The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-07
MILE IN HARNESS IN I.57
The PAGER Prince Alert Makes .
New Worlds Record.
Canvas Continuance Used to Shield tn.
Horse From Wind G FIctor-Unexpect-
ed Feat on tho Empire City Tack.


have been sct aside 50 frequently OF
lat" that each now champion scarcely
sweeps across tao horizon of 1anic
before q new ono appears to dim tho
iuStr2 of Ill that mas gone before. It
seems almost like yesterday that Dan
Patch. the PAGER, Oil a cold. bleak day
ut the Brighton Beach track lowered
The then worlds harness record that
had stood for years and put the figures
at 1.a9. A few days ago the crowd at
tho Empire track saw these figures
wiped out by TWO seconds. and 1.57
20 on the records TO the credit of the
PAGER Prince Alert.
The first great factor i'll the now
figures that will surprise tic world
wherever the harness horse has Il FOL.
lowing is that the equine king has
long been recognized as the coming
champion. Last year he. reached the
twc-minutc mark and paced Edlf
mile within three beats of the watch
rs fast as the middle half of his
record breaking mile. The second i'm
portant factor in the great mile was Il
track without doubt faster than any Il
record breaker ever before stepped
over in 4 rccoru-brcaking effort. Mon
roe Salisbury took The track in hand,
and work on It was kept up almost con-
tinuously until the horse scored for
the effort thai crowned him king of
harness horses.
The third factor is as yet an nn-
known quantity, and what share it
should have of the credit only the fu-
turc can determine. When the runner
came out to make the pace in front
and break the atmospheric resistance
he drew q cart OH which half circular
canvas shield lad been built in front
of the seat, with two apertures for the
driver to reach the reins. This cX-
tended from ono shaft to the other and
was higher than the drivers head.
completely sheltering him. Between
the wheels below was another strip
Of canvas reaching nearly to the
ground. 1t was Il queer-looking con-
trlvance and caused no end of com,
ment.
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 a horse in harness at a har
ness gait. The quarter mile pole was
reached in 0.29k, and it was easy to
see that J. c. Curry, who was in the
Sulky, was saving the horse and keep
ing him in hand. Down the back
stretch, over the fastest quarter mile
of the track, the pace was faster. and
here q second runner joined as
prompter.
The half mile pole was passed III
0.5S, making the time for the second
quarter 0.2slG. 1t was plain that the
horse was still under restraint. and
shout went up. He'll break the rec
ordw Then the runner closed in on
him and the race began in earnest.
The three-quartcr mile pole was
reached in 1867. making the time for
the third quarter 0.2819. and for the
middle half 057, the fastest half mile
ever seen in harness on any course.
AS they swung into the homestretch.
and the crowd read the figures that
meant q new record. the excitement
was at fever heat. Men shouted and
acted like boys ut play. The three
horses were punched now, and each
driver was shouting words of encour-
agemcnt that were taken up and re-
peated by the excited spectators. When
above the long distance stand Mart
Demarest got the runner over SO 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 triangle.
AS Prince Alert reached the wire
hundreds of watches told without wait
ing 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 I stirring one before the judges
hung ont 1.5T. Enthusiastic 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 Demarcst, the regu-
lar trainer Of the horse. was called
before the delighted crowd, and last of
all came James Hanley. of Providence,
owner Of the horse.