The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07

The two greatest classics of the light
harness world. the Merchants and Man
ufacturers' and the Chamber of Com
merce stakes, have passed into turf his
tory.
What a wondrous uplift has the light
harness horse experienced turing the
twenty-one years that the frst-named
stake has existed! From the time the
gray gelding Hendryx. who won the
stake in 1859 in straight heats. the time
being 2ISN. 2:l9ls. and 2:2OIs. TO Dude
Archdale. who won IL last Wednesday.
also in straight heats. in 2:O9s4. 2.JS94.
and 2:0Si4, is FAR cry. There were four
teen starters in the event OF twenty-one
years ago. and only ten in the event OF
last Wednesday. Among those who were
behind first money twenty-one years ago
were the now prominent sires Alcryon
and Greenlander; and among mares the
then peerless daughter of Guy Wilkes.
PISA, Henrietta, 2:O9h.
A different kind Of a race for the honor
and purse took place the following year.
1890 It took seven heats to decide the
issue, and when the smoke OF battle had
lifted from the old Hamtramck track, on
the eastern outskirts Of Detroit. there
was none 20 gainsay that the gallant son
Of Mambrino Patchin Walter E, had not
proven himself worthy of his royal line
age. Suisun and Play Boy were the prin-
cipal contenders against Walter f.. the
first-named a daughter Of Electioneer.
Play Boy won the first heat in 2:1Sll, the
fastest Of the race: Albert E. won the
second heat in 2:lSk; Susun the next
two in Pisa and Up; Walter Z the fifth
and seventh in 2:2O and 2:231z and Play
Boy the sixth in 2:23
Twenty-one years ago the old Ham,
tramck track was one Of the slowest mile
tracks in the world, and when. later on,
it was abandoned for commercial rea-
sons. for the magnificent plant tSat had
been erected at Crosse Point, on the
shores Of the beautiful Lake st. Clair. 4
decided improvement in speed and class
was noticeable.
q. j
was the year Of Prodigal. 2:lG. now owned
by Senator J. W Bailey. OF Texas. and
the Inflated Temple Bar. 2:l7 who was
soon 70 be declared an outlaw upon all
National Association tracks. as well as
his owner. the latter declaring his limo
cence as he died a tragic death IN The
first heat of this event Prodgal won in
2:17is; then Sale set Temple Bar 10 going
and captured the race his fastest time
being 2lI9s. II was Temple Bars great
est day, for he defeated. in addition TO
Prodgal, such good trotters as Honest
George. 2:12; Ryland T., 2:O7ss; Prince NJ.
and BismOnt.
The black mare Nightingale. daughter
Of Osgood Patcbin. carried of the honors
in 1892 in straight heats from a field OF
twelve. her best time being 2l7lk In
1898 silva. a daughter OF Guy Wilkes.
2:i5i4, won in straight heats. The bike
sulky was now in use and a notaD:e re-
duction in time was made. The time of
each heat was 2:14ik. 2.i3%. and 2:1615. In
1894 sixteen horses faced the starter, ami
again the stake was won in straight
heats, this time by an Eastern horse. ana
by a horse that none but few dreamed
would be in the hunt. NJ B.. driven to
victory by a former Washingtonian, Rob-
ert Brawley.
The first heat was in 2;162&. the second
in PISA, and the third in 2:l5l5. Clay
more, by King Clay, was second. and
Rex Americas, sire Of Thomas Doldge's
Jubilanta. 2:l6l4. was third. Sally Sim
mons, the dam Of Hamburg Belle was
fifth in the summary, and subsequently
trotted 10 a lower record than j. NJ. D..
and is now ranked as among the very
greatest producers Of extreme speed.
In 1895 thirteen met for the final issue.
The Corporal, after standing in the
summary. 4. II, s. came TO life. and won
the race in 2:13lk, 2:lHz. and 2:152 The
Corporars victory was not won without
a contest, for Don. L. won the first and
second heats in 2:l5 and 2:13lz. and Iron
Bar, by Temple Bar. got the third heat
in 2:l32t. The Corporal lived to be the
sire Of The Little Corporal. that now
holds several ldbg-distance records. In
1885, with twelve starters in the field. the
fast mare Emma Ofut. by Gambetta
Wilkes, captured the stakes in three
straight heats. her time in each being
213. 2,i39i and 2:l21k, with Bay Star sec
ond. In 1897 a field of seventeen faced
the starter. and the conflict ragged for
six heats. Oratorio, by Wilkes Boy. won
the first heat in 2:1s. when the Abbot.
who had ranked fifteenth ia the hrst.
showed his nose in front and trotted to
a mark Of 2ll1z. the fastest time of the
race.
In the third. Red Star flashed suddenly
out of the big bunch and trotted a heat
IN 2:12lz. In the fourth. Foote made a
gallant try with the great mare Rilma.
and she reeled Off three miles in 2:13. 2:15.
and 2:l49l and won the race. On that
day the star Of the daughter of King
Wilkes rose high. and she did not pause
in her conQuering career until she at
tanned the low record Of 2:07A The ABB
bot subsequently marched to a worlds
record Of 2:o3& for geldings. In the Con-
ISOLATION purse that followed few DAYS
later. Mosul. 200 Ia. the giant son OF Vir-
ginla Maid. now the property Of z. F.
Hail. OF this city marched to a record
Of 2:194, Octavia winning the race.
The year 1898 was the year that Di-
rectum Kelly. meteorlike, flashed across
the turf horizon and earned a mark Of
2:l1l4. When he finally retired his record
was 2:OSl4. and in turf history he is rated
as being the best son of Drectum Cd,
2o5h The year 1899 was Royal Baron
year. who, being absolutely last in a field
Of thirteen in the first and second heats.
NJ L.,