
had failed by a second and a half. Be-
cause of this, it was not thought that
his greatest rival in the race would get
down below the even time mark
The day was perfect for record
breaking. Not a breath of air was
stirring when at o'clock the horse
came out with a running horse to make
a trial for a worlds record. The first
two scores were not satisfactory to
Reinsman McCleary, and he worked the
horse way down below the turn. The
second score was even worse than the
first, for While moving on scarcely a
wo-minute clip. he went to a break
right under the wire. This made the
friends of the horse more than a trifie
nervous. The horse was acting as if a
and &c tor| ot fn 10
task.
But the third time down there was no
hesitancy. McCleary nodded for the
word, and off the PAGER went. The first
quarter was made at an even two-min-
ute gait, 30 seconds, and then, as Nc
Cleary called on his PAGER to move the
second quarter, there was a great
cheer for he was beating two min
utes, and got to the half in 594, with
the second quarter in 29A The third
quarter was the fastest of the mile, the
distance being covered in 1914 seconds,
a 1:57 gait.
Around the turn Pointer seemed to
waver the smallest fraction Of sec
ond, but McCleary had him right al
most before one could see it, and he
Strengthened out into the stretch, the
runner moving up closer. Both PAGER
and runner We're asked to step along.
Mccarthy laid the whip on the runner,
but McCleary only spoke word of
encouragement to his horse. AT the
draw gate Star Pointer was reefed a
little, and coming stronger from the
distance, the great pacing stallion APP
peared to freshen in the last few
strides, gathering fresh strength and
courage as he neared the wire, and
finished like a lion in the record break
ing time of 1884.
A mighty shout went up. The crowd
nearly went wild. In the grand stand
the owner of the horse had his hand
wrung until it ached. Over the fences
jumped men who knew horse and
driver, or who were carried away with
the enthusiasm of the moment. Hardly
had McCleary brought the horse to o
standstill before they had him on their
shoulders, and he was borne down the
stretch to the judges stand, and there,
as the band played Hail to the Chief, -
he was introduced to the throng. A tip
of the hat and then renewed applause
for the horse, owner and trainer rang
out.
A fairer mile was never timed Not
a watch in the stand but what agreed
with the time announced, while on the
other side of the stretch the watches in
the grand stand caught it equally fast
or better-not one slower. c.. w.
Marks. also of Chicago, the owner of
the greatest rival of Pointer looked
at his watch earnestly, and then re-
marked: IF anything, the mile was
faster rather than slower It was a
1850 performance"
Since 1894, when the game little race
horse Robert J. paced a mile in 2:01h,
the horse world has been looking for
the tWo-minute mark to be reached. In
1895 it looked as though the gelding
John r. Gentry would get it, but the
season went by, and last year even
some of the more ardent in their be-
lief were inclined in the middle of the
season to think that it would be many
years in coming, as the candidates
| then did not look promising. But in
September Star Pointer forced John r.
Gentry to a race record of 2:O112 at
Glen Falls, and then both horses were
counted likely candidates Billy An
drews, with Gentry, got a chance at
the mark at Rigby track at Portland
in October, but on Pointers day rain
interfered. Gentry came very near it,
and took the crown which to-day was
wrested from him.
To-day was the first time that Point
er was really sent for the mark His
owner has been content to scoop in race
honors, but after having defeated Joe
Patchen twice out of three times and
John r. Gentry every time he got a
chance at him, and as no other candi-
dates were in sight, the owner decid-
ed to take time honors Summary:
To beat worlds pacing record, 2:O01@,
Star Pointer, b. S by Brown Hail. dam
| Sweepstakes (McCleary), won. Time
by quarters 0:30, 0:59A, 1:29, 1894
2:20 pace, purse 81 900 concluded,
W. H. G. won, Lady Golden second,
Jane third. Best time-2:094
2:20 trot, purse 81, 900, Crescus won,
Medium Wood second Edmonia third
Best time-2:11A.
oil pace. purse 81 900, Dan A. won,
Mignon second, Kansas third. Best
time-2:0 S15.
2:16 pace, purse $1,000, King Egbert
won, Claus Forester second, India Sull
third. Best time-2:104.
CLOSING DAY AT WILLOWS.
WILLOWS. Aug. 2S.-To-day finished
the weeks racing given at this place
by the Breeders Associa ton F. W.
was an easy winner in the 2:2O class
race They went in a bunch in the
first heat and ended close, but in the
second F. W. took the lead to the quar-