The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-29

Hand Wrung Until It Ached-
Exceptional Gard at Butte-Inter-
esting Meet Of the Amateur Ath-
letics.
Readville, Mass, Aug. 2S.-The Chi
cago pacing stallion, Star Pointer,
owned by James A Murphy, today
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,
accompanied by runner, the big bay
Tennessee-bred stallion, wiped out the
mark and had three-fourths of a sec
ond to spare when he went under the
wire. This wonderful performance was
witnesses by about 5000 persons. 1t
was the more wonderful for on Friday
Joe Patchen, with Geers behind him.
had made a shoot at the mark made
by John r. Gentry last October, and
had failed by a second and a half
because of this it was not thought that
his greatest rival in the race line would
get down below the even time mark
The day was perfect for record break
when vt 4 o'clock the horse came out
with runnig horse to make a trial
for worlds record. The first two
scores were not satisfactory to Reins-
man McCleary, and he worked the
horse way down below the turn. The
second score was even worse than the
first, for While moving at scarcely a
two-minute clip he went to break
right under the wire. This made the
friends of the horse more than trifie
nervous. The horse was acting as if
a little sore, and as though DOT up to
the task. But the third time down
there was no hesitancy. McCleary
nodded for the word and off the PAGER
went
The first quarter was at an even two
minute gait, in 80 seconds. and then, as
McCleary called on his PAGER to move
the second quarter, there was a great
cheer for he was beating two minutes
all to pieces and got to the half in
0;59%, with the second quarter in 0:29%
seconds.
The third quarter was the fastest of
the mile. The distance was covered in
2sA seconds, a 1857 gait.
Around the turn Pointer seemed to
waver, the smallest fraction of a sec
ond, but McCleary had him right al
most before one could see it, and he
Strengthened into the stretch, the run
ner moving up closer. Both PAGER and
runner were asked to step along. Nc
Carthy laid the whip on the runner,
but McClearly 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 fin
ished like a lion in the record breaking
time of 1874.
A mighty shout went up. Men
yelled as though possessed. 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 mo-
ment. Hardly had McCleary gotten
the horse to a 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 in 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 remarked:
IF anything the mile was faster rather
than slower. 1t was a 1:59 perform
ance.'
Since 1894, when the game little race
horse Robert ] paced a time mile in
2:01A9, the horse world has been looking
for the two minute mark to be
reached. In 1895 it looked as
though the geldlng John R. Gentry
would get to it, but the season
went by. and last year even, some of
the more ardent in their belief 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 2:011a at Glenfalls, and
then both horses We're counted likely
candidates. Billy Andrews. with Gent
ry, got a chance at the mark at the
Rigby track at Portland in October,
but on Pointers day rain interfered
Gentry came very near it and took
the crown, which today was wrested
from him. Today was the first time
that Pointer 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 the
only time he got chance at him, and
as no other candidates were in sight,
the owner decided to take time honors.
Summary:
(2:oO1k).-Star Pointer, b. c., by Brown
Hal. dam Sweepstakes. (McCleary),
won. Tlme-:3o, :59a4, 1:2S, 1891.
Other summaries:
2:20 Pace. Purse $1,000, (concludeO.-
WI G won, Lady Golden second, Jane
third. Best time-2:O9A-
2:2O Trot, Purse. s1,0oo.-Crescus won,
Medium Wood second. Edmonia third.
Best time-2:11A.
I'll pace, Purse $1,OOO.-Dan A Won
Mignon second, Kansas third. Best
time-2:0S1a.
2:1S pace, Purse $1,OOO-King Egbert
won, Claus Forester second, India Sull
third. Best time-2:10A.
AMATEUR ATHLETICS.
Most Successful Series of Games Ever