The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1903-09-16
RIRcHTWIG, 2:os.
Half Mile Track-A New Record for
New Mexico.

New Mexico.
hundred denizens of Roswell who al
tended the races at the grounds o
the Roswell Fair Association yestel
day afternoon felt more than repai,
for their time and expenditure, fo
the sport was of a high order Their
were four events as slated, but only
| three materialized The owners O
George Landers preferred to pay tn,
forfeit rather than try conclusion
with Pickpocket in dash of one
| fourth of of a mile.
| The first event was a matched
race of 5-16 of a mile between Bon
ME Bird, sorrel mare owned here
in Roswell, and Clay. roam geldine
| that had been shipped here for the
purpose of taking her measure The
parties at interest selected H. L. Gil
| for starter and A. M. Robertson and
Mr.. Bostick for judges. These two
| agreed upon J. H. Devine as the
third Judge. After the usual vexatious
| delay incidental to all short races
they were sent away to a head and
head start and covered the distance
in exactly thirty seconds, the mare
being the first under the wire
The next was a contest at a trot
between Charlie Wilkes, driven by
T. w. Adams, and King Clay, driven
by G. w. Cozen. 10 determine which
of these two old patriarchs retained
the greater amount of waning vigor
This was a match at half mile heats,
Charlie in straight heats, best time
1926 IL.
two miles of Birchtwig: First, to
beat his own record of 2:1S made at
the fair last year over this track,
and which by the way is the race
record of the territory; Second, to
beat the territorial time record of
2:14A made by the renowned Rob
ert over the Albuquerque track sew
eral years ago. The first mile was
negotiated in PIP 1-2 and in this
the irrascible black gelding was ac-
coutred in hopples and goggles. 1t
beat both records. and would have
been enough to satisfy every one
present, in fact many left under the
impression that no real attempt
would be made to lower that mark.
After cooling him out Mr.. Harris
again brought him out for a tilt at
his time on the first trial. This time
he wore plain harness. At the third
and he went away steady and level.
The first ouarer was reached in 33
seconds, the half mile in LOS, the
three-quarters in 1877 1-2, and the
mile in 2:09 fat. To say that the
audience was enthusiastic when the
announcement of the time was made
but mildly expresses it. 1t is the
first and only mile ever made in
New Mexico below 2:10, and is the
fastest mile that four-f1fths of those
there to witness ever saw. While
over three hundred horses have pac
ed miles in 2:10 or better, less than
a score have been able to do so over
a half mile track. His performance
was in all things regular. The at
tempt was for purse, the judges,
timers and all officials were regular
ly selected, and it is our opinion
that it will stand as the record of
New Mexico for years to come. 1t
shows that Birchtwig is one of the
fastest PAGERS in the United States
and that the Roswell Fair Associa-
ton has one of the best half mile
tracks in America.
To emphasize the greatness of the
performance it need only to be said
that Birchtwig had no wind-break in
front of him and no pace maker at
his wheel to urge him on. He simply
paced on his courage, and as he
executed the last quarter in 81 IL
seconds, a 2:06 gait, 1t shows that
he was not all out Mr.. Harris. his
trainer, and H. L. Gill. his owner,
are to be congratulated.