THE STORY OF A GREAT HORSE By JOHN MCCARTNEY - ^s9 CRESCEUS, 2? GIFT OF Professor E* 8. Babcock \ THE STORY OF A GREAT HORSE CRESCEUS, THE STORY OF A GREAT HORSE CRESCEUvS, By JOHN MCCARTNEY WitH CHapter on tHe Training p/ Crescetis By George H . KetcHam INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA THE HOLLENBECK PRESS NINETEEN HUNDRED TWO CyM3 COPYRIGHT 1902 JOHN MCCARTNEY *. • *! .••••• -v£i«rs$ ffaHJ morning, ':when he was found to be so much better tnat* It 'was* (decided to give him another chance for life. He soon developed into a strong, husky, but far from attractive looking colt. The colt received the ordinary care usually accorded youngsters on a stock farm, and was broken in his yearling form, and his development began. In casting about for a name for the colt, Mr. Geo. H. Ketcham, the owner and proprietor of Ketcham Farm, decided to call the colt "Cresceus." It is pro- nounced "Cresh-shus," and was the name borne by a famous Roman horseman and favorite slave of Caesar. The picture of the ancient chariot races of Rome is familiar to all students of ancient history. One of the central figures of the cloud of dust-covered, on- coming, wild-looking horses and drivers is a magnifi- cent specimen of humanity, driving the wild-eyed, 2 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 racy looking and beautiful horse, which is just in a plunging attitude, as though about to leap and clear chariot and driver over all contestants in the race, the magnificent animal being already a neck in the lead. From an ancient print of those wonderful days at Rome, Mr. Ketcham discovered the jockey above de- scribed to have been a leading jockey, and famous as a chariot driver. As a horseman this man Cresceus was without a peer, his horses being unequaled in speed, beauty and intelligence. Cresceus, so the story goes, was not only a wonder- ful horseman, but a great charioteer, a dashing, hand- some, brave and daring fellow. The character so impressed Mr. Ketcham that he decided to re-inhabit the earth with the name at least, and so one day, with much pomp, and before an even half dozen horsemen friends, he drove the party out to the farm, where the now world's famous trotter, then a two-year-old, was exhibited, and afterwards christened "Cresceus," a bottle of rare old wine being used in the ceremony. It was thus that the future champion got his name, and right royally has he honored the name of the old Roman horseman. CHAPTER JOHN L. HERVEY ("VOLUNTEER") THE ANCESTRY OF CRESCEUS MR. KETCHAM was led to buy Mabel, the dam of Cresceus, through seeing Nightin- gale, as a four-year-old, step a mile in 2 127, which was then considered a very wonderful perform- ance. Shortly after seeing this fast young mare per- form, Mr. James Dority, owner of Mabel, died, and his horses were sold at public auction in Toledo, in 1892. Mr. Ketcham expected to pay at least $1,500 for the mare, but, through a misunderstanding, he was for- tunate enough to secure her at a much lower figure. The competing bidder was Dr. J. V. Newton, of Toledo, who, with his partner, Mr. Rundall, of Genoa, Ohio, was bidding jointly for the mare ; through some confusion on their part, one thinking the other was doing the bidding, and neither seeing Mr. Ketcham CR.ESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 nod to the auctioneer, the mare was knocked down to him for $250, each believing the bid was for their account ; but the bid was Mr. Ketcham's and he secured the mare at that figure. Mabel was sent to Mr. Ketcham's farm, and she was bred to a son of Baron Wilkes. Shortly after secur- ing Mabel, Mr. Ketcham purchased grand old Robert McGregor, and the following year Mabel was bred to him ; Cresceus was the resulting foal. "Volunteer," a well-known student of the breeding and development of the American trotter, has prepared the following analysis of the blood lines of Cresceus. Perhaps the first thing that will strike the attention of the student of breeding is the fact that Cresceus, in the male line, represents the Hambletonian Star cross, of which Directum, 2 105!, whom he has de- throned, was also an exemplar. Perhaps no "nick" was ever so popular as this one in its day. Later strong criticism was leveled against it, especially by Mr. Wallace. In recent writings he remarks that while Hambletonian got his best trotters — Dexter, 2:17^, and Nettie, 2:18 — from Star mares, he got no such great sires as George Wilkes, Electioneer, Happy Medium, etc., from them. "In the instance of Dicta- tor and Aberdeen there was a reasonable measure of success," are his words, but all the others, and there are many of them, proved comparative failures. There is a lesson taught here that any one can in- terpret. Perhaps on the score of prolificacy this is 5 A GREAT HORSE correct, but extreme speed seems, to-day, still as char- acteristic of the cross as ever, not only as exemplified by Cresceus himself, but by Direct, 2 105 J, who has the double Hambletonian-Star cross and was the sensa- tional speed sire of 1900. True, Robert McGregor, Cresceus's sire, is not an exponent of the immediate combination of the two strains, but he is from a Star mare and by a grandson of Hambletonian. Cresceus's top line thus goes to neither of the two prominent families of the day, George Wilkes nor Electioneer. But it does go to Alexander's Abdallah, really, the present writer be- lieves, the greatest progenitor of the Hambletonian family, whose blood is so potent and so persistent that neither the ."slings and arrows of outrageous for- tune," which carried him off in his youth, nor the sub- sequent vagaries of fashion, have been able to neu- tralize its influence, and never have its wonderful qualities been so apparent as at this moment, with Cres- ceus signalizing one male channel ; the extraordinary Nutwood family another, and Altamont — one of the leading 2:10 sires — another, while Georgena, 2 107^ ; Lord Derby, 2 :o6J, and many others of the best recent performers, show close female and collateral crosses. Major Edsall, 2 129, the grandsire of Cresceus, was not the best of Alexander's Abdallah's sons. In him- self he was not to be compared with Almont, Belmont, nor Wood's Hambletonian. So far as the bare records go he also ranks below Thorndale or Jim Monroe. CR.ESCEUS, 2:02 »/4 But he was a good trotter for his day ; a good individ • ual as well ; a sturdy, hardy, and long-lived, much- enduring horse. His temper was bad, and what this cost him may be conjectured; but it certainly cost him popularity, prestige, all but the poorest opportunities, and during the greater part of his life subjected him to all manner of vicissitude and abuse. Yet he fought through twenty-seven stormy years and died at last in a burning stable. Major Edsall's dam is given in the books as by Har- ris's Hambletonian, almost surely nothing but con- jecture. She was gray and came from Vermont and was a famous road mare, and that is all that is known about her. It was the late F. J. Nodine, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who brought her with her mate from the Green Mountain state, and in their day they were a noted metropolitan road team. Conversely, Katy Darling, the dam of Alexander's Abdallah, has no official pedi- gree, but so far as acceptable evidence is concerned, there is much more tending to show that she was by a son of Andrew Jackson, and out of a mare by a son of Biggert's Sir Henry, than that Edsall's dam was by Harris's Hambletonian ; and the tabulation includes this version, which the late George W. Nelson brought forward after long research in 1885. The Stars as a family were small, but Nancy Whitman, Robert Mc- Gregor's dam, was of fine