The Portland daily press., 1897-08-30
WONDERFUL.
Star Pointer Goes a Mile in
l.59 IL.
WIPES OUT THE TWO MINUTE
MARK.
at Readvilie Saturday and the
Crowd Went Wild With Enthusiasm.

Eight Thousand People Saw Him Do This
at Readvi1le on Saturday and the
Crowd Went Wild With Enthusiasm.
Readyille, Mass, August 2S.-The Chi
cago pacing stallion Star Pointer, owned
by James A. Murphy, today wiped out
forever the 200 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 pacing
bred stallion wiped up the mark and had
three quarters of second to spare
when he went under the wire. 1t was the
must wonderful performance ever wit
messed by light harness horse and was
seen by about 5000 people. 1t was the
more wonderful for on Friday Joe Patch
en-, with Geers behind him, had made
shoot at the mark made by John r. Gen
try last October and failed by a second
and half. Because of this it was not
thought that his greatest rival in the race
line would get down below the even time
mark.
Today was perfect for record breaking.
Not breath of air was stirring when
at O'Clock the horse came out with a
running horse to make the trial for the
worlds record. The first two scores were
not satisfactory to reinsman McClary
and he worked the horse down below the
turn. The second score was even worse
than the first, for while scarcely moving
at a two-minute clip, he went to break
Yinht ,1n6nr tho tUira This made fha
friends of the horse moregthan a trife
nervous. The horse was acting as if a
little sore and as though he was not up
to the task.
But the third time down there was no
hesitency. McClary nodded for the word
and off the PAGER went, the runner right
at his saddle. The first quarter was an
even two-minute gait, in 80 seconds, and
then as McClary called on the biggest of
the free-for-all PAGERS to move second
quarter, there was great cheer, for he
was beating two minutes all to pieces
and got to the half in SO 3-4 seconds,
with second quarter in 30 3-4 seconds.
The third quarter was the fastest of the
mile. The distance was covered in 30 ia
seconds, a 1.57 gait.
ssAround the turn Star Pointer seemed
to wayer for the smallest part of a Sec
ond, but McClary had the fellow right al
most before one could see it, and then as
they moved into the stretch the runner
moved up even closer. Both PAGER and
runner were asked to step along. Nc
Carthy laid the whip on the runner, but
9cC off n 10 i
q word of encouragement. At the draw
gate Star Pointer was reefed little, and
coming strong from the distance, the
greatest pacing stallion in the world ap-
peared to freshen in the last few strides,
gathered fresh strength and courage as he
neared the wire and finished like a lion
in the record breaking time of 1.59 IA.
A mighty shout went up for the thou
sands knew that performance had been
made to harness the like of which was
never before witnessed in the annals of
the turf. Hats went off and men yelled
as though possessed. In the grand stand
the owner of the horse had his hand
wrung until it was nearly off. Over the
fences jumped the men who knew the
loIso ditd uf1NSf, Of WHO were Cdfr1eu
away with the enthusiasm of the moment.
Hardly had McClary got his 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 'tHail to the Chief, i"
he was introduced to the throng. A tip
of the hat and then renewed applause for
the horse, owner and trainer, rang out
in the dull air.
Since 1894 when the little game race
horse Robert j. paced a mile in 2.0l 1-2,
the horse world has been looking for the
200 minute mark to be reached. Billy
Andrew, with Gentry, got chance to
shoot at the mark at the Rigby track,
Portland, in October. 1895, but on Point
er's day rain interfered.
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