The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
He Now Holds the worlds Race Rec
ord, as Well as that for
Mile Against Time.
THE FEAT WITNESSED BY 5000
PASSED JOE PATCHEN IN THE TURN
AS If HE WE'RE STANDING STILL.
Some Rather Exciting Finishes and
Unexpected Results in the other
Events on the Card.


grounds yesterday to see the last heat of
the Star Pointer-Joe Patchen race and in
cidentaiiy to take in the other excellent
races that were originally upon Fridays
card. They were rewarded by seeing the
wonderful Star Pointer break the worlds
race record and make record for the In
dianapolis track that will probably last for
some years. He made the mile in POI fiat,
beating Patcl1en by three lengths and by
half q second in time. The best previous
record made in a harness race was 2:011a.
taken by Robert J. last year when Pointer
drove him cut, and again at Columbus last
July by Joe Patchen in the second heat
of a match race with Pointer. Not only
did the stop watches demonstrate the SUI
periority of Star Pointer over his great an
tagonist, but the action in the race. the
easy fashion in which he won out when the
circumstances were against him, showed
him to be the faster horse.
The heat was the rubber of the match
race for $4,000, hung up by the State Board
of Agriculture. OF the two heats paced
the day before on a rather heavy track
Pointer had taken the first in 2:O4% and
Patchen had taken the second in 2:03. Yes
terday the track was in excellent condition.
except for a scarcely perceptibRe roughness.
1t was worked assduously all morning and
at intervals during the afternoon to get it
just right. The weather was fairly warm,
without cloud in the sky, but there was
a slight breeze from the northeast. AS on
the day before, number OF heats in minor
events were. disposed of before the great
race came, but this time there was no mis-
calculation and it was brought off on time
1t was shortly after o'clock when Mr..
Updegraff, the starting judge announced
that the heat would be paced and the crowd
cheered heartily when the two horses APP
peared upon the track and logged up and
down the track for bit more of warming
up Upon the first attempt they came to
the wire with Pointer half a length ahead.
and the next time Patchen had an equal
advantage, so they were again called back
Upon the third trial there was not the
difference of half a nose between them. and
the word was given. They were going like
perfect machines, without wasting an inch
of unnecessary motion. Patchen's driver
Dickerson was inclined to force the fight
ing and McClary was inclined to let him do
it. The black pushed steadily forward until
they reached the first quarter, when Pointer
began to edge UP so slowly that it was
scarcely perceptible. Watches were out all
over the stand, and when they caught the
time of the first quarter at 29a4 seconds,
every direction. Both Murphy and Marks
had intimated to their friends that they
were going to send their horses to capture
record, and horsemen were expecting
great mile.
UP THE BACK STRETCH.
The race up the back stretch looked like
a battle royal, each horse going like a bit
of clockwork and Pointer continuing to
gain very slowly, for the big black was
straining every nerve to hold his lead AT
the half the bay was but head behind
and as they turned out of the back stretch
they We're upon even terms Then Nc
Clary was seen to lean forward and talk
to Pointer, and the fight was short and
decisive. The noble bay responded to the
urging with all his reserve strength and
passed his antagonist in the turn like a
gale of wind, coming into the stretch for
the wire half length ahead. There was
no need of whip for either horse Patchen
was making desperate effort and Pointer
was doing likewise. 1t was a procession
up the stretch, but it was about the swift
est parade ever seen in these parts A.
great cheer went up as Pointer passed
under the wire three lengths ahead and
with speed to spare, and the crowd await
ed anxiously the announcement of the
time. BY the watches in the stand 1t had
been caught variously at 2:O015, 2:OO% and
S:Ol. The official time was announced as
1:Ol and another big cheer went up while a
crowd gathered around James A. Murphy
the owner of the great horse, and franti-
caIly congratulated him. The time nv
quarters was :29a4, 100, 1S0, 2:O1 the last
quarter being the slowest of the mile. The
mile was made by Patchen in 2:01a..
Special match pace; purse, $1,000.
Star Pointer, b. s., by Brown Hal
Joe Patchen. blk. S. by P atchen
Wilkes (Dickerson) .............2 I .
Iime-2:O4s4. 2:0S, POI.
THE FREE FOR-ALL TRoT.
Aside from this heat the free-for-all trot
was the most Interesting race on the card
There We're seven starters, and the men
who knew the horses were pretty well
agreed that it would go to Senator A
though they thought William Penn was
the fastest horse in the bunch. if he could
only be held to his feet. They were hardly
prepared, however, for the surprises of the
1rst heat. Pilot Boy took the lead at the
quarter, after a lot of tiresome scoring
and he and Dandy Jim fought it out for
half mile The Senator was third at the
half ard William Penn was last apparently
out of the hunt, for he had gone off his
aSet "a. a. me, tne NIst quarter. AT the turnout
closing up on the leaders hnf Wiiisa,, D I5
came around them an ms n tta-r ,S 80
STANDING stu, and came up the stretch -
tne wire gong like the wind. He went info
the air Just before reaching tile wire bnt
was so far ahead that they gave bir, p tI
heat. In the second heat Elloree Sof IN
advantage when Penn made his ,1snasI1 ~ Ill eaie
at the quarter, and il was pretty much nf
a procession for her, though Senator
gave her an argument in the stra+eb 80, y
then surprised his friends by ouiffine Srh u
list heat was practically a Repetition Of the
second ana the race went TO EIoree S,,m
mary ''"i-
The free-for-all trot; purse, $500.
Elloree, G. m. by Axtel (SaundersA
william Penn, b. s., by Santa Claus
Sultls1 .'.-s...... ...................l 7
Senator A., g. s., by Tramp Panic
(AleNdnder) .................... o q
Pray Tell. c. g., by Axtel (Dicker-
SOM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
hfeIn1tucky Union, c m. by Aberdeen
tilazstl '...'....... ..-.................5 \ 2
Pilot Boy, &. g., by Pilot Medium
NNheitj ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
DANDY Jim, g. s., by Young Jim
AftayNood) .................... q
Time-2.09A, 2:l0i4. 2:ll5k
THE 2:16 TROT.
The 2:16 trot was not productive OF son
sational time. In the first heat Espv Bow
had the pole and showed a disposition -.
lead, but Curta passed him at the quarter
and had an easy thing of It, winning in a
jog. In the second Curta started a string
but had not gone far when she went up
and by the time Wiley got her 10 her feet
she was in fifth place. with Hans McGregor