size, and a very elegant mare physically. Mr. R. I. Lee, who bought Robert McGregor of his A GREAT HORSE breeder, Samuel Whitman, of Chester, Orange county, N. Y., when an unbroken two-year-old, for $800, has said that Robert looked very much like her. He, and Cresceus as well, were dowered with the Star family color, chestnut. Still Nancy herself was a bright bay. Her dam, Nance, was by Durland's Young Messenger Duroc, son of Duroc, the famous race horse. The ped- igree is given as it stands in the Trotting Register, but it is more than doubtful if he was by Stockholm's American Star, or if his dam was Sally Slouch, by Henry, the celebrated son of Sir Archy, out of a mare by Imp. Messenger, and it is also doubtful if Stock- holm's Star was Duroc. If the accepted version is cor- rect, however, Nancy Whitman was very strongly in- bred, as her dam's sire was by a grandson of Duroc, whose dam was by a son of Imp. Messenger. So much in the abstract of the paternal part of Cresceus 's blood inheritance. His dam, Mabel, is by Mambrino How- ard, a horse otherwise slightly known to fame and concerning whom but few facts seem discernible. He was a brown horse, foaled 1858, and a son of Mam- brino Chief. His dam was a "very fine black mare'' called Belle, by a pacing horse called Scrugg's Davy Crockett, bred by J. Bagby, near Covington, Kenton county, Kentucky, and out of a mare "called thorough- bred." Nothing is known of Scrugg's Davy Crockett, except that he was a pacing horse brought from Clin- tonville, Bourbon county, Kentucky, by Volney Scruggs, but his name and gait make the inference CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 immediate that he was a member of the numerous and contemporary Davy Crockett pacing tribe. It is more than possible, it is probable, that the un- identified Davy Crockett that got the dam of North Star Mambrino, 2. :26J, by Mambrino Chief, and foaled but two years later than Mambrino Howard, was the same horse. The name of the breeder of Mambrino Howard is not preserved. The Register says, "bred in Kentucky," passed to K. C. Barker, Detroit, Mich- igan, then to General R. L. Howard, Buffalo, N. Y. It is possible Mr. Barker bred him, as he bought his dam "before the war" and he was foaled in 1885, so the chances are that he bred him or else that his dam was carrying him when purchased by Mr. Barker. He was first called simply Mambrino, and there is no doubt but that he was one of the fastest colts of his day, as he won a race at Detroit, June n, 1862, for four- year-olds, in which he trotted the fourth heat in 2 146^, and no four-year-old had at that time trotted in 2 130, the record being 2 130^, held by Ericsson, also owned by Mr. Barker. Eleven years after Mambrino How- ard was foaled, his dam Belle was bred to Ericsson, and in 1870 she foaled at Lexington, where both were kept, the noted black horse Doble, one of the most sen- sational Kentucky colts of his day, who in 1870 broke the two-year-old record by trotting in 2 140! at Lexing- ton. He ultimately took a record of 2 :28 at five years and died at the age of twelve. It is perhaps a similar coincidence that Doble, like his half-brother, never got A GREAT HORSE a 2 130 trotter, while his daughters have produced seven, one, Belle Price, being the dam of four 2 130 stallions that are all 2 130 sires. Mambrino Howard must have passed from Mr. Bar- ker to Gen. Howard, both now dead, at a comparatively early age, as he was standing in New York state as early as 1871, in which he got the dam of Archie Sher- man, 2 :29J, but he was taken to Kentucky soon after, as he certainly made the seasons of 1876, 1877 and 1878 there, and in those seasons got the dams of all but two of the ten performers that are out of mares by him. That he was either owned or managed, or both, at that time by the late B. J. Treacy is also certain. Mambrino Howard was never stood by General Howard as anything but a roadster stallion, the Gen- eral not having seriously begun the breeding of trot- ters until in the fall of 1879, when he bought of Mr. Treacy the afterwards well-known sire, Wilkie Collins. Any later trace of Mambrino Howard I am unable to find ; as before said he never got a 2 130 performer, but his daughters have produced ten, the fastest, aside from those out of Mabel, the dam of Cresceus, 2 :o2j, and Nightingale, 2:ioJ, being Walter King, 2:i6J. At Lexington, Kentucky, November 13, 1897, tne late Dr. Herr and Mr. Treacy held a joint sale. The latter sold forty-three head, of which there were five weanlings and two yearlings by Howard's Mambrino (as he was then called). There were also several head sold by the lamented Allie West, 2:25, who had died 10 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 y4 three years before ; among them was a chestnut filly, one of his last foals, two years old, and in foal to Mambrino Howard. She was called Contention and was bought for $260 by James Dority, of Toledo, Ohio, and the next spring (1880) she foaled a solid black filly, Mabel, the dam of Cresceus. Mabel is first found in Vol. 9 of the Trotting Register, where she is described (p. 458) as a "black mare foaled 1880, by Mambrino Howard 3656; dam Contention by Allie West 745, bred by Darnaby and Treacy, Lexington, Ky., passed to Charles M. Rowe, Erie, Michigan." In Vol. n, p. 586, she is brought forward with the rec- ord, "passed to Tames Dority, Toledo, Ohio, April i, 1885, then to George H. Ketcham, October 20, 1891." But there is some error here, or else Mr. Dority had leased Mabel before he bought her in 1885, for in 1883 he had bred her probably "on shares" with C. L. Osgood, of Samaria, Michigan, to the latter's stallion, Patchen, and she had foaled her first produce, the fa- mous black mare Nightingale, 2:io|-, in 1884. Nightingale is recorded in Vol. 10, p. 540, as bred by Messrs. Dority & Osgood (the latter address given as Erie instead of Samaria), "passed to James Dority, then to James Dority and C. M. Rowe, then to estate of James Dority." The horses belonging to the Dority estate were sold in the combination sale held by New- ton & Rundall at Toledo, Ohio, October 20, 1891, when Mabel was purchased by Mr. Ketcham for $250. Nightingale and several others of her produce were H A GREAT HORSE also sold at the same time, as well as another of the foals of Contention, Mabel's dam. This was Flight, a bay mare by Osgood's Patchen, foaled in 1885, between which date and that of the sale Contention must have been sold or died, probably the latter. Flight was a pacer and took a record of 2 134^ at that gait in 1890. Aside from her and Mabel the record of Contention's foals is wanting. Nightingale (1884) by Osgood's Patchen, was Mabel's first foal ; she was a great race mare, winner of both the M. & M. and Charter Oak $10,000 stakes in 1892, besides many other races. Her best record was 2:10^ in 1893, but she beat 2:10 more than once. Darkness, also by Osgood's Patchen, was foaled in 1887. In 1888 came Sadie Hasson (Corinne), by Newton's Allie Wilkes, and she trotted to a record of 2 :26J in 1894. Miss Mary, by Bay View, was foaled in 1891, and took a record of 2 124^, pacing, in 1897. Cresceus came in 1894, and between that year and her death, in 1899, Mabel also produced several other foals by Robert McGregor. The Trotting Register's version of the pedigree of Mabel stops with her dam, Contention, the daughter of Allie West, but Contention was sold by Barney Treacy as being out of a mare by Victor, son of Downing's Bay Messenger, grandam by Cru- sader, thoroughbred son of Sir Archy. This extension is in all likelihood correct. Contention was bred in partnership by Mr. Treacy and Frank Darnaby, and 12 CRESCEUS, 2 ; O 2 V4 Victor was