Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-24
WITH HORSES AND HORSEMEN
Opening of the Grand Circuit Hnces
mt Detroit Shows There Is
Still Speed.

The opening of the grand circuit last
Monday at the Crosse Pointe track at De-
troit brought together for the first time
this year a great many of the trotters
and PAGERS tina have been burning up the
tracks in the east and the west In the pre-
liminary campaigns. AS a consequence the
followers of harness racing look with Keen
interest upon the first bout between the
flyers of the rival sections. The NUMBER
of high class horses uncovered at the early
meetings was altogether unprecedented, ana
turf followers predicted a campaign OF re-
markable brilliancy. When the sensational
Young performers from the far west were
cut loose at Denver, st. Joseph and this
city a few weeks ago, eastern horsemeh
shook their heads and prophesied that tne
westerners would sweep the board. Inc
opinion continued to prevail during the
early performances at Hartford providence
and other eastern meetings, but toward the
end of the gatherings the doing were
enough to indicate that the east Will hold
up its end.
The big purse at the Detroit meeting was
the Merchants and Manufacturers annual
stake of $40, 900 for the 2:24 class. This was
won by an eastern horse, Directum Kelly,
the property Of James Butler OF New YORK,
VIII had to lower his record from 2:l4 to
2.11A in order to win the money. keilys
principal opponent was the Colorado mare,
| Belle j., who quit. however, after two heats,
| both of which she won, Kelly being NTH ana
second. The winner while at present owned
| In the east, is a western horse, bred by Mon
roe Salisbury at Pleasanton, Cal, and was
| sold at auction in 1885. He is a 4-year-old, oil
| n rich bay color, about 1871 hands high and Is
| considered one of the fastest horses In train
ing. He is by Direct, the son of Director,
| 2:l7, who has a trotting record OF ELSA and
| a pacing record of 2:05h. He Is out OF the
| bloodlike bay mare Rosa Ludwig, by Anteeo'
| 2:16h, granddam by thoroughbred LimericH
| Boy. He won two races In a week at Hart
ford, cutting his record down from Z:z4A
to 2:14.
In the 2:04 pace fasteners again won
with Frank Bogash after a struggle extend
ing over eight heats. The prominent west
ern horses, Anaconda and Chehalis, were
not In II, being tagged out at the end Of
1 the fifth heat. The west came to the front
however, in the fast class on Thursday. In
the 2:O9 pace the great California horse
Searchlight, won in three straight heats
from q field of nine others. The time made
2 :O7E, 2:O7A, 2:06%, was almost equal te
the records made in the 2:O4 class In TIT
first three heats.
Magnificent time was made on Thursda!
In the other race for a big purse during
the week. This was the chamber OF Com
merce So, 900 stake for 2:24 class PAGERS
Heats in this race were down to 2:OS%,
There have been rumors that Lewis M
Tewksbury's great PAGER, the ex-champion
John r. Gentry, 2:00is. is of his speed. A
a matter of fact the horse Is in the pink o
condition and raadu In 90 IN his limit N IN
has a chance for a race, match or a g
against the watch. He made a trial at Char
ter Oak recently in 2:07h and has gon
quarters in 80. The death Of Ginnette, VIII
was matched against him for 10,0OO a sid
for three races. has left him without an,
engagements. as the leading meetings o
the season have no free-for-all purses o.
the programs, the idea being that at tn
outside only Joe Patchen and John II
Gentry would enter, as the owner OF SITS
Pointer has decided not to race him thi