The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-01-01
A FAMOUS RACE.
Passing Of Old kite-shaped Track Re-
calls Celebrated Meeting Of
Hal Pointer and Direct.

The passing of the old kite shaped
race track out on the Hampshire pike
and Its conversion into residence pro
perty, Of which was made
/ in Mondays Herald. recalls the fac.
that few years ago this property was
one OF the most famous race courses
IN the United States and Is memoir
able as being the scene or probably the
greatest horse race that ever took place
in Tennessee, tine meeting between
the celebrated PAGERS. Hal Pointer and
Direct, which took place back in the
early 90's. Pointer, the pride of the
state. and especially of Maury county,
having bean born ano raised here.
was the champion PAGER OF the world.
He paced mp and down the Grand
Circuit, without a defeat, ana seem
ingly invIncible. Finally, the little
black PAGER, Direct, came from Call
fornla and was matched against him.
the race took place somewhere MP
North. and 10 the surprise Of the
world, great Pointer was defeated. His
owner claimed that he was out of
condition, that the track was bad, and
some even claimed that he was
drugged. These claims were taken up
and the cry went up from all parts OF
the void for another race. The owner
of Direct. confident OF his horses
agreed to It, The owner
Of Pointer. fully as confident. ana
thirstlng for revenge, was more than |
anxious for it. The meeting was ar
ranged, and the kite shaped track at |
Columbia was selected for the scene
Of the great struggle, and hither the
followers of the race course from every
section of the country journeyed. They
came by the thousands. from tine
North, East. South and West. ALI
Middle Tennessee was here, and ii Is
said that hardly q home IN Maury
,ounty was open the day of the race.
Everybody, men, women and children,
lad come to Columbia to see the
county . pride regain TIC pacing cham
1Ionship OF the world. And they were
confident ne would 90 it. Thousands
lpon thousands OF dollars were bet on
he result. Many Maury conntians
vet nearly everything they had, and it
vas all ON Pointer. Finally, the hour
or the race came. and one of the
,reatest crowds that ever witnessed q
lorse race in the South was here to see
t. Excitement was intense and the
asst crowd helm Its breath as the hig
tennessee gelding and his little placK
opponent passed under the wire side
y side in one of the grandest struggles
the turf. The story OF that great
ace is too well relnem bered to need
epeatlng, though it has been ten years
Ince 1t was run. When the first half
7as completed the two horses were !
ide by side. Down the three guar
3rs they flew the same way, going
wifter than the vino. while from the I
and bleachers there went
ut roar after roar of wild shouting,
'hich sounded like the beating Of I
;orm waves upon the distant Shore
was magnificent race, lit for the
DDS to witness. Z
Three quarters had nearly been paced
nd still there was no change. Both \
Drses were running beautifully, the
IL gelding going in a majestic stride,
,werlng above his opponent. and little
lrect looking as il he was lying fiat {
pom the eartn, right at his nose. !;
when turning into the \
)me stretch, the little black horse {
ON tho West was seen to shoot out IN ?
ont. Geers, the silent, was {
en- to wave his whip IN the AIR {
i'd then it began to play hack and I
nth upon the back of the great ,
ointer. The noDlo gelding responded ,
it'll squirt. but all in vain. The {
ack PAGER from California was in !
ont and could not he oyertaken, and y
. wire was but couple of hundred 1
Irds away. And thus the great race
ded, the idol OF Tennessee going
lder two full lengths in the rear,
id Direct went to his stable with the
cling championship of the world
amned upon his BACK. That day ~
aury county went troke Men and
omen cried like children, and
/ lmpenetrable gloom spread over
,nnessee from carter to Shelby, 81
hen the news from Columbia was
ad. A claim was made by some that th
inter was ''doped, and that the Cl
sck was packed against him, but pe
was given little or no credence. The n
ct was, sad, indeed, but atilI the fe
Ut, that the great son of Hal had lei
;rly met hts match on his own native ri
9Th IN the game little flyer from the la
ast. A few days ago, at the ripe old OF
Q of II years, this great Tennessee III
Ger died at his home at Village wi
run, near Buffalo, N. Y. He was liz
Q Of the greatest pacing horses the en-
nntry has ever produced.