bred in the Darnaby family, while the dates make the Crusader cross fully allowable. Examining this branch of the pedigree we pause first at Allie West. He doubles back to the blood of Alexander's Abdallah. He was by Almont, whose dam was by Mambrino Chief, and his own dam was another Mambrino Chief mare ; so Cresceus's dam gets three direct Mambrino Chief crosses. Another salient feature is the double cross to Downing's Bay Messen- ger, who got both the grandam of Victor and Allie West, crossed on whose daughter, Allie West produced Contention. As Almont's dam was by Pilot, Jr., Cres- ceus also gets a strain of that wonderful blood. So much for the blood in the abstract of Cresceus. Of the horses, his ancestors, volumes have been written. Here, then, but little may be said in review. He is by Robert McGregor, 2:17^, one of the -greatest racing stallions of his day and one of the greatest sires of all times, so far as we may at present judge. He comes in the male line from Hambletonian, the "great fountain head," and through Alexander's Abdallah, who, if judged by the shortness of his career, and the fortuitous circumstances attending it, was probably Hambletonian's best son. I have before emphasized the value of his blood and will here quote the verdict of one of the most im- partial trotting essayists concerning him, which was that, "for all the purposes of the trotting sire, for the production of speed in his immediate get, for getting A GREAT HORSE campaigners of courage and staying capacity, and for breeding on generation to generation, improving uni- formly from decade to decade, no horse that ever lived has equaled Abdallah 15. As a progenitor he is not only without a superior, but when his opportuni- ties and early death are considered, he is absolutely without a peer." These are strong words, and they were written almost a dozen years ago, but they are even stronger and truer now than then. As previously remarked, Major Edsall, Robert Mc- Gregor's sire, was not the best son of Alexander's Abdallah ; that title is so evenly disputed by Almont and Belmont as to rightfully belong as much to one as the other. Cresceus's maternal strain to Almont is through Allie West, who broke the four-year-old record in his day, and whose death at the early age of six years robbed his family of perhaps the most extra- ordinary member it ever produced, and Kentucky of as great a sire possibly as was ever foaled in the blue grass. Cresceus's maternal top line is to Mambrino Chief, and while Alix, 2 :o3f , would seem to assert the contrary, it may safely be said that Mambrino's blood is stronger as a female than a male element. Cresceus gets it through a son and two daughters ; Mambrino Howard, the son, may be considered the weak point in the genealogy, but the extreme merit of his daughter Mabel affords almost equalizing effect. Davy Crockett briugs in a close pacing strain. Of Victor, whom we reach with the third dam, it is inter- 14 CRESCE.US, 2 : O 2 »/4 esting to find in Vol. II, of the Register, that his breeder, Thomas Darnaby, of Fayette county, Ken- tucky, sold him to go to Ohio in the '5o's for $2,000 — "said to be the largest price then ever paid for a trot- ting stallion in Kentucky." Victor's sire, Downing's Bay Messenger, played an important part in the foun- dation breeding in the blue grass. He got Jim Porter, saddle record, 2 128 J, in 1860, and many of the famous early Kentucky trotting brood mares, including Little Nora, dam of Clark Chief ; Bacchante, third dam of the noted sires, Egmont, Meander, and Nugget; Helen Mar, fourth dam of the famous Allerton, 2 109^, the fifth dam of Ralph Wilkes, 2 :o6| ; Rilma 2 :oo4, etc., etc. Victor's dam was by Hunt's Brown Highlander, of whom the Register, Vol. II, says : "Probably no horse did more in his "day (from 1831 onward) than he to improve the harness horses of Kentucky." He was by St. Patrick Highlander, son of Imp. Brown High- lander, his dam by Rockingham, grandam by Imp. Messenger. Peculiarly enough, Downing's Bay Mes- senger was by Harpinus (grandson of Messenger), dam "of Messenger and Rockingham blood ;" and when he got Victor from a Hunt's Highlander mare there was a close inbreeding of these strains, which with the double individual Bay Messenger cross, gives a most interesting twist to the inheritance. Crusader the sire of Cresceus's fourth dam, was the thoroughbred son of Sir Archy and Lottery by Imp. A GREAT HORSE Bedford. He was an own brother to Kosciusko and Saxe Weimar ; Kosciusko's son Woodford got the cel- ebrated Woodbine, dam of Woodford Mambrino, 2:21^, and Wedgewood, 2:19, and Sally Woodford, dam of Brignolia, 2 1293. Phil, fourth dam of Ralph Wilkes, 2 :o6J, was by Woodford out of a mare by Downing's Bay Messenger, making the same combina- tion at the root of his pedigree and Cresceus's. Patron, 2:14^, Prodigal, 2:16, Ponce DeLeon, 2:13, and Pa- tronage, sire of Alix, 2 :o3f , all have double Kosciusko crosses. Saxe Weimar also occurs in some of the great- est trotting pedigrees. He sired Nance, the grandam of the renowned brood mare Dolly, dam of Director, 2:17 (sire of Directum, 2:05^, whose record Cresceus has displaced), Thorndale, 2:22^, and the greatest living sire, Onward, 2 125 J. His son, Boner's Saxe Weimar, got the grandam of Hamlin's Almont, Jr., 2 126, and his noted brother Fieldmont, and Allie Gaines, all remarkable sires. The fourth dam of Bouncer, 2 109, the four-year-old Transylvania, winner of 1895, was also by Boner's Saxe Weimar. Viewing Cresceus's pedigree from another light, that of the modern theory that speed comes only from demonstration speed, it is eminently satisfactory. His sire is Robert McGregor, 2:17^, the "monarch of the home-stretch;" his grandsire, Major Edsall, 2:29; his great-grandsire, Alexander's Abdallah, 2 140, who trotted quarters in 36 seconds at Woodburn in stud condition; his great-great-grandsire, Hambletonian, 16 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 who trotted a three-year-old trial in 2 148 J in 1852, when the world's record was 2 128. Hambletonian's dam, the Charles Kent mare, was .the fastest known produce of Imp. Bellfounder, and trotted under saddle in 2 141 when four years old, in 1837. Katy Darling, dam of Alexander's Abdallah, could beat 2 140 before she broke her ankle and was bred, and won scrub races afterwards. The dam of Ma- jor Edsall was, says the veteran Orange county breeder, Harrison Mills, "the gamest and best roadster I ever drove, which is saying a great deal," and, earlier in life, made one of the crack pole teams of the metrop- olis. American Star could trot in 2^10, although a confirmed cripple, and when 2 140 was considered extra fast. Nancy Whitman's speed was never developed ; she was bred when six years old, but was always consid- ered one of the best of the Star mares before her pro- duce vouched for her. On the maternal side, Mabel, Cresceus's dam, was bred as a three-year-old and never trained. But her sire, Mambrino Howard, 2 :46J, was a fast colt trotter. His sire, Mambrino Chief, trotted in 2 133 and had 2 120 speed, and was out of the Eldridge mare, who was a famously good roadster, as was Belle, Mambrino Howard's dam, Contention ; Cresceus's grandam was wholly un- developed and foaled his dam when but three years old. But she was by Allie West, 2 125, a champion colt trotter, son of Almont, 2 139!, at four years, who A GREAT HORSE frequently trotted quarters at a 2 120 gait after retire- ment to the stud. Almont's dam was the undeveloped Sally Anderson, by Mambrino Chief, and he was her only foal, but his grandam, Kate, had great speed at both the trot and pace. Pilot, Jr., her sire, could trot fast, and his sire, old Canadian