The San Francisco call., 1899-09-07
STAR POINTER
DETHRONED AS
PAGING KING
Game Old Joe Patchen Wins a
Magnificent Race at the En-
pire City Track.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Sept 6.-Fifteen thou-
sand enthusiastic spectators were at lhe
Empire City trotting track to-day 10 see
the great race between the PAGERS star
Pointer, Joe Patchen, John X. Gentry ana
Searchlight The grandstand was CROWDED
to the guards, the lawn was Diach win
people and in the infield there were nun
dreds of vehicles In the betting ring
there was a surglng crowd only too anx-
ious to bet 100 TO go on Star Pointer
against the field, until poolselllng was
stopped by the local authorities-Whlch,
however, did not interfere with the DOCKS
and hackers were still able to put on
their money. When McCleary appeared
behind Star Pointer he received rous-
ing cheer, but when Joe Patchen, with
his old familiar white nose ana lace,
came up the stretch the applause was
still louder, and when the handsome little
bay stallion, John K. Gentry, turned into
the stretch the whole grandstand arose
and applauded.
Searchnght, the great son of Dark
Night, who is looked upon as the coming
champion, was brought to the judges
stand and it was announced that he was
not in racing condition and would not
be a starter.
Three times they came down for the
word, but each time the starter realized
that they were not exactly on their
stride. At the fourth attempt they came
down like triple team, and when the
word Go" was given Pointer at once
SldIleu out 10 VIII InG neat. II was SOOI
seen that Joe Patchen was in racing con-
dition, and he hung on to the favOrite's
wheel with the grim determination OF
veteran who never knows when to stop.
Around the back stretch the conflict was
close and exciting, and the public almost
lost sight of John r. Gentry, as he was
several lengths behind. Around the top
turn Star Pointer appeared to gain, but
it was simply an optical deluslon, and
when the mighty pair swung into the
stretch it was apparent to everybody that
magnificent races of the century.
on they came, Star Pointer on his cour-
old and mighty antagonist; but try as he
would he could not quite get there, Star
Pointer landing winner by neck in
| 2:0414.
Joe Patchen and Star Pointer were both
together, with john r. Gentry about a
length back, when the word was given in
| the. second heat, and, the positions re-
mained practically unchanged to the quar-
| ter, where Patchen assumed the lead and
| held 1t to the wire in spite of the deter
mined effort Of McCfeary, who was driv-
| length. with Gentry several lengths in
the rear. Time. 2:O2&. This was the fast
est mile paced in a race this season.
There was now rush to cover among
! the spectators, who recognized that the
| old-tirne pacing king was to be dethroned,
and they made no mistake. AS soon as
! the word was given Joe Patchen started
! out to complete his victory, and he did it
! in a most effectual manner. Star Pointer
| broke so DadIy tndt ne was uIStanceQ, ana
| John R. Gentry was utterly unable to
! compete with the horse that he beat at
! Rochester and which beat him at Goshen.
| The time of the last heat was 2:04A. II
was announced that Star Pointer would
never race again.
/ The regular programme began with the
| 2:22 trotting class, for which there were
| eight starters. and Senator l. was plunged
| upon as the faVorite at 100 to 40 for the
! field. 1t was simply runaway race, as
! Senator l. won in straie Mt heats with four
or five lengths to spare.
In the 2:10 mile dash for trotters the
| gray gelding Success was the favorite at
| even money, but the bay gelding Alvos,
| owned by Nathan Straibs and driven by
Thompson, took the lead at the half and
came home very easy winner in 2:0972;
The 2:14 trotting class wound up the
mare Rubber was the favorite, and she
never gave her hackers any cause. to
worry, as she simply walked away from
her field, winning in 2:10A. Results:
Free-for-all pacing, two in three heats,
| purse $4,000:
Joe Patchen Dickerson). ................2 !
John r Gentry lAndrews) 9 2
| Star Pointer CMcCleary) ................1 dis
Time-SOs. 5915 1:s2A 2:O4A S024 5924 1914
2:o22l 324. 1:O2 1881. 2:Of4;
2:22 class trotting, two in three heats, purse
s15OO-Senator won in straight heats. Time.
| PISA, PIP. Lasso second: Slipper third. Lu-
| ciIe NJ Annie Burns George c. Fleetwood,
Martha and Richard also started
2:10 class trottng, one-mile dash. purse 5000
| Alvos won Time 2:1O12 Louise, Corporal,
Success. Dan Cupid. Dione. Memoline. D
and Lelah finished in the order named.
| 2:14 class trotting, two in three, purse 5000
Rubber won in straight heats Time. 2:10,
2:10h Little Dick second: Plimmer third. Iris.
| Chanty. George Carney, Konster. Edna Cook.
| Timbret Pilot Evans and Fancy King also
started.