The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-22
Best Previous Trotting Time Was
2;OI IL, Made by Nancy Hanks
During state Fair in 1898.
LAST QUARTER MADE IN 80 IA
HIGH WIND ON BACK STRETCH WAS
SERIOUS HANDICAP.
Crowd Jeered the Drivers Who Pulled
Their Horses in 2;3O TrOt-Jack
Pointer Makes New Mark.

plauded by nearly 200 people at the State
fair grounds yesterday afternoon when he
completed his exhibition mile and clipped
one quarter of a second off the indianapolis
track record for trotters. Cresceus ne
gotiated the mile in 2:O41., the best previous
trotting record for the Indianapolis track
being 2:O41h, held by Nancy Hanks and
made during the State fair of 1893. 1t had
been advertised that Cresceus would make
an attempt to lower his own record of
202A, but the grand trotter was still too
green to trot a mile as fast as his record.
Horsemen who witnessed the exhibition
stated that the mile was an exceptionally
fast one considering that it was the cham
pion's first attempt against time this sea-
son and the fact that heavy wind blew di-
rectly in the face of the trotter on the
back stretch. 1t Is reckOned that the wind
prevented the horse from doing the mile
from one to two seconds better than the an
nounced time. The track pacing record is
POI. held by Star Pointer.
The spectators waited patiently for the
exhibition of the trotter and a few seemed
TO take an interest in the three races that
had been provided as a I'LL in for the
afternoons programme. Cresceus first
made his appearance on the track shortly
after 2 o'clock with his owner and driver
George II. Ketcham, holding the reins
CresceuS is not a handsome animal but ne
is graceful and commanded great admira-
ton as he was logged up and down the
track for the preliminary warming up. Mr.
Ketcham wore cap of bottle green ana
yellow, his regular cOlOrs, and the million
aire driver was attired in a light suit OF
clothes that appeared as If it had just
come from the tailOr's pressing bench.
Between the heats of the races MI
Ketcham drove Cresceus for a short time
and announced that he would take the word
for the start of the exhibition mile about 4
o'clock 1t was shortly after that hour
when Mr.. Ketcham appeared on the track
driving Cresceus toward the starters stand.
Following was Mike the Tramp. the run
ming mate, driven by Eddie Mitchell. of the
Ketcham stable. The wind was blowing
briskly and the hOrsemen said it was dis
cOuraging for the record trial But Mr..
Ketcham decided 10 make the attempt, and
after scoring once with the running mate
a short distance behind he then came down
the stretch toward the starters stand with
Cresceus taking an easy stride but going
at a good gait. Mr.. ketcham nodded TO
the starter and the word was given.
INSPIRING EXHIBITION.
There was something inspiring about the
exhibition, and the spectators in the stand
rose to their feet. All eyes followed the
champion as he made the turn toward the
first quarter pole. Mike the Tramp was
running well, and at the first quarter the
timers caught the time in :311a. Turning
into the back stretch the noble trotter and
his running mate were side by side, and
they raced along the stretch head and
head. The wind was so strong that the
dust was carried away quickly, and the
spectators obtained a clear view of the
champion as he neared the half-mile pole.
The watches clicked and the half was an
nOunced as having been made in 1:O212, just
a tri1e disappointing, but horsemen said it
was exceptionally fast considering the
heavy wind on the back stretch.
The turn made with the champion
and his running mate still covering the
ground at wonderful speed. They rounded
the far turn and neared the three-quarter
pole and the timers announced the three
quarters in "a. The sorrel trotter, I'M
calmly and far from handsome, when he
first appeared upon the track, appeared to
be a handsome animal he came down the
track under the whip and taking long and
regular strides. Mitchell gave the whip TO
the runner and Mike the Tramp placed his
nose in front of Cresceus. Ketcham spoke
to his champion and the reserve strength OF
the noble animal responded and the pace
was increased. AS the wire was neared the
whip was welded at nearly every stride
and the champion passed under the wire,
having covered the mile in 2:04A. The last
quarter was made In 30A. The crowd
cheered and Mr.. Ketcham drove Cresceus
back in front of the stand and the driver
and horse shared in the applause. Cresceus
did not lower his record, but he trotted the
fastest mile ever made on the Indianapolis
track. The track was in good condition,
the track needed resurfacing, but was we'll
pleased with the time considering it was
Cresceus's first trial this year. Several per-
sons in the stand caught the time from
2:04A TO 2:O6, but the official timers caught
the mile from 2:04 TO 2:0434 the majority of
the watches showing 2:O4A.
DISGRACEFUL PULLING.
1t required the grand exhibition by
Cresceus to place the spectators in good
humor. as the races that preceded the
champions exhibition mile were of very
tame order and the interest spoiled in one
of the events-the 2:30 trot-by the per
sistent pulling in two of the heats by Mart
Wilson, driver Of John Thomas, and DR.
T. H. Sellers, driver of DIR. $. The first
heat of this race was disgraceful and the
crowd, led by crowd OF men from Hen
bricks county, hooted and jeered. The next
heat was even worse, the two drivers men,
toned paying no attention to instructions
given by Starter Blair, who told them prior
TO the start that he would insist on them
driving TO win and would fine any one who
did not follow his instructions. After the
second heat, in which Wilson and Sellers
pulled their horses on the home stretch, the
Judges assessed fines of s. each against
both drivers. The third heat of the race
was but little better, and the crowd Missed
the drivers. The drivers did not care to
mark their horses and kept them under
pull.
second heat won by Jack Pointer furnished
some fairly good sport. Jack Pointer won
both heats and the race, making the first
mile in 2:11A. This gives Jack Pointer a
new mark, his best previous mark being
2:14A.
The third race, BPS pace. was won by
Camper Boy in two straight heats The
second heat furnished a little excitement
as Peter Johnson gave Camper Boy a hard
race for the wire The summary follows:
2:15 Pace purse 500:
Jack Pointer 70. s. ed Fowler .....1 1
Ravenna Wilkes. b. m. C. Maple ...3 2
Dan Wilkes, b. z. (Schuler). ..............2 3
Time-2:11A. 2:l3l.
go Trot; purse 500:
John Thomas, gr. &. (Wilson) ..........2 l l
haywood. b. m. (Chambers) ...........1 3
Dr. s. b. e. Oh. II. Sellers) 2
Altar b. z. (SChicketanZ) ..............4 4
Time-2:29A. 2:29h. 2;2912.
2:25 Pace; purse, 500:
Camper Boy. b. &. (Maple) ...............1 l
Peter Johnson. blk. &. Oh. jones'. .......2 2
Edith c. = m. CIV. Wiliams) .........4 3
Edith V :. m. (Schicketanz) -. ........3 4
Time-2:25l2. 2;24i4.
Special event to beat the track record.
2:041s:
Cresceus oh. $, by Robert McGregor
(Ketcham) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Time, 2:04i4
BY quarters-:sl1k. 1:O215. 1884, 2:Of4.
hETCHAM Is PLEASED.