Pilot, was a fast pacer. Of Victor notice is given above. If the question "where does the trot come from ?" be asked of Cres- ceus, his pedigree leaves no uncertainty about the answer. He trots because he was born and bred to, and has been schooled to, and the great majority of his ancestors for generations before him, have, for half a century, often longer. His progenitors in every branch were selected and bred with scrupulous care, with the production of trotting speed as the one end in view. To-day Cresceus is their vindication. Robert McGregor, the sire of Cresceus, died of the infirmities of old age on the morning of November 1 1 , 1898, while Mabel, the dam of the champion, died October 14, 1898. CHAPTER III THE CHAMPION'S COLTHOOD DAYS THERE was nothing particularly startling or sensational about Cresceus as a yearling. In fact it is very doubtful if any person con- nected with Ketcham Farm at that time realized that the colt would develop into a champion. After his recovery from the attack of epizootic, that came so near ending his career, Cresceus began to grow, and he was soon one of the healthiest colts on the farm. Along with a number of other colts he was broken, and began to receive his first lessons as a trotter. Tim Murnen, who gave him his first schooling, says that, like all colts, he was quite awkward, and it was several weeks before he began to show signs of learn- ing how to trot. The blood of his long line of trotting ancestors, however, had given him as a legacy the 19 A GREAT HORSE trotting instinct, and when once the sorrel colt learned what was expected of him he quickly learned to trot. At this early age he showed much of the courage and determination which have been his most distin- guishing traits during his career upon the turf. There is a straightaway sandy track at Ketcham Farm, and it is doubtful if there is a more suitable place for the development of trotters in the entire country than this soft, springy, sand road, over which Cresceus received his early lessons. There was no "hurry up" methods used in training the colt ; he was given many long, slow jogs over this sandy track, and his muscles were hardened and developed, without being strained or injured. Cresceus was admirably broken as a yearling, and to this fact can no doubt be attributed the splendid deportment and good manners of the present champion. Naturally a colt with a "good head," Cres- ceus was early taught that his trainers were his friends, and while he was made to understand that his train- ers were his masters, he also learned that discipline and kindness went hand in hand. Cresceus was worked the winter he was coming two years old ; was driven quite a little on the snow, and the youngster suc- ceeded in beating the best of the Toledo horses, among them being the old-time pacing race horse, Charley Ford, 2:12^. In these brushes on the snow path, Mr. Ketcham learned that the youngster possessed extreme speed, and supreme courage. These facts determined 20 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 him to carefully train and develop the colt, in the hope that he might in time become a fast trotter. When spring opened the colt was kept going on the straightaway sand track at the farm, and his speed was so pronounced that it was decided to start him in a couple of races as a two-year-old. He made two starts in 1896: at Circleville, Ohio, where Clausby won, beat- ing Cresceus, Viola, J. W. C., Ethel Burns and Baron Belt ; time 2 137^, 2 136^ ; and also at Vienna, Michi- gan, where Cresceus won, beating a field of fifteen youngsters. These two races were both for two-year- olds ; in each race Cresceus showed that he was evi- dently a colt of pretty high class, and Mr. Ketcham was fully convinced that when the youngster was fully matured and developed he would prove a race horse. He was returned to the farm, carefully wintered, and given an opportunity to grow and mature. During the winter he was worked steadily on the snow, and he won many a brush on the Toledo snow path. He showed such great bursts of speed on the snow that Toledo horsemen began to talk of "Ketcham's sorrel colt" and wondered how fast he could trot. During that winter Cresceus succeeded in taking the measure of many of the best horses in the city, and he soon got the reputa- tion of being invincible on the snow. While Cresceus could at that time trot fast, he did not show the won- derful brush of speed that was one of his leading traits later on. Early in June, 1897, Cresceus was started in a race 21 A GREAT HORSE for three-year-old trotters over the half-mile track at Toledo, and won, beating eight other horses. Up to this time Cresceus had not shown any great amount of racing quality, and Mr. Ketcham was hardly pre- pared to claim that the colt would prove a race horse. The annual summer meeting of the Tiffin Driving Club, in 1897, was announced, and Cresceus was en- tered in the 2 145 class trot for a purse of $350. This race was his first start as a three-year-old and practi- cally the beginning of his turf career. This race was trotted on July 7, and the horses entered were Cresceus, Unique, Billy Patterson, Patti G., Senator L., Keen Bill, and Lillie H. Cresceus seemed to learn the rac- ing game very quickly, and Mr. Ketcham found that the colt scored well, came to his speed rapidly, and appeared to know just what was required of him. The race was simply an educational one, however, and was won by Unique in straight heats ; time, 2 127^, 2 129! and 2 :2O-} , Cresceus made a nice showing, and was third to the winner. Two days later, on July 9, Cres- ceus started again in the 3-minute trot for a purse of $300, against Matt B., Deck Miller, and Dawley Temple. The race was won in straight heats by Matt B., in 2 1263, 2 126}, and 2 1275, Cresceus winning sec- ond money. Feeling confident, after the performance of Cresceus in these two races, that the colt had a great deal of speed, Ketcham began to work him with the sole idea of so conditioning him as to carry his clip for the entire mile, and during that year (he was 22 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 V* then a three-year-old) he was worked heats of a mile and a half, but was never driven faster than a 2. 130 clip, with one exception, and that was when he was being" prepared for his race at Columbus, Ohio. He was then worked one mile in 2. 120, but it took his life almost to go that well. From Tiffin Cresceus was shipped to Springfield, Ohio, where, on July 13, in the 3-minute trot, he met Minnie McGregor, Marie D., Maynard J., Walter A. and S. B. This was one of the strongest and fast- est fields of horses the colt had ever come in contact with, and it created some surprise when Cresceus trotted second each heat to Minnie McGregor in 2 123^, 2 :22|, 2 :26f . The colt was close up each heat and acted as if he was an old and seasoned campaigner, capable of trotting" as fast or faster than the winner, Minnie McGregor, a very good and game race mare. A half hour later on the same afternoon Cresceus was started in the 2 129 trot against Senator L., Emily D., Bessie K. and Roman. He won the race very handily in straight heats, trotting in 2:29^, 2:26^, 2:25^. His performance on that July afternoon over the Springfield half-mile track at once stamped him a most splendid piece of racing machinery and created a great deal of comment, both favorable and unfavor- able, among racing men. Both of these races were apparently no detriment to the colt, as he was as fresh at the close of the last race as he was when the first race began. 