Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-26
ALLEN WINTER TAKES FIRST
MONEY IN AMERICAN DERBY
Wins Great Race at Readville, With Prince
c. Second, San Francisco Third, Ralph
Wick Fourth, the Huntsman Fifth
and Peter Balta Sixth Place.

Readvile Mass, Aug. 25.-The we'll
earned victory which NJ. H. Rcardon's
stallion. Allen Winter, from AN In
dianapnii.i stable, won al the Rcadviile
track today III capturing the largest
share Of the $50 900 American trotting
handicap from the field of SO starters,
is believed by the 10000 followers Of
harness racing who saw the contest,
to establish a new era in the history
OF the sport and ensure It's rejuvena-
ton in this country.
The race was novel in its conditions,
which placed the horses at mark; from
one-luarter to three-eights Of 2 nile
behind the usual starting point on a
handicap based on their previous per-
fOrmanceS, and at the conclusion il APP
pearcd To be the general opinion of ali
who saw the two preliminary heats
and the grand final that this system Of
racing will prove acceptable in the
future. It was the first race in which
Allen Winter had trOtted this year, and
Lon Nc Donald, has driver, had sized
up the field in the two preliminary
heats. In the first he watched 16
sorses, placed at marks from 1920 to
1920 feet behind the usual starting line,
sweep once and a quarter round the
track to grand finish with DeIvaldo
i'm the lead. In the second heat, with
his own horse 1870 fet from the wire
and $3.50 feet to travel, he pushed
Allen Winter carefully, but surely, fin
ishing a good third to Prince c., and
the Huntsman, which had started $50
feet respectively ahead of him.
The first heat had been run off at
4 2.OS gait for the mile, but the second
was some seconds slower. Both in
augurated the sport for the afternoon.
Then came the battle for final hon
ors and the money, with 16 well~known
trotters in the field, the fastest being
Sweet Marie, 2.G5.
There had been some trouble in start
ing the first heat, owing to one horse
running away, but in the second the
half dozen officials had learned their
lesson and We're ready for business
when the horses lined up for the final.
Through system Of electric buttons
which ran from each starting Judge,
it was possible for each judge to sig
nal when his own horses We're on the
marks ard facing the right direction
When all the judges We're unanimous,
the bell rang automatically, aud the
field was away
As they turned into the stretch ard
raced under the Wire for the first time,
it booked like long procession, and
Their was very little change in position.
Al this point Kim was leading with Jaw
Kay second and Ralph Wick third.
while close behind came Peter Balta,
Prince g., The Huntsman. Daniel and
Ttasel Going to the quarter pole, Kim
drew out :; tribe Whit" the entire field
still seemed we'll strun" out. At the
three-eightS, tn horses oTan to bunch
up ana there seemed to be four di-
visions with KIM out ahead and Sweet
Marie coming up fast on the outside
of the last bunch. Going by the half
mile pole, Kim was still making the
pace, bug the four lunches had become
two. with several StraSglerS. The pace
to the three quarter pole never slack
cned, the SLOW horses up ahead were
firing fast, and the fast horses behind
were coming up strong. AT the three
quarter Kim was passed by q dozen
horses. and from that point to the
hnISh endurance reached a premium.
The field came around the turn into the
stretch like Roman chariot race, with
three teams abreast and Il horses lined
up for z grand dash Of an eighth Of a
mile TO the wire. At that point it seem
ed anybodys race, but 200 yards from
the finish, Mcdonald shot Allen Winter
out of the bunch and, urging the big
staillon along at the top of his speed
drew away rapidly and won by five
lengths. laughing heartily as he look
ed back over his shoulder at the