Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-16
WORLDS RACE RECORD
LOWERED BY CRESCtUS.
TRoTTED MILE AGAINST THE
ABBOTT At BRIGHTON BEACH,
IN 2.O5 Id.
CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT
THE FAMOUS GELDING Dis
TANCED IN SECOND HEAT
ny HAD BREAK.


NEW YORK, Aug. 15,-rhe trotting
interests of the Empire City have not
received such boom In a quarter of a
century as was developed to-day at the
Brighton Beach track. when, under the
auspices of the New York Trotting AS
ISOLATION. the champion stallion and
champion geldlng. Cresceus and The
Abott. came together for a purse of
$4,000. The Abbott with his record of
2:03A of last season and Cresceus with
his mark OF 2:02h, made at Columbus,
were to decide the question of which
was the one to go down In history as
the fastest trotting horse now living.
There was larger crowd present
than was ever seen on a New York
trotting track. The grandstand was
packed. and this despite the fact that
reserved with admission cost 81. while
boxes holding four persons were all dis
posed of at $40 each, in addition to the
regular admission. While the seating
capacity is but $500. 5000 persons were
jammed into the structure. II was es-
timated that fully $4,000 persons were
present.
The weather was perfect, and the
track was like velvet, though probably
a second slow. II was about 3. 80 when
the drivers. Ketcham and Geers, APP
peared before the grandstand and Oh
tained their positions for start by the
flip of coin. Luck was with the driver
of Cresceus, as he secured the pole, a
decided advantage.
When they reached the starter Cres-
ceus was slightly in the lead. and they
were called back. The next time they
were nose and nose. Then Cresceus
rushed to the front and had a lead of
length, which he held to the quarter,
making that mark In BOA This lead
The Abbott had slightly reduced at the
half. which was reached In 1:0lA, and
he was very close second at the three
quarter pole In 1924
The vast crowd realized that worlds
record was about TO be made, and the
grandstand arose to It's feet, while the
multitude which was In the space be-
tween the stand and the track cheered
wildly. Coming down the stretch 1t
was battle royal, with The Abbott
very close up, but Cresceus with his
bull dog grip kept on with nostrils ex
tended. and just managed to beat his
opponent by half length In 2:03A
the worlds trottlng record In a race.
To say that the announcement created
tumultuous applause would family con-
vey the meaning OF the expression.
A little over half an hour had expir-
ed when the two grand horses came out
for their second trial and were started
under the same conditions. They were
sent away beautifully, but The Abbott
had not Travelled hundred yards be-
fore he made disastrous break and be-
fore he could recover his gait Cresceus
WHo III iioht. hS tbDOe, ouCt oeltltui
made q grand effort to overtake his op-
ponent, but the son of Robert McGreg-
or was out for victory and kept on,
passing the quarter in :31A seconds,
the half In 1.02, the three quarters in
1876 and came rushing home the last
quarter in BIZ seconds, doing the mile
in 2:06A with The Abbot back of the
flag.
AS the race was best three in five,
Ketchem consented that Cresceus go
another heat This he did, shortly be-
fore 5 o'clock accompanied by runner
for the first half where he was joined
by another runner and he did the mile
In 2:05, the quarter in :30K, the half
in 1:01h and the three quarters in ! "a.
To the credit Of The Abbot 1t should be
said that, not only was this his first
race of the season, but he has also been
sick and his best mile since his recov-
cry was in the vicinity of 200
The betting before the race was 500
to $50 on Cresceus and 1t was lively,
there being many of the followers of
The Abbot and of his driver, Geers,
who were willing to take the short end.