23 A GREAT HORSE Two days later, on July 15, the horsemen at Spring- field were treated to another surprise, when it was an- nounced that Ketcham had decided to start the great three-year-old in the 2 133 trot. Minnie McGregor won the event in straight heats in 2:214, 2 123^, 2:23, but Cresceus was close up in second position each heat, and it was the opinion of the spectators that he could have beaten the mare if it had been thought advisable to allow him to step faster. All things considered, the three races trotted by Cresceus over the half-mile track at Springfield within the space of three days must always take rank as being among the most remarkable performances of the champion. These races proved his courage and staying powers, and Ketcham was more than ever convinced that Cresceus would prove a sensational race horse. After these three races it began to dawn upon the followers of the trotting turf that in the son of Robert McGregor Mr. Ketcham had a coming champion, and the fame of the sorrel colt began to spread. Cresceus won his second race as a three-year-old at Circleville, Ohio, the following week, and once more demonstrated his high class as a race horse. He start- ed in the 2 145 class for three-year-olds and met the following good field of young trotters : Senator L., Ethel Burns, Jack Miller, J. W. C. and J. S. C. He won with ease in straight heats in 2:21^, 2:22^, 2:2if. Senator L. was the contending horse in each heat, and while he was close up each time, Cresceus had little 24 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 trouble in winning. He once more showed in this race that he was a perfect race horse, and his gait, wonder- ful endurance and speed made him one of the leading attractions of the meeting. The field of colts that he beat at Circleville was among the best that had been seen on any half-mile track that year, and his victory was an extremely creditable one. CHAPTER IV SCOTT HUDSON AT COLUMBUS AND FT. WAYNE THE real test of Cresceus's ability as a race horse came at Columbus, Ohio, the following week, after his great race at Circleville, and grandly did the great young horse earn the right to take his place among the "Grand Circuiters." It was his first appearance in the "big ring," and while the fame of his performances on the half-mile tracks had to some extent preceded him, but few of the regular followers of the Grand Circuit paid much attention to the rather plain-looking sorrel colt which scored down for the word in the 2 120 trot. Luxon had won a sensational race at Detroit just a few weeks before, and had shown such extreme speed that he was thought to have the race at his mercy. Pat Watson, the Pennsylvania trotter, had shown him- 26 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 self to be a good race horse, and the giant trotter, Eagle Flannagan, and the western gelding, Shadeland Nor ward, had both demonstrated their racing ability. The wise brigade selected Luxon to win, and the money was poured in on him until a small fortune was wagered on the race. It was not figured that Cresceus would cut any figure in the race, but the gallant young- ster proved to be one of the chief factors in the splendid contest. The field was a large one, and consisted of Cresceus, Pat Watson, Eagle Flannagan, Shadeland Norward, Kittie L., Replete, Agnes Morrell, Edmonia, Whisper, Charley G., Osben, Gunsaulus, Luxon, Altoona, Bour- bon Riggs, Snow Ball and Scraps. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the big unwieldy field away in the first heat, but after several attempts the starter gave them the word, and they were off. Pat Watson got away in front, and he remained in the lead until the home-stretch was reached. Shadeland Norward and Cresceus were close up in the order named all the way, and they were right beside him when he reached home. Garvey began to urge Pat Watson along, and Mr. Ketcham was seen to be calling on the sorrel colt. "Look at that colt of Ketcham's step," yelled a man in the betting shed, and the crowd in the grand stand sprang to their feet and cheered. The colt challenged the big bay stallion as they headed home, and the stirring finish set the crowd wild with delight. The finish was a grueling one, and Garvey barely succeeded 27 A GREAT HORSE: in landing" Pat Watson under the wire a winner, in so close a finish that the audience thought it was a dead heat. The fractional time of the mile was 132^, I 107^, 1:414, 2:134. The second heat was fully as exciting as the first, and Cresceus made Pat Watson go the fastest heat of the race to win. They went to the half in i 107, and Pat Watson was stepping almost to his limit as they went by the half-mile pole. Ketcham ranged Cresceus up alongside Watson as they rounded the back turn, and the race was a startlingly sensational one through the stretch to the wire. The crowd once more cheered as they watched the splendid finish, and went wild when Pat Watson won the second heat by a scant nose in 2:12^. Eagle Flannagan and Kittie L. were just be- hind the leaders in third and fourth positions. The fractional time was 133, 1:07, 1:40, 2:12^. Cresceus was the real hero of the race at the close of the second heat, and the regulars were wondering at the extreme speed shown by the great three-year-old. Pat Watson won the third heat and the race, and led throughout the mile, with Eagle Flannagan close up in second po- sition, Cresceus finishing third, and the balance of the field strung- out like the tail of a kite in 2:14. The high class shown by Cresceus in this race made him one of the most talked-of horses at the Columbus meet- ing, and hundreds of people congratulated Mr. Ketcham on the fine showing made by the colt. Sensational as was Cresceus's performance at Colum- 28 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 bus, he fairly eclipsed it at Ft. Wayne, Ind., the fol- lowing week, and at one bound earned world-wide fame and placed a world's record to his credit. At Ft. Wayne the trotting world realized that a new star had appeared in the trotting firmament, and the chest- nut son of Robert McGregor showed that he was made of championship material. In one of the hardest fought eight-heat races ever seen on a trotting track in the United States Cresceus proved himself to be one of the grandest and truest trotting race horses of the year. It was in the 2:17 trot on August 10, and thirteen really high-class trotters scored down for the word. The talent had selected the Village Farm geld- ing, The Monk, as the winner, and he was in good demand with the smart set in the speculative quarters at good odds over the field, bringing $50, against $40 for the field. Cresceus was not figured on by the bet- tors to any great extent, and while his great race at Columbus the week previous had shown something of his form, he was not rated as having class enough to defeat the following great field of trotters: Eagle Flannagan, The Monk, Shadeland Norward, Major Fwing, Black Raven, Harry C, Curta, Espy Boy, Mackey, Whisper, Tuna and Katrina Belle. These horses represented the best in their class, and it would prove an interesting study to follow the career of them all, as they nearly all afterward became famous as race horses. This race proved to be one of the most re- markable trotting contests on record. It extended over 29 A GREAT HORSE two days and eight heats, and Cresceus won the last three heats in 2:12^, 2:nJ, 2:iiJ. His eighth heat, in 2 :n j, was the fastest ever trotted, while the seventh was but half a second away from the best on record, and he equaled the world's record for a three-year-old colt, but his performance was in a way far superior to the best previous record for a three-year-old in a race. Eagle Flannagan won the first heat in a particularly creditable manner, literally snatching it away from