The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-18
lCRESCEUS TROTTED
WONDERFUL RACE
Greatest Feat Ever Performed
by Horse in Kansas.
TROTTED TWO MILE IN 4:21
Other Races Were More Than
Interesting.

The three to four thousand people who
attended the races at the fair grounds
yesterday saw the most wonderful feat
ever performed by a horse on the soil OF
Kansas; this home of the champion
harness horses. They saw the mighty
Cresceus trot two miles in four minutes
and twenty-one seconds.
Cresceus went to beat the worlds record
Of four minutes and seventeen seconds
for two miles which he holds, but while
the track was in fairly good condition
the raw cold wind blew strongly down
1.-THE home stretch and the great horse
FAILED 10 lower his record although max
Ing a wonderful race.
When ketcham drove the great horse on
the track he was given an ovation. The
big Automobile and the running horse thai
1were to set the pace were brought out
: and bets were freely offered that Cres-
ceas could not lower his record against
the strong wind and the condition of the
track.
When the word was given Cresceus
passed under the wire nearly a length
ahead of the running horse and nearly
even with the automobile They went
round the first half at a good gait but
everybody saw that Ketcham was saving
the great horse and was not pushing
him. Watches were held over the grounds
and when the game horse turned into
the home stretch with mighty stride
that was as regular as clockwork. peo-
pie in the grand stand began to yell that
he was going to beat his record. He
passed under the wire, making the first
mile in 2:10. when n. mighty cheer sent
him on the second mile.
The way he went up the back stretch
and to the three-quarter pole On the
second mile people who were holding
watches thought he was going TO make
the second mile in about 2:O5 and beat the
worlds record. but just before turning
into the home stretch an attempt was
made to run the automobile ahead to
break the strong WIND Ketcham yelled
twice to get out of the way and Cres-
cefIs shot under the wire. making the
second mile in two minutes and eleven
SECONDS.
There was intense excitement, many
people thinking that the world champion
had beaten his record The time how
lever, was announced 4:21. When the
great horse was led back down the track
past the grand stand, Ketcham was
walking behind the sulky Men rose in
their seals and yelled and the ladies
clapped their hands. 1t was a well
earned ovation that was given TO the
great horse ard his owner Mr.. Ketcham
removed his cap and bowed his ack-
nowledgement and followed the horse TO
the barn.
When Cresceus was led back past the
grand stand his nostrils were widely ex-
: tended but he did not seem fatisued. He
turned his head toward the grand stand
as if TO take in that triumphant shout
that he had heard many times before
President Irwin followed Cresceus to his
stall and said while the swipes were rub
bling him down he showed no indications
of his great race but seemed to be ready
for his supper.
- When Mr.. Irwin came back and had the
announcement made to the people that
Mr.. hetcham was still Of the belief ;hat
Cresceus could lower his record on the
Wichita track and that he would make
another trial next Monday and that the
people who witnesses this trial could get
q check at the gate that would admit
them free on Monday. there was another
great cheer.
1t was soon the talk about the track
that Mr.. Ketcham was not satisfied with
the test and claimed that the automobile
had caused him to lose two or three
seconds. The people were satisfied with