Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-03
Simon Kenton Surprises The Talent
Wins Pacing leroy by Length-The Eel Reached Third
Place-Detrot Continues Winning Gat-Leaders all
Beaten in National League.

Readville, Mass, Sept. 2.-Simon
Kenton fairly dropped from the clouds
today and won the American pacing
Derby at the grand circuit meeting at
Readville, as up to the time he passed
the winning post nobody had consider
ed him as worth thought, the favor
lite being Asa Wilkes, with The Eel a
strong second choice in the betting.
Twelve thousand persons were out to
enjoy the double bill offered for the
classic Massachusetts stake had it's
fourteenth renewal decided beside the
Derby race. The weather was perfect
but the condition of the track was bad
for fast time the rain of yesterday
having left it very heavy, particularly
next to the pole.
All Eyes on The Eel.
The thirty-seven starters in the
Derby were at the post ten minutes
before getting away to a perfect start.
All eyes were centered on the Canadian
wonder. The Eel, the scratch horse.
While fully as good as to 1 could be
secured that he would not win. yet his
reputation and disadvantage of having
to overcome all of the big field placed
in front of him made him the popular
favorite with the general public. Asa
Wilkes on the 200 mark, had been
doped the best proposition by the tall
ent to bring home the money, his price
being to 1 and back to 8 to l before
the start
McEwen soon had The Eel at top
speed and before reaching the first
quarter the gray stallion had passed
about fifteen of the field and was step
ping whirlwind clip clear on the out
side of the track to avoid the horde O.,
horses in front that were filing the
course from the pole to way beyond
the middle of the track.
Crash at Head of the Stretch.
1t was when just turning into the
stretch that an accident occurred that
for an instant caused McEwen to take
his horse back to avoid going down in
the crash Major Strong, in making a
wild break, struck the sulky Of Simon
throwing out Driver King and knock
ing Baron Whips against the fence.
DirI Led at the Half.
At the half the position of the lead
ers was Dirl two open lengths to the
good; Dillon Queen second, and then
Outcast, Frank S.. Charley King. Gent
ly, Chester A, and Bard Allerton. Asa
Wilkes was fourteenth horse and Thu
Eel the nineteenth.
Dirl held command clear to the mile
ami one eighth, when the closing of the
the track made it impossible to tell
which of the number forged slightly
ahead of him. In the lower turn Asa
Wilkes raced into sixth position, the
crowd beginning to yell that he would
win. This appeared likely to the long
distance post, when he was raced into
submission.
Simon kenton BUSHES Into the Lead.
In the foremost rank was Bard Al
lerton, Cecilian King. Oakland Son
Frank s, Gently and Charley King
half way down the home stretch. The
Eel was still rapidly creeping past
horse after horse Sixty yards from
the wire and Simon Kenton rushed in
the lead, The Eel in the final fifteen
yards passing five horses and the last
struggle was on for the big end of the
$4,000 purse. but Simon Kenton was
not to be denied. winning by a length
the same distance between Bard Aller-
ton and The Eel for second and third
places.
Driver King Badly Injured.
1t was found that in the collision
Driver Dan King was thrown
from behind Simon he was severely in