The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-16
DAN PATcHEcRfAT
RACE AGAINST TIME
- AZ
Story of the Pacjng Stations
Wonderful Work at Read
vile.

Everything about Dan Patch, the great
pacing stallion, is now Of special inter
est, since it has been determined that
he shall go against the worlds record at
the coming Minnesota state fair, and
the following story of the way in which he
made his wonderful race on Sept %, 1902,
and secured the position of the fastest
horse in the world, is one of the best
things ever written about race track
event:
1t was in midafternoon, at the Read
vile, Mass, track. when, MeHenry
brought the brown champion onto the
track for his exhibition. An hour be-
fore Dan Patch had paced mile in 2:10
with the greatest east. At 3:45 o'clock
the wind had died down considerably but
the day was far from approaching the
condition of that memorable one five
years ago.
The crowd watched the horse warm up
with cynical eyes.
Its a good 2 to that he can't do
two minutes today" remarked a promi-
nent horseman in the stand. Others
nearby nodded approval.
Mcfienry moved his charge up the
stretch half a dozen times, the horse
moving his clean limbs like machinery.
Finally he turned and spoke to Starter
Walker
':AH ready, now. Mr.. Walker" he
said, as he turned in the stretch
Head in air. Dan Patch logged down
far below the distance pole. Suddenly
he swung around and headed for the
wire. The runner was beside him and
then began rush for the wire.
Starter Walker leaned out from the
stand to send him off. eBut the PAGER was
tiptoeing and McHehrg shook his head
vigorously. f.
He amt fit" remarked the railbirds
McHenry logged him back for a second
trial. This time he squared away like
an arrow for the wire9 Never skip and
never falter. MeHenRy's white capped
mead nodded an assent as the PAGER neared
ed the wire. ,yse
Go, yelled the startsr. and by the time
the e word reached the Dan Patch's
The runner kept wen in the rear so that
the brown horse could hear the iron hoof-
beats behind to spur him on. Carefully
M a took him around that crucial
first turn. Once arouadaand the quarter
pole pole the first indication Ap of the mile
A thousand watches clicked to make
quarter" shouted the timers. This
was slow. Too slow for a record mile,
thought the crowd. But the brown horse
WA, was tearing IN up the E., back stretch in his
Fifty mine and three quarters" called
the timers.
A half groan broke from the crowd He
hadn't had touched Star, Pointers time yet.
Walker. Il don't think he'll do it, This
was slower than his record half at the
last meeting.
From the, half mile post home came the
struggle. A half well below a minute
was needed to beat the record Faster
and faster went the Patch horses white
booted boots as he started ION his last.
half mile. Faster rushed the long iimbett
runner beside him, no longer keeping
in the rear McHenry knew he must
pace a faster half mile than ever yet the
Patch horse was forced to go. =
s Across the field the crowd could. see
McfIezfy begin to urge his horse He
called ITO the runner to auicieat tn pace
hts 1aHg body sank nearer the ground and
his long stride became even longer than
ever. carefully MefIerfry made the long
{ turn to- the three quarter pole.
Three-quarters In 1.294. There was a
quarter IN :291s. forernnner of at least
close approach to the record
The stands then woke up to the fact
that the record was in danger, and that
the brown figure Just turning the stretch
had the worlds record within his grasp.
Up rose the thousands and sent raIlying
cry down the stretch, 9the first sign of
encouragement the. gallant champion had
received
MeHenry heard it and knew what it
meant He drew his whip to make one
last effort, the rush down the home
stretch
With whip and voice he hogan his drive.
If he could equal the last, quarter the
bling head of the horse came around the
head of the stretch, WcHenry yelled to
the runner to make the last effort. Like
a whirlwind down the dusty stretch,