Curta and Espy Boy in 2:15^ in a very close finish. The Monk finished just behind the flag and Cresceus back in seventh position. Shadeland Norward won the second heat in 2:13^, with Cresceus so close up in second position that he looked like the winner as they passed under the wire. Eagle Flannagan was away back in the rut in tenth position, and The Monk again last. The race began to look like a peculiar proposition, and there was a hurrying to and fro of the followers of the Village Farm gelding. Scott Hudson was very industrious with Eagle Flannagan in the third, and won the heat in 2:12^; Cresceus was again safe in second position at the finish, but The Monk appeared to have more speed in this heat, and his backers began to feel easier when Geers finished up in the front tier in fifth position. Geers was out for business in the fourth heat; he sent The Monk to the front, and won the heat in a hard drive through the stretch with Cresceus, Shade- 30 CR.ESCEUS, 2 : O 2 land Norward and Eagle Flannagan, but Cresceus was right there at the finish and was very cleverly landed in second position. The Monk won the fifth heat in much the same man- ner, but Eagle Flannagan finished second, and Cresceus trailed the field home in tenth position. Darkness then came on, and the race was postponed until the next day. The Monk's winning in the fourth and fifth heats renewed the hopes of his followers, and when darkness fell over the track the betting was two to one on The Monk. The regular turf followers were guessing the next day, and while they felt almost certain that The Monk would finish up the race by winning the next heat, some of them went about with a doubtful air, and the speculators were a trifle wary in making investments. But The Monk found a new champion in the field when they scored down for the sixth heat, and Cresceus succeeded in convincing the audience that he was one of the really great trotters. The next three heats proved to be the most sensational performance ever seen on the turf. Cresceus was full of trot ; Mr. Ketcham had only to allow him to have his head, and, like a conquering hero, he swept all before him. Cres- ceus took the lead, going away in the sixth heat, with Eagle Flannagan close up all the way to the home- stretch, where Flannagan made a break and Cresceus stepped home in 2:12^. Geers raced the flying son of Robert McGregor all the way with The Monk in the seventh heat, but a steam engine would not have 31 A GREAT HORSE headed Cresceus that day, and he came steady and strong through the stretch and won the heat in 2:nJ. It was a wonderful mile, and the four thousand specta- tors cheered the grand three-year-old to the echo as he came jogging back by the stand. It was nothing but Cresceus throughout the mile in the eighth and closing heat. He won quite easily in 2 :iij, and was crowned the winner of the hardest fought eight-heat trotting race ever seen on the turf. At the close of the great race Cresceus and his driver were given a most mag- nificent ovation, and the delighted spectators cheered lustily when it dawned upon them that they had just witnessed a record-breaking performance, such as had never before been seen on any race track in the world. The time of the heats was as follows: 2:15^, 2:13^, 2 :i2j, 2 :i2j, 2 :i2j, 2 :i2:}, 2 :i i J, 2 :i ij. The average time for the race was 2:12^. It was a great race, grandly won by a grand colt ; old circuit followers gazed at him in wonder, and pronounced him the great- est three-year-old trotter that had yet appeared. FRANK HEROIC CRESCEUS INVADES THE EAST CRESCEUS made a long trip across the country from Indiana to Syracuse, N. Y., where at Kirk Park he trotted an extremely good race on August 1 8. The half-mile track at Kirk Park is not a particularly fast one, and a rain which had fallen two hours before the race was called did not put it in the best of condition, but it was hard and solid. On the strength of his great race at Ft. Wayne the week before, Cresceus was, of course, made a top- heavy favorite in the betting, and he did not disappoint his admirers. He won the event, which was a 2:22 class for trotters, in straight heats, and simply played with the field in each heat. The time was 2:i8J, 2 119^, 2:17^. The third heat, in 2 117^, was the fastest third heat ever trotted by a three-year-old over Kirk 33 A GREAT HORSE Park track, and the fastest mile ever trotted by a three- year-old on a half-mile track in a race, and the colt was roundly cheered at the conclusion of the race. Cresceus made his next start at Readville, Mass., on August 28 in the 2:20 trot for a purse of $1,000. In this race he simply played with a fast field of veteran trotters like Mediumwood, Edmonia, Charley G., All Day, Emily, Palm Leaf and others. It was a strong- field, but Cresceus was fully equal to the task cut out for him, and he won the event in straight heats in 2 : 14 J, 2 : 1 1 J, 2 : 1 1 J. He equaled his Ft. Wayne record of 2:n| in the third heat, and showed that he was fully up to the form shown out in Hoosier land. The coming champion then journeyed to Fleet wood Park, New York, where, in the three-year-old trot, on September 7, he met the Village Farm filly, American Belle, the sensational Thorn, the fast Fanny Foley, Timbrel and Honor Bright. Cresceus simply walked away with the race in straight heats, though American Belle was close up each heat. It was rather an easy race, however, for Cresceus, and he reeled off the three heats in 2:14, 2:15!, 2:18^. A few days after his ap- pearance at Fleetwood Cresceus unfortunately threw out a curb, and it was found necessary to lay him up during the next two weeks. On September 21, at Portland, Me., he met defeat at the hands of American Belle. Cresceus won the first heat in 2:12, and was then beaten by American Belle in 2 112}, 2 114^ and 2 :i6, being so badly disabled 34 CRESCEVS, 2:02 on account of the curb that he was unable to extend himself, although his splendid courage enabled him to struggle gamely through the race and finish second. Thus closed the champion's first campaign over the mile tracks, and he returned to his winter quarters at Ketcham Farm the most admired three-year-old trotter ever seen on the turf. He met and defeated some of the best fields of aged trotters of the year, and his victories were always clean cut and decisive. Whenever a three-year-old starts in a field of aged horses he starts heavily handicapped, but Cresceus was equal to the task laid out for him, and not until he met with an accident did the gallant three-year-old lower his colors. It would be very creditable for a three- year-old to trot against time in 2:nJ, but when in a hotly contested race, lasting through two days, one trots the eighth heat of a race in 2 :nj, it shows most wonderful stamina and speed. No performance by a three-year-old can compare with that great, long drawn out eight-heat race at Ft. Wayne ; even the three-year-old performance of Di- rectum is cast in the shade, although the time was the same. Cresceus closed the season the undisputed three-year- old champion racing stallion of the day. He proved himself to be the greatest three-year-old trotter of either sex, and had the world's eight-heat-race record to his credit. There had been three-year-old trotters of wonderful high class before Cresceus appeared, but 35 A GREAT HORSE none approached the son of Robert McGregor in game- ness, extreme speed and racing ability. It is such ac- complishments as these that win the admiration of the civilized world for the American trotter, and it is ex- tremely doubtful if any horse has ever lived which has such a monumental testimonial to his stamina, courage and endurance. Week in