The age-herald., 1901-08-01
cresceus Lowers Worlds Record.
BY A. E. CAFFEE

StSSSCQ6 EOWCfb VOflQ
 There has been abundant discussion In the turf world during the past four months as to the relative speed and merit of the four trotting horses, The Abbott. 2.03A; Cresceus, 2:04; Charley Herr, 2;O7, and Boralina, 2:o8 (2:071a, since the series of matches for princely sums of money have been arranged to bring these titans of the trotting turf together so that each will struggle against the other in fair and open contest of speed, quality and endurance. It has been stoutly main tained in these columns from the start that the horses were In different classes and unevenly matched. It has been my opinion, based on personal knowledge of the capacity of the horses that The Alp bolt holds Boralina safe in any sort of track battle that may be arranged for them, and that Charley Herr is equally lion. This last prophecy became turf his tory when on Thursday at the Grasse Point track in the free-for-all trot Cres- ceus made Charley Herr appear like a modest country rosebud in Dresden vase with the gorgeous flame of full developed American Beauty Charley was, as he has always been, an honest. true, game little race horse. who Is always willing to do his honest best, but he is not in the same class with the mighty stallion that lowered the record to 2:N last year. There was no contest whatever and there was no in- terest manifested except as to how fast Cresceus would trot. George Ketchum seemed to understand this fact, for, in the first heat he sent the big son of Mo Gregor away at a dizzy flight of speed, gradually drawing away from Charley Herr and crossing the score seven lengths to the good in 2:06a4. the game little Ken lucky horse finishing nearly three seconds slower. In the second heat Ketchum had the stallion on his hettle and the great crowd anticipated that the determined driver was intent on making a spoon or spelling horn, for when they passed the stand and received the word the grand horse was fully extended and striding over the smooth earth like a limited ex- press under pressure of two engines. He was at the quarter in 30A seconds, fitted by the half in 1:o21h, but in going the third quarter MT. Ketchum took him hard In hand, easing him around the lower turn in 37&-saving him for the final terrific su- preme burst of speed that was to take place in the home stretch. As the man and horse turned into the straight, smooth stretch for the goal, Ketchum was seen to lean forward shade and give the cham pion his head, and without urging he trot- ted for kings ransom, covering the last quarter in 90 seconds, and the mile In 2:05 thus displacing the worlds s race record of 2:05A held jointly by Alix and Directum His two heats in 2:06& and 2:05 are, also the two fastest consecutive heats on rec ord for stallion. This effectuaIly dis poses of Charley Herr as an aspirant for championship honors. Cresceus will meet The Abbott on fair ground at New York in August, and then, both fit and good. there will be bleeding hearts before the struggle is ended. If The Abbott holds his present for. I think Geers will pilot him to victory
 The PET class trotting was six-heat affair and was won by Coxey, Meta Ar thur second, Springdale third and Vic Sheller fourth. Best time: 2:14%
 The 2:09 class pacing took seven hard heats to decide the winner. Sphinx s. won the last three heats and first money. George won the third and fourth heats and second money and Argetta the sec ond heat and third money. Time of best three heats: 2:07h, 2:08ft, ,20S1z-
 The American Thoroughbred.
 The race horse of America has been nearly three hundred years in developing irto the marvel of speed and beauty that he Is today. He was brought to the new world by the early settlers of Virginia, whose love for outdoor sport was as strong in America as 1t was in merry England. James I. the first of the Stuart dynasty, was then on the throne and gave kingly patronage to racing. and so 1t became known as the sport of kings"