The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-24
MILE IN HARNESS IN t:57.
THE PAGER PRINCE ALERT
MAKES A NEW WORLDS RECORD.
Canvas Continuance Used TO Shield the
Horse From wind aFactOr-Jach Curry
In the sulky and the Empire Track
Faster Than Track Ever Was Before.


Harness records have been swept aside
so frequently of late that each new cham
pion scarcely sweeps across the horizon
of fame before a new one appears to dim
the lustre of all that has gone before. 1t
seems almost like yesterday that Dan
Patch, the PAGER. on cold, bleak day at
the Brighton Beach track lowered the then
worlds harness record that had stood Tor
years and put the figures at 80, Yester-
day the crowd at the Empire track saw
these figures wiped out by two seconds
and 1857 go on the records to the credit OF
the PAGER Prince Alert.
The first great factor in the new figures
that will surprise the world wherever the
harness horse has following is the equine
king who has long been recognized as the
coming champion. Last year he reached
the two-minute mark and paced half
mile within three beats of the watch as
fast as the middle half Of his mile yester-
day. The second important factor in the
great mile was a track without doubt faster
than any record breaker ever before
stepped over in a record breaking effort.
Monroe Salisbury took the track in hand
on Tuesday, and work on it was kept up
almost continuously until the horse scored
for the effort that crowned him king Of
harness horses.
The third factor is as yet an unknown
quantity, and what share it should have
of the credit only the future can deter
mine. When the runner came out to make
the pace in front and break the atmos-
pheric resistance he drew cart on which
half circular canvas shield had been built
in front Of the seat, with two apertures for
the driver to reach the reins. This ex-
tended from one shaft to the other and was
higher than tho drivers head, completely
sheterng him. Between the wheels be-
low was another strip Of canvas reaching
nearly TO the ground. 1t was queer
looking contrivance, and caused no end OF
Comment.
Prince Alert was close up to the runner
and the wind shield when the judges started
him on the journey that was destined to
be the fastest ever made by horse in
harness at harness gait. The quarter mile
pole was reached in O:2S1a, and it was easy
to see that j. c. Curry, who was in the
sulky, was saving the horse and keeping
him in hand. Down the backstretch, over
the fastest quarter mile Of the track, the
pace was faster, and here a second runner
joined as prompter.
The half mile pole was passed in 0.5S,
making the time for the second quarter
O:2S1s. 1t was plain that the horse was
still under restraint, and a shout went up.
He'll break the record!' Then the runner
Il. - HI nv,l thn hn~ in
earnest. The three-quarter mile pole was
reached in 1884, making the time for the
third quarter 0:2sh. and for the middle half
o.57, tho fastest half mile ever seen in harness
on any course.
As they swung into the homestretoh,
and the crowd read the figures that meant
a new record, the excitement was at fever
heat. Men shouted and acted like boys
at play The three horses were punched
now, and each driver was shouting words
of encouragement that were taken up and
repeated by the excited spectators. When
above the long distance stand Mart Dema-
rest got the runner over 50 far from the
pole that Prince Alert, kept close to the
shorter route by his driver and the runner
at his head had the wind shield equally
divided. the three having the shape of a
triangle.
As PrindO Alert reached the wire hun
dreds of watches told without waiting for
an official announcement that all former
records had gone by the board, not by
fractions Of a second. but by two full
seconds, and the scene was stirring one
before the judges hung out 1857 Enthusi-
astc friends carried Curry from the sulky
and lifted him into the judges stand, where
he made brief acknowledgment Of the
honor and enthusiasm bestowed upon him
Then Mart Demarest the regular trainer
of the horse, was called before the de-
lighted crowd, and last Of all came Jane s
Hanley of Providence, owner of the horse.