and week out, from July un- til late in September, Cresceus battled against the best horses in the land, and throughout the entire season he never weakened or showed a disposition to shirk any of the duties imposed upon him. He started in twelve races during the season o'f 1897, won six of them and closed the season with a record of 2 :nj. C H APTE.R VI JACK CURRV THE CAMPAIGN OF 1898 THE campaign of Cresceus during the season of 1898, as a four-year-old, while a very cred- itable one, was not so brilliant or successful as the all-conquering one made by him as a three-year- old. After he was beaten by American Belle, at Port- land, Me., late in September of 1897, ne was shipped home to the farm. He was jogged all winter, and while he did not go lame, just before he was put into active training it was noticed that he was still troubled with the curb which he threw out the fall before. A prominent veterinary was called in, and after a thorough examination it was decided to fire the ailing leg. It was cross-fired thoroughly, and without laying him up an hour, he was placed in active training on the mile track at Columbus, Ohio. Cresceus made a heavy stud 37 A GREAT HORSE season at the farm before being taken to Columbus, which seemed to have a rather bad effect upon him, and he did not appear to take so kindly to the heavy work of training as he did the season before. The weather was extremely warm at Columbus that spring and summer, particularly at night, and this appeared to have a very wearing effect upon him, and it was found almost impossible to keep him in the proper physical condition. He lost flesh steadily, and it was with many misgivings that Ketcham entered him at the Highland Park meeting early in July. Cresceus made his first start of the season of 1898 at the meeting at Highland Park, Detroit, on July 13. It was in the 2:12 class trot for a purse of $5oo. There were but three horses started in the event — Cresceus, E. W. L., Wayla'nd W. — and the race was not a partic- ularly exciting one. Cresceus did not appear to be up to the high class and form, and apparently had not the wonderful rush of speed that was his most striking characteristic during the preceding year. He was driven an easy mile in the opening heat of the first race, and the heat was won by E. W. L. in 2 120. He appeared to improve after the first heat, and in the second he won with ease in 2:17^. He repeated the trick in the third and fourth heats in 2:13^ and 2:14, and the campaign of 1898 was started with a victory to his credit. At Cleveland, Ohio, July 27, Cresceus made his second start of the year, in the 2:12 trot, against 38 CRE.SCE.US, 2:02 »/4 Tommy Britton, Octavia, Pasonte, Pat Watson and Caryle Carne. Tommy Britton won the first and sec- ond heats in 2:io|, 2 109^ , and he looked as if he had the race at his mercy. Cresceus, however, seemed to have recovered some of his former flight of speed in the third heat ; he burst away with all the old rush of speed and won the heat in 2 109^ reducing his record from 2:uJ and making him a member of the 2:10 class. He came back and won the fourth heat in 2:1 if, and then he was forced to surrender to Tommy Britton, who won the fifth heat and the race in 2:12^. Cresceus was now a member of the coveted 2 :io class, but his colors had been lowered by the Chicago stallion, Tommy Britton, a horse whose admirers were persist- ent in saying would prove a champion and lower all previous records held by trotting stallions. At Columbus, Ohio, on August 5, Cresceus again started in the 2:12 trot, and he met those fast cam- paigners, Eagle Flannagan, the Abbot, a trotter who was beginning to be talked about as a coming cham- pion, Octavia, Pat Watson, Pasonte and May Fern. The race proved to be a battle between Eagle Flannagan and The Abbot. The big Eagle Bird gelding won the first heat in 2 109^, after which the Abbot came on and won the second and third heats in 2 :o8J, 2 :o8J. These two fast miles, however, took considerable of The Ab- bot's steam, and Eagle Flannagan won the fourth and fifth heats and the race in 2 :ioj, 2 :i2j. Cresceus was a factor in the race, but he was not his old self, and he 39 A GREAT HORSE. again met defeat, but it was not a disgraceful one, as it was plain to be seer, that he was not in the proper physical condition to stand the strain of many fast miles. Buffalo came next in the itinerary of 1898, and here, over the Ft. Erie track, Cresceus met his defeat by The Abbot, a horse which a few years later was destined to be his greatest rival. While both Cresceus and The Abbot were at this time both highly regarded by all followers of the trotters, it is doubtful if a single per- son who saw them both race that sultry afternoon in August ever even dreamed that the coming years would see these two horses the most famous trotters that the world ever knew. The Hamlins were confident that The Abbot was a horse of extreme speed, and Mr. Geers had intimated that he thought the gelding would some day become a champion, but it is more than likely that the wish was father of the thought. Mr. Ketcham never lost faith in Cresceus, and regardless of the re- cent defeats that the colt had met with, he felt confident that the great young horse would redeem himself. It had been the dream of his life to own the fastest trot- ter in the world, and while he was certain that Cresceus would prove a sensational trotter, he had never even dared to whisper his hopes that the colt would become the champion. On August 1 8 Cresceus made his fourth appearance of the season in the 2:12 trot against The Abbot, Pat Watson, Ruby, Hans McGregor and one other. The 40 CRESCEUS, 2:02 »/4 Abbot won in straight heats in 2:12^, 2:14^, 2:13, Cresceus winning fourth money. Although clearly out of form, he made a good showing, and his defeat was not at all discreditable. Cresceus was so plainly out of condition and in need of a let-up that upon the earnest solicitation of Jack Curry it was decided to ship him to Boston and give him several weeks of rest and careful attention. He was entered in the big Puritan stake for 2:10 class trotting stallions, to be trotted at the New England Breeders' meeting at Readville track, September 20. Many of the crack trotting stallions were entered in this big event, and Mr. Ketcham was extremely anx- ious to win this race with Cresceus before he was re- tired for the season. It was a grand field of horses, composed of Bingen, 2 :o6f (by the record the fastest trotter of the year), Gayton, Dan Cupid, Fred Kohl, Early Bird and Benton M. These horses were all high-class race horses, and had proved their worth in a number of grand turf battles. Bingen was thought to be the coming champion, and the entire New Eng- land country was peopled with his admirers. His owner, J. Malcolm Forbes, was a leader in all things pertaining to the light-harness horse, and thousands of his friends were present to cheer Bingen on to victory. On account of the splendid performance of Bingen in his last two races at Hartford and Rigby Park, he was the public choice, and the speculators were confident that victory would perch upon the banner of the son 41 A GREAT HORSE of May King. On tracks from Maine to Kentucky Bingen had been a money winner, but at Readville, the track in which his owner, Mr. Forbes, is particularly interested, the great young stallion had never been a winner. Twice he had been distanced there, and on two other occasions he had to be content with second money. Some of his admirers had begun to think the track was a "hoodoo" to the stallion, but they hoped that in this race the "spell" would be broken and he would carry off the honors in the big stallion race. When the