Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-30
THE MILE-1.591-4.
Gallant Star Pointer Establishes
a New Worlds Record.
Driver MccIeary Has Honor Of Going
Fas'e;t Mile Ev-r Driven.
5000 People Cheer The Noble PAGER TO Vic.
terry on ReadyiIle Track.

mile was done, yesterday, at Readville,
on the closing day of the best grand
circuit meeting of 1897. and, in the cx-
pressed opinion of visiting horsemen.
the best for years.
The racing every day has been fast
and hard. The fields have been large
and evenly matched. Crowds have
surged about the grand stand. and, To
wind it up. the steel sinewed son of
Brown Hal turned the mile in 1894.
The occasion was in every way
worthy of the feat. Those who recalled
from personal experience the great mile
of John K. Gentry last year at Rigby.
had picture of a bleak fall day, raw
east wind up thei stretch. with not
much more than eorporal's guard to
cheer the mighty horse after his labors
Yesterday the track was perfect, ana
a bright, warm stunt bathed the beauti-
full surroundings ofithe Readvine race
course in a food Of soothing and vet
invigorating light. a crowd of the gay
est and bravost OF light harness race
lovers We're there to admire, filing the
grand stand ana surroundings with an
eXpectant and enthusiastic gathering
They came to see the great PAGER beat.
if possible, the great mile Of John r.
Gentry.
The racing programme proved uneX-
pectedly good. and was followed with
warm interest, but when, early in the
afternoon the honest phiz Of Dave Me
-1eary appeared behind big bay
PAGER, the cry went forth. There he
Is" hardly needing the announcement
If Judge Locke that THE horse on the
stretch was Star Pointer" lie was
given a cheer and hand" much as
Toe Patchen got the day before 1t was
4 tentative, encouraging welcome.
awaiting the deed that was looked for
to warrant the attention.
At intervals during the afternoon the
pair, STAR Pointer and McCleary. We're
features of the passing SHOW as TAI
warming UP process went on. TIle men
zion Of McCleAry is needed, for star
Pointer is not the distinctive character
in appearance sItsS marks his great
rival. The Pointer horse is a good
looking bay horse, booking much as
other bay horses icok. while it is safe
o say everyone who has seen the dark
noble figure Of Joe Pa,chen can never
mistake aim again Star Pointer would
be overlooked in crowd OF bay horses
Meanwhile TIE approaching evens
was hearaldel in more ways than one
Mr.. Griffin. with his track apparatus
vas appreciably buster. star Pointer
VAS growing darker and darker In
eolor as the warming up work drew on
his reyerses of perspiration The fakif
peals To possible purchasers Of star
Pointer buttons
Finally the judges announced that
the great PAGER would be given a
warming up mile. IL was a warm
day, when humanity was inclined to
perspiration without warming up miles.
and a fair racegoer in one of the boxes
vas prompted 10 remark: Gracious
Can't he get warm on a day like this?''
The warming up was a mile. 1t
tended by a runner under "knapsack"
McCarthy's guidance in 2.11 and a
fraction, with a fast last quarter. MI
Griffin gave the track a final flip with
his brush heaps. and the expected mo
ment came, when the horse was sent
away
y hush fell on the gathering, Signi-
icant indeed 10 one prcsans ard with
'ars Injured to the hubbub and hustle
If race track. Once, twice he scored
down, but McCleary shook his head
each time. y suppressed groan wem
mp ON one of the scores as the horse
sTol1e under the wre throwing a sug-
5eSti0n Of failure in the coming trial.
The third score found him moving like
lockWork, and Starter Walker cried out:
Are you ready?' At a nod from Nc
leary. Walker yelled Co.. ana the
mile WAS under way.
baby away back on the stand could
oe heard in front cooling as Star Pointer
vent to the quarter When the post WIS
'eached d loud up" in unison, followed
y murmurs Of 80 seconds. swept over
he crowd.
Al the half another up" louder and
ollowed by a delightful cheer. brought a
epfoVing warning from Starter Walker
md request for silence, so as not to
iisconeert the horse.
Here and There men with watches were
-xcitedly whispering '5S3i seconds" -
seconds, 59la seconds" and really
dAst mile was now all tut assured
By the three-quarter pole flew the pa
'ef and McCfeary. with the runner drew
up on him. Again the watches told a
story OF a great performance.
He has 81 seconds TO come home in
sald turtle, delightfully."-, and amid in
slstent hushes, ending in profound ST.
lence, the great horse dashed under the
wire.
There was a quick look all around at
the witches, and the first official init
nation Of the result was 4 wild shake
alott OF his hat by Secretary Jewett VINO
Mss m lhe stand Inc crowd caught the
from the gesture. and 4 great
roar went up that lasted over a minute |
Everywhere the watches were compared !
ana not one bat had better than two