Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-08-14
THE CONTESTANTS

Anent the great race which will take
place at Brighton Beach on Thursday
history of the contestants is
important. The following interest
is important. The following interest.
ing account has been written by John
Mccartney:
The two most commanding figures
on the trottlng turf today are those
two great horscs-Crcsccus (2:O2H)
and The Abbot (2;O3A) who are to
meet in a great match race next
thursday at Brighton Beach. It is
the opinion of q majority of well-post-
ed horsemon that this race viii pro
duce the fastest three heats ever trot-
ted in the history CT The trctsing turf.
These two horses represent the pro-
Sicssion Of the trottcr and both Of
thom heve done much TO strengthen
The belief chat tho two minute tyotter
is not IN imDossibility.
The Abbot is a wonderful horse.
and l do not think q trotter cvor lived
that had so great a fight of speed ana
could carry it with so much ease as
The Abbot do not know any better
way to express in words his way Of
trott!ng when at top speed, only to
compare it with tho night of q bird
Crcsccus, however, shows power in
every step that he takes, and he can
only be likened, when at full speed, to
the mighty rush of a powerful loco
motive. ho is big horse, q powerful
horse, and when he heads home in one
Of his reccrd-brea'dng miles every be-
hcidcr is impressed with the power
and strength he displays. He comes
Ike mighty gladiator sweeping ey-
erythlng before him, and to see him is
almost awe inspiring. 1t is the COM
ing OF a giant whose very presence
causes Wonderment
CCoscous has had truly wonderful
career on the turf, and, all things con-
2.dcTed, he is the greatest champion
tHat ever wore the crown. His right |
to the championship cannot be dis
Puted, and if ever a horse earned his
'2ure!s Cresceus is that horse.
1t was proud day for George II.
aetcham when Cresceus won the
championship. l know something of
his hopes in regard to the great stall
lion, and only last winter in the
course of a long conversation, he in
formed me that he fully believed that
Crosceus would lower all records this
year He carefully planned to have
tho stallion in the condition of his
life, and | am satisfied that when
Crosceus broke the record it was nc
surprise TO Mr.. ketcham, as he knew
the wonderful capabilities Of the stall
lion better than any living man.
CrcSceus has won the championship
AMI has p-oyed himself to be the fast
est tTo.tor that lives. 1t is curious
fact tnor while auhorsemen were will
in to concolo that he had extreme /
5pacj, very flw there wore who really
-h-aght hia capable Of t-o,ting below
The Ahbc.s record Of 2:03M.
MI ycAtgve The assertion chat his
22ies at Cleveland and Columbus
'a-lc IS a groat surprise 10 the wise
sri gade, as very few of the regular
fach followers bclieycd that he could
.qaai Tho AbJots record, let alone
owor it.
"hc-hcc he viii be able to trot in
zoo s extremely doubtful, and, while
t would crca. e no surprise If he did,
hclc is limit TO every horses speed,
nj 70 say that the son Of Robt. Nc
'rcGor viii trot in 200 would be put
i13 it pretty strong | do believe,
o"ovcr that he Will trot nearer to
&c 200 record than any living trot-
or.
,llr kcJcham has the proud d.stinc-
ion Of having bred, trained and driy-
n t. his record the fastest trotter
hat cYcr lived, and it is doubtful If
more modest horscman ever drove a
hampton than the good-looHing Tole-
o millionaire. For many years Mr..
lo &Aam has hal in his employ a
tudy aooG-aatured sh-American,
arod Munan, who has been his
i2At-hand man in all things pertain
lg TO the training and management of
rcsccus. Nh Ketcham seldom gives
lo stallion any Of his work. This
ask has doyolyod to rim Murnan, anG
be Aho condition or the champion IS =
Gc ycgy largely to the palnstaking .
iannor in which he is trained and i
repaired for oil Of his recorl-break- :
lg miles Mr. Ketcham never fails .
give Tim full credit for his work,