The San Francisco call., 1910-07-24

with solcitous care, Longfelow was handed over to
his jockey, who rode him brskv to the starting point,
the half mile post The betting blazed up again, with
odds of to against Longfellow, the southerners
their hopes blazing high eagerly urging some reluc-
tant adversaries to be game.
From the standpoint of the north Longfellow was
indeed, formidable sight His movements easy,
and swift, and his very freedom from nervousness
in itself Apart from the fact that he
singularly beautiful animal, of brownish
of his hind feet his temper singularly docile
and even Also, the events of later day showed
he to prove that he possessed power of hero
ISM His action was more methodical than that OF
his rival, and he out for the half mile post with
a long, swinging stride, power written in his every
line.
Harry Bassett was reddish bay, of exceptionally
deep chest and powerful quarters. He showed more
nervousness than Longfellow and had inherited
rather sulky disposition from his grandsre, Boston,
asset which, as the event showed, he would have
been better off without
THE GREAT RACE
Two races had preceded watched by the crowd
with perfunctory interest and light betting and it
nearly 5 O'clock when the great thorough
breds crossed the starting line at the drop of the
flag, with Harry Bassett two lengths in the lead.
Watched through field glasses and with straining
eyes, the chunky figure of the little mulatto Sample,
clad ina soed yellow jacket and s faded red cap,
could be seen sitting easily and Enthusiastically keep
refused to be good till he had come neck and neck
with his rival Then he responded to the BIT and set
tied down steadily to his work, and, try he would,
Harry Bassett could not shake him off
Rowe riding with loose rein and from time
to time he urged Bassett They made the first quar-
ter in 1874 seconds, though yoked together as
far the three-quarers pole, then thundered down
the home stretch with their heads together and the
knees. of the two jockeys almost rubbing Harry
Bassett was inside, having the pole before the
start. There little to choose between them,
except that Bassett seemed to put energy into
his movements with no greater results than was at
tanned by Longfellow on the powerful, easy stride
that always distinguished him. They loomed upon the
the dminuve riders crouchng low, the still
holding back and the other in while plying his
whip They few by the stand still even, having made
the half mile IN 81 II seconds.
Harry Bassett took his second advantage at the
turn where he held lead of half length. The sons
of Dixie cenched their hands and held their breath
then they laughed, for they knew the reason and
understood that presently Longellow would to
his own. Before the three-quarers pole was reached
he had done Again they even again
little Sample forcedNto hold in the impatient racer
with might and main The time to the three quarters
pole 118N, and still they seemed to gather
mentum they
Together down the backstretch they whrled with
abounding strength and action that subtly prom
ised more of something held in Longfel-
low moved easily that he seemed to skim the har-
rowed track but the impact of his feet shook the
earth when the twin thunderbot passed the half mile
POLE and in the beat of pulse had left it behind,
still neck and neck. The time then was la for the
full mile.
Little by little the cheering was dying down A
| silence fell the big crowd eloquent than
cheers. Every eye was now on Longfellow, and more
than less confident bettor trying strength
en- his position by dint of few wagers on the other
sde which lie found it exceeding hard to pass even
at disastrous odds.
There was no slackening in the pace Indeed sit
seemed if the bow merely drawing tighter and
tighter to release, one gasped to think with what
force the home stretch 1t for that that they
waited with bated breath. 1t seemed to be for
that that the slight breeze had paused that
the blazed hotter that great stiffness. They
made the threequarters pole Still even their and
quarter mile complete in 2:1oA. Then once more
they shot down the home stretch
One great sigh of deep drawn delight swept over
the multitude. Sample was not holding in so fercey
a now, and Rowe crouching low Harry Bas-
setts neck alternately pleading in his and fog
ging him the sury streak and to
the surface.
: And then-then-accompanied by screech from
the multitude, it They nearing the finish
: of the mile and half Suddenly leaning forward
' slightly, Sample gave Longfellow his head
1t if the big horse had felt electric thrill
He gathered himself into ball, he gave snort
he shook his mighty head if to make that it
free, and then he few. Except for their thunder
: the heavy hoofs hardly seemed to touch the earth
: He skinned past Bassett like swallow, full length
: in the lead, the mile and half done in 2:3734
The north scowled the south, after the first ebui-
ton of excitement spent itself in cheers till
cracked, compacently settled down await the issue