The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-28

The greatest race Of the world for the
year 1899 VIII IN racing annals be accred-
lied to wichita It was the pacing con-
test between Patchen and Gentry at the
won by Patchen in straight heats. Time.
2:02h. It was witnessed by at least Il, 900
people, the estimates ranging from 1900
10 10000. Had it not been for the wind
and dust the number would have been
doubled. The day began with almost a
gale and the crowd came slow up until /
O'Clock. After this it was a march in
solid column from the gate TO the grand
stand until $40. the hour at which the
speed kings, Patehen and Gentry were
scheduled TO appear. BY this time the
grand stand was a Jam, the bleachers
were crowded and the quarter stretch
was a mass Of humanity for three hum
dred yards. It extended down by the
judges stand and clear away to the
seven-eighths post on both sides OF the
track. There were visitors from Colorado,
Oklahoma, Missouri and all parts OF
Kansas. The like Of yesterdays crowd
was never seen in Wichita and as great
a race probably never will be seen again.
The time, 2:02h, the finish of the last
heat, is the fastest race record in pacing
on any track in America this year. Cen
try made his first appearance on the
track for warm out at 2:03, and when
he cantered by the grand stand 1900
people cheered the bay that left here nine
years ago unknown. but came back with
the worlds record in pacing. Billy An
drews, the driver, nodded in appreciation
Of the storm Of compliments that drifted
down to him from the grand stand. Gen
Try seemed to know, too, that he was
himself creating a great stir. for he turn
ed his head just little and pointed one
ear forward as he eyed the grand stand
in a friendly way.
The Indifferent Patchen logged by at 2:07
in warm out and the crowd cheered
again. several women waving their hand
kerchiefs and screaming out, "Hurrah
for the pretty blackr' Some men shout
ed, ''Dlckerson, you're a winnerr' and
Patchen's driver smiled. Whether It was
this particular remark Mr.. Dickerson
heard or whether it was some other re-
mark OF enthusiasm for the great Pat
chen and his driver that caught Mr.. Dick
erson's ear matters little. The enthusi-
asrn shown for Patchen aroused envy
among the Gentry supporters and when
the handsome little bay came back hun
dreds stood NJ and yelled louder than
ever In a minute Patchen followed back
and the grand stand was wild. The Cen
try people were yelling and the Patchen
people were yelling The rest of the crowd
being enthusiastic for both horses also
yelled. There never was any cheering
and yelling in Wichita before that was
a start to compare with the reception of
Patchen and Gentry and their popular
drivers yesterday afternoon. It was diff
cult to see in some places high up back
support pillars. Old men gave the boys
cards and spades in the scramble to see
the great PAGERS.
The race was called at Ais. In min
ute Patchen drifted by. Gentry came at
a swift stride, and the two turned back /
half way TO the stretch and scored down. /
The fourth time they got the word and I
spun away like belts. Patchen leading
slightly from the start. They moved /
with the symmetry Of clockwork. Cen
try swift and vigorous in his strides. Z
Patchen stately. Patchen has the same /
Indifferent look in the race that he exhib- /
its in his stall. but to an informed race 7
attendant IT IS plain that he is system
atlzing his efforts Patchen is scientific. /
He looks ahead and knows the track as !
he goes every stride OF the way. Every /
motion he makes IS a conservator Of en- /
ergy and a picture of grace. When he /
reached the quarter post and saw down
the track to the turn towards the three
quarters, he seemed TO drop his head a
little and lean out with a surge. He add
ed a foot or two 70 his lead Of the little
bay and kept Il, steadily hugeing the in
side. Down the half stretch they Went
splitting the strong wind Ike arrows.
Gentry with quick. furious strides drove
out a quarter length to his rival at the
th-ee-quarter post. The finish down the
stretch was great Patchen reached out
heavy and Gentry with lightning motion
drew up TO Patchen's tug. The crowd in
front OF the judges stand and in front Of
the starters post got excited and filed
the track which is very annoying 10 the
drivers and 70 the management.
The racers finished a Tapped line under
the wire Patchen half q length in the
lead. The crowd was uproarious. cheer
Ing and cheering. They had hardly stop
ped cheering the finish when the time
bulletin at the judges stand whisked out
to read 2:o2i2. This set up another yell
A c. Jordan announced from the start
FRS stand that this was the fastest heat
ever paced IN Kansas. The crowd hardly
sat down in the grand stand until the