Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-06
BOBWALTHOUR
VS.. CRESCEUS
TOMORROW
DETAILS or RACE COMPLETE.
AFTER RACE CREScEUS WILL
TROT AN EXHIBITION MILE
AGAINST TIME.

An the details OF the big race Between
CHAMPION Bobby Walthour and Champion
CreSceus have been arranged and the
event promises TO be OF stirring interest
The race will take place tomorrow
NJ Z O'Clock and viii consist OF
three heats OF one mile each for Cresceus,
while Walthour win be required 70 so
mile and a quarter in each heat AFTER the
race between WaltnOur and the great
srotter. Cresceus viii then go against time
with the running horse, Mike the Tramp
10 set the mace. II takes several miles 10
warm Cresceus up 70 his best work ana
Mr.. Ketcham thinks that he viii be very
IT after the WalthOur race 10 go after the
half mile record. though on the Piedmont
track record time Is not considered pos
.sible.
The program which has been mapped out
seems certain to meet with approval The
-Walthour enthusiasts win have the pleas
ure OF seeing their hero try his speed
AGAINST the greatest race horse In the
world and the horsemen win get TO see
Cresceus step one OF his wonderful miles
against a running horse
That Mr.. Ketcham has unlimited faith
IN his great horse and values him above
AL HIS possessions was evidenced by a
remark he made Tuesday. President
marked that he presumed Cresceus was
worth al OF $4,000 Mr. Ketcham replied
that he could step 20 the telephone and
set $4,000 cash for him. IL he wanted It.
The story was told TO Bobby Walthour
and the latter did not seem TO be greatly
impressed BY II. In fact. the middle dis
lance champion values himself in the
neighborhood OF $4,000. WaithOur and
Cresceus have supreme contempt for
each other. Mr.. Ketcham considers his
Cresceus the whole show. He says that
as many as 5000 people have paid admis-
sion TO see the champion step an exhibit
;tion mile. The race between Walthour
and Cresceus. therefore. should be bat
tie royal Waithour says he win put the
bIooded trotter 70 such a test as he has
not been subjected In all his racing career.
For his part Mr.. Ketcham Is DOT dis
turbed and Is ready 20 hold the reins over
his famous trotter this afternoon
STORY or GREAT cREscEUs,
THE KING or TRoTTERs
The fact that George H. Ketcham's
great world heater. Cresceus. viii be
seen In Atlanta tomorrow afternoon at
Piedmont track makes the story OF the
famous trotter's life OF interest
In 1SsI was foaled on the Ketcham
farm. near Todedo. o.. an awkward-look-
ing s0rrel colt whom few guessed would
in few years be the wonder OF the track.
As a yearling the great horse had Sc
we're attack OF epizootfc and was blistered
on the throat In an effort 70 relieve his
suffering the blister was IN some way rub
bed or and the neck was sawed In such
q manner as 20 expose the windpipe. Such
q horrible appearance did Cresceus pre-
cent that he was ordered killed by his
owner.
Only a piece OF oversight saved to the
world its greatest trotter. for the trainer
forgot 10 carry out Mr.. Ketcham's or
ders On the day he was expected 10. and
-
much better that IL was decided to let him
live.
Cresceus was named for a famous Ro-
man horseman and favorfte slave OF Cae-
sar. The proper pronunciation OF the name
IS "Cresh-sfuIs-" AS horseman Cresceus
was without a peer. his horses being I'M
equalled for speed. beauty and fntelli-
gence. The character OF the Roman so
impressed Mr.. Ketcham that he decided
70 name his now famous trotter for him,
and Cresceus has since reflected honor
upon the royal name.
Cresceus is by Robert McGregor and out
OF Mabel. whom Mr.. Ketcham. by a
piece OF good fortune. bought for $50.
Cresceus comes OF long line OF famous
trotters. having a pedigree that makes it
not at all surprising that he has annexed
SO many records and dethroned every
great trotter OF the generation. His pro-
genitors I'm every branch were selected
with scrupulous care. with the production
OF trotting speed as the one end in view.
Cresceus first showed his true racing
quality in 1897 when he defeated eight
other horses at Toledo. Since that time
his record has been a wonderful one.
never before equalled. He has met all
OF the great trotters OF the day and has
been successful against them. In a re-
markable race at Fort Wayne he defeat
ed The Monk on Aug. 10. 1891, and II
was this victory which made horsemen
realize that a new star had appeared.
with wonderful consistency the great
horse has continued his campaign up TO
the present time. AS 4-year-old his
career was creditable, but not so brilliant
as 5-year-old. and IL was not until 1899
that his real career began. when he de-
feated Dare Devil Later he met and de-
feated Tommy Britton and Directum and
finally wrested the crown from The Alb
bott- IL was in 1901 that Cresceus de-
feated The Abbott. breaking all trotting
records.
Breaks the Record.
The news that The Abbott had been