The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-03
RICO'S GREAT
SPEED PERFORMANCE
Description of Trotter's Work
Against Time at the Over
land Track.
REPIBLIC

! REPUBLIC SpECIAL
Denver. Colo. August 2.-Porto Rico. a
son OF Electric. who IS in turn son OF
Electioneer. in a trial at the Overland track.
near Denver. on Friday. July 4, trotted a
quarter of a nile in tw~enty-eight and ore
half seconds, the most marvellous accredited
performance OF any trotter that ever lived
He started the exhibition strong and An
ished it just as strongly. going under the
wire without a falter.
The trial vas made as the result OF a bet
between Thomas Stark, the Colorado
Springs millionaire. who owns Porto Rico,
and William Sexton and Charles Roberts.
The discussion was over the possibility Of
a trOttcr being able TO go a quarter In thirty
seconds or less, Mr.. Stark maintaining that
It was possible. while the others ridicuied
the idea. 20 prove that his position was a
good one Mr. Stark offered TO send Porto
Rico to demonstrate it. Then the others
suggested that a fa:r-sized side bet wouli
make the test better. To this the horse
owner agreed. merely STIMULATING that the
test should be during the Overland race
meeting and On a day and at an hour that
he should select These conditions being
agreed to. each side placed 500 in the hands
Of James Ferry. Mr.. Stark then stated
that he would probably make the trial in
one Of the two races at the Overland meet
ing in which Porto Rico was to start against
tnaElCy Mac ana OIner IdSt trOtterS-
The TWO races named were both on bad
days. the weather being off and the track
heavy. The meeting was nearly over be-
fore Nj. Starr Was able to select a tine
that appeared ut all prOpitious. and even
then the conditions were not the best. The
sun had gone behind clouds and there was
a suggestion OF rain in the air. Rather
than appear 20 be backing cut. Mr.. Stark
ordered Perry Johnson. the driver. to bring
out the big horse. After = few starts Mr..
Johnson siSn2led that he was ready. In
the meantime the entries in a hurdle race.
TO be run On the inside track, had been
called to the post. The two events about to
be conducted confused the onIclal timers.
who did not attempt to take the record OF
the %trotter, their duties calling them to
look after the runners.
There were about twenty horsemen on
the main track in front of the judges
stand. each man accustomed to take time
on races and each one well known through
out the country. All went intent on the
trial, and when David Raybould dropued a
flag as q signal that the horse was cross
ing the line every man snapped his watch.
When Porto Rico swung about the turn
at the head Of the stretch. the trial being
made on the last quarter of the mile track,
1t was seen that he vas making at the very
least q most marvellous ATTEMPT to get a
record. His motion was as regular as clock
work. comparing somewhat with that of the
nile champion CTescsus. His head was
steady. showing reserve force ard that he
was going so well within his powers that
finish. e "S
AS he passed the Eighth mile post split
WatcheS were snapped. showing that he had
ondT. a letter than a S0-second gait for the
quarter Here johnson gave him a little
further encouragement and the big tTotter
seemed to Gather renewed for9e. So
strongly did ne reach out that he snapped
the strings holding his elbow boots, causing
those appliances to Gangle about his legs
and Jab him in the sides. Nothing. how
ever. disturbed him or turned his attention
from the matter in hand. He went under
the wire with as true and strong a stride
as he held at any part CT the performance.
When the horsemen looked at their
Watches they We're surprised. for every one
showed the drive had been made in less
than ~ seconds. and half the watches put
II well under - seconds. One watch
caught the time at IS 25 seconds. three at
= a6 seconds, two at % IL and Major J.
j. I. Dubois declares his watch caught g
20. Two were at 20 seconds. These were
the watches of only the best known of the
horsemen present. Brad II. Dubois. broth
er Of the Major. Flank r. LOOMS. the we'll
known driver: J. W. Weaver. a local driv-
er. who has handled the Dubois horses
many years: l. A Reynolds and others
have made af1idavits for Mr.. Stark to prove
that The record was actually made. THIS
was Gone in the absence OF anything from
the official timers. He can get more II
he wishes them. for the performance was
~Nitnessed by several thousand people. all
or whom cheered the stallion to the echo
as he was trotted back TO the stable.
Porto Rico is tandard bred on both sides
of the house. through his dam being traced
back to old Cray Eagle and into the thor
oU2hbreds- He is by Electric, he by Elec-
tioneer. His first dam was Anthem by
Wilkes Boy. his second was Nellie H. by
You=G Jim. his third and fourth were by
Mambrino Patchen and his fifth was
Pickles by Mambrino Chief. He has there
fore a right. by descent, to any speed he
cares to assume. |