Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25
How RobertJ. and Gentry Drive To-
gether.
HANDSOME As WELL As FAST
Both Brave, DociIe and Always
Wiling.
AN INTERESTING EVENT

FROM tic Philadelphia ledger.
Robert J. and John r. Gentry make a
great double team. They are not only the
speediest pair ever hitched TO sulky OF
wagon. but they arc fine looking a team
as one would wish to see. Both are bays.
and in color are perfectly matched. Robert
J. is a little bigger than Gentry. though
there is very little difference in their height
and length. but the latter is the prettier OF
the two. In brief. both are fine looking
animals. and they not only look well, but
go we'll together.
While both are thoroughly broken in,
having been campaisned SO much that each
knows why he is on the track and what is
expected of him. Robert J. seems to be the
steadier of the two. lie seemed to 20
easily within himself from start to finish
yesterday, while Gentry appeared fidgcty
at the start, and again I'm the last 100
yards from the finish. The performance
unquestionably demonstrates that. while
Gentry has the fastest mark 10y second.
Robert j. has the stoutest heart, and II IL
comes to a question OF grit in demollshing
records by this pair In the future II will
not be the latter who Will falter. Robert
]. Is full of grit. and If driven regularly for
awhile with Gentry he VIII no doubt take
some of the nervousness for which the
stallion is noted out OF the latter
BY this is not to be understood that John
H. otnlTN Is SifFdkeu Win yellow. 10 the
contrary, he must have some grit In him,
else he would not have the record he has.
or won as many races as are credited to
him. But IL is generally known among
horsemen that Gentry has not the stout
heart in him that is possessed by Robert j.
or the gameness OF star Pointer. Never
theless. with his speed he ought to be able
TO keep pace with Robert j. at all times,
and the two should have no trouble in
bringing the worlds record down TO say
2.o3 or still lower before their time arrives
TO be retired from the turf.
Out They Come.
1t was after o'clock when the two fly
ers were brought upon the track to make
their great trial. Covered all over with
blankets, surrounded by half a dozen at
tendants resplendent in black uniforms.
with yellow trimmings. and followed 10y
small army of stablemen, they formed
procession and came marching slowly mp
past the club house to the Judges stand.
amid the plaudits of the 5.oJo spectators
present. After a few words with the
Judges Driver Bovine mounted the yellow
and black painted bicycle road wagon, the
blankets were removed, and then for the
first time the spectators had chance to
see this fast and fne-loolVing team. Both
horses looked in fit condition to do their
best. Their coats glistened in the sun, and
their veins showed through the skin SO
plainly that they could almost be counted.
Both horses had been cut on the track
separately in sulkies for practice joys and
Gentry had gone warning-up mile in ia.
the quarters being -, l.O9 and l.i2. but
they had not been seen together. and there
fore. could lot be admired as a team until
now. A roar of "ahsi' and 'ohsr in adj
niration of the pair. after their blankets
had been removed, swept over the grand
stand and club house. followed by raptur-
GUS applause, which Mr.. BOVINE recognized
by dofing his cap.
Mr.. Bovine then drove up the stretch.
turned around and came back, and after
jogging the two flyers for about two miles
to warm them up. he started them on their
race against time. Gentry was plainly
nervous, and spoiled the first attempt by
breaking in coming to the wire.
The Record.
A second attempt was more successful.
but BOVINE evidently feared Gentry would
go up again, so he took matters easy over
the first quarter TO give the stallion a
chance to steady down and strike his gait,
and he also did not urge them over the sec
ond quarter. The first quarter was reached
in .33 and the half Ia LOLA 200 gait. 1t
was Bowne's intention TO urge his horses
from now on to the finish, but after going
half a furlong further Gentry slipped his
boot, and then he had to ease up going
around the upper turn; still he reached the
three-Quarter post in 1.3I. 1t was not until
Bovine had gotten around the long turn
and reached the stretch that he let the two
flyers straighten out their necks and that
ne began to urge them. Considerable VAL
liable time was lost In getting around this
turn, but after reaching the stretch the
two PAGERS let themselves out and came fly
ing to the wire. 1t was a close race against
time, and everybody felt they would get
there ahead of the record IL neither horse
broke. All eyes were on Gentry, who once
or twice swerved as IL ready to jump up,
but Bovine had him well in hand and there
was great applause as the pair shot under
the wire.
A thousand or more watches had taken
the time, and all agreed that the record
had been broken. A suspense of a few
minutes, which seemed an hour to many,
followed, while the timers in the judges
stand were comparing their watches. Final
ly the tins We're hung out on the time board
in front Of the judges stand, first -"
then a So and then a 90 the space for
fractions being left blank. The official an
rouncement OF log was greeted with
loud applause.