New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-09
DAN PATCH'S CAREER.
Sensational Record of the Worlds
Fastest Harness Horse.

Dan Patch, 1:5514 the worlds champion PAGER
and the fastest harness horse ever foaled first
attracted the notice of the public in 1902. when
he took a record of 1:5912 which was quarter
of second slower than the mark Of Star
Pointer, who held the pacing crown. The same
wear Dan Patch paced a mile in 1894. at Read
Vile Mass, but the time was not allowed. as
the son Of Joe Patchen started to beat Star
Pointers record and failed. making it a losing
performance.
It was in 1908. however, that Dan Patch began
to do really sensational stunts Starting the
season at the Grand Circuit meeting at Brighton
Beach, in August, be paced a mile in LOB
thereby wrestling the pacing title from Star
Pointer, 1914 which had held it for years.
The mile at Brighton Beach was made under
unfavorable conditions, and it was easy to see
that given q favorable track and day. Dan Patch
would go faster
This proved to be the case for under the
skflful handling Of Myron McHenry the cham
pion kept clipping seconds off the worlds marx
until by the close of the season he had placed
it at 156A, where it looked to be beyond reach
All these records. of course, were made with the
aid of pacemakers and wind shield Dan
Patch's only rival was the veteran Prince Alert
which also developed extreme speed in 1903, and
succeeded in making several miles faster than
the 200 mark. On one occasion, IN tact, Prince
Alert seemed to have the foot of the son OF Joe
Patchen. when the former took record OF I:o'
at the Empire City track, at Yonkers. This per-
fornance too was made with q wind shield.
Prince Alert never lowered this mark.
In 1904 Dan Patch paced mile at Memphis.
on October 90 in 1856, lowering the worlds
record which he held quarter Of q second
The best performance which he made in 1914
without a wind shield was a mile in 2:OOA at
Memphis. -. 600
in 1864 without the of a wind shield lie
paced miles at Lexington, Syracuse and Phlla-
delphia in 1:501a. He also equalled the hall
mile track record of 2:O312, which he himself
held at Allentown, Penn. on September -, put
this triumph was shOTtlived. for on November
81 at Oklahoma City, Dan Patch lowered the
worlds half mile track record to 2O3 nat, Whlch
mark stands at the present time.
Other worlds pacing records which Dan
Patch holds are as follows: Mile. TO high wheel
sulky 2:O4@ made at Macon. Ga on November
80 1903. with wind shield; half mile, o6; made
at Memphis Tenn, on October y, 1903, with
wind shield; two miles, All, made at Macon,
Ca on November 80, 1903 with wind shield;
one mile to wagon. 1874, made at Memphis,
Tenn on October 81, 1903. with wind shield
An the records which Dan Patch holds were.
of course made in trials against time, and In
all of them the stallion was driven by Myron
McFIenry except in the record breaking perform
ance at Lexington last Saturday. when Hersey
was the driver.
lily, which means that he is trotting bred. In
1902 he was purchased by NJ. W. Savage for
$40 600 Mr. Savage who has a large stock
farm at Minneapolis, Mimi, is the present owner
of the horse When 1t is remembered that
Star Pointer when in his prime, was sold for
Of the comparative values of the old and the
new worlds champion. Dan Patch will be sent
against the record several times more before the
present season closes.