horses were called in the opening heat the spectators were about equally divided between Bingen and Dan Cupid as winners. The first heat Bingen won in rather hollow style, stepping up from fourth place at the half, outfooting Dan Cupid in the stretch, and fairly jogging home in 2:10^, the fastest heat of the race. Cresceus finished back in fifth position, and the crowd concluded Bingen had the race as good as won. Bingen began to act badly, going into the turn in the second heat ; Cresceus stepped up, and overhaul- ing the leader, Gayton, at the head of the stretch, beat him out in 2 :i i^. In the third Bingen was on his good behavior, stuck to the trot, and after Titer had nursed him along in the ruck past the half, he began his drive, and swinging into the stretch Bingen was at Cresceus's wheel. Cresceus made a gallant effort, but he was beaten, and Bingen won the heat in 2:12. It now looked to be a sure thing for Bingen according to the admirers of the Boston stallion, and when Titer at- 42 CRE.SCEUS, 2 i O 2 »/4 tempted to make his drive and go around the leader in the fourth heat, Bingen made a break and was barely able to beat the flag, Cresceus winning in 2:12%. The fifth heat proved to be the most exciting one of the race. Off they went, with the crowd shouting for Bingen. When the word was given Cresceus was at the pole, with Bingen on the outside. Around on the back- stretch Bingen broke and his friends threw up their hands in despair ; he was out of it, they thought, but the horse got his feet again. Along he tore and was getting his position, when just coming into the stretch he broke again, but only for a second; he was on his feet again, and down the stretch he swept. Cresceus was all by himself, ahead of the bunch, trotting steady and true in his sturdy way. The crowd began to shout, Ketcham looked back over his shoulder, and there he saw the muzzle of the brown stallion creeping forward inch by inch. He touched Cresceus with the whip, and Titer did the same to Bingen. Oh, such a race ! Along the horses struggled, the wire only fifty feet away, and Bingen gaining. Both drivers shout and exert themselves ; they jerk and scream and ply the whip. The horses struggle heroically, and in a second they are under the wire, but Cresceus has a lead of six inches. It was a gallant struggle, and right nobly did the gallant son of Robert McGregor lower the colors of Bingen, the pride of all New England. The heat was trotted in 2:1 if. For four out of the five heats trotted Cresceus fought valiantly, and when 43 A GREAT HORSE by sheer force of stubborn will and bull-dog pluck he held the lead, with a death grip in the final round, suf- ficiently long to land the heat and race by a head, there w«? not one spectator to his splendid struggle that begrudged him his well-earned victory. This ended Cresceus's four-year-old campaign, and he returned to Ketcham Farm sound and victor crowned. CHAPTER VII GEO. W. SAUNDERS HE BEATS DARE DEVIL CRESCEUS grew and developed more than he ever had before at Ketcham Farm during" the winter and spring of 1898 and 1899. He lost the colt look which had been so noticeable in his make- up and conformation during the racing season of 1898. He grew sturdy and strong ; his muscular development was simply wonderful, and every line, showed strength and power. He was taken to the Cleveland mile track early in the season of 1899 and placed in active training for what proved to be one of the most memorable cam- paigns in the career of the champion. He had been jogged all winter at the farm, and Ketcham had en- joyed many brushes with the stallion on the snow path 45 A GREAT HORSE at Toledo. Cresceus always took kindly to the snow and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the sharp brushes. These brushes on the snow and the steady jogging he got on the sandy roads at the farm had put the stallion in fine condition. His muscles were hard and firm, and he was carrying more flesh than ever before. Mr. Ketcham felt confident that the horse would make one of the greatest campaigns of his career, and he was given the most careful attention and preparation. A change was made in the manner of training him that spring, and subsequent events proved that this change was beneficial. It was learned while working him in his four-year-old form that it was not the proper thing to continue working him heats of a mile and a half each and get all of the speed out of him in races that was desired. He would always save too much reserve speed to go to the extra half-mile, and he would not come from the three-quarter pole home at a winning gait ; so, as a five-year-old, he was not worked further than a mile, and when he reached the wire was stopped and not allowed to go any further. After being worked this way for a few days he would trot the mile as fast as desired. This change in the manner of working him had a very perceptible effect for the bet- ter, and he rapidly trained into excellent condition. Cresceus made his initial start in the campaign of 1899 at Cleveland, Ohio, July 28, in the 2:10 class trot ; purse, $3,000. It was a grand field of horses which scored down for the word that July day, and 46 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 a great audience was present to see this particular race trotted. Elloree, the beautiful Axtell mare, the pride of the city of Cleveland, was to start, and the fast mare had as many admirers, probably, as any horse at that time on the turf. Belle J., a fast trotter who came out of the West and won fame as a great race mare, was another starter, while those fast horses — Tommy Brit- ton, Battleton, Caracalla, Gayton, Monterey, Oakland Baron and Cresceus — made up the balance of -the starters. The race proved to be a battle royal, and de- veloped into a six-heat struggle. Elloree finally won, but not until Tommy Britton had won the first and second heats in 2:10, 2:12^. The Illinois stallion then gave way before the awful rush of speed of Cresceus, who won the third heat in 2 :io. Elloree won the next three heats and the race in 2 :o8J, 2:ioJ, 2:12. Cres- ceus, while not the winner, was, as usual, a strong fac- tor in the race, and showed that he was in fine con- dition, only needing a few fast miles to properly stay him up. The following week, on August 4, at Columbus, Ohio, he made his second start of the year in the 2:10 class trot. In this race he met Tommy Britton, Ello- ree, Bouncer, Pilatus, Caracalla and Louise Mac. Tommy Britton won in the event in straight heats in extremely fast time — 2 :o8J, 2 :o8|, 2:o8J. This was, at the time, the three-heat-race record for trotting stallions, and while Cresceus lost the race, he was sec- ond the first two heats, and trotted one of the fastest 47 A GREAT HORSE and best races of his career. This race did Cresceus much good, and keyed him up in fine style for his splendid race at Glens Falls, N. Y., on August 15, in which he beat in grand style the Hamlin crack Dare Devil. It was the first time that the Ohio champion had been pitted against the pride of the Hamlin stable. The friends of Cresceus believed that he would prove equal to the task cut out for him, and subsequent events proved that their confidence had not been misplaced. Dare Devil was made the favorite on the strength of his good winning race against Gayton at Buffalo the week previous. Cresceus was thought to be good for a mile in about 2:10, but nobody dreamed that he was fast enough to trot a mile faster than any stallion had trotted that year, and he had few backers. The field embraced such trotters as Gayton, Louise Mac, Belle J., Oakland Baron and Caracalla, and was one of the strongest that had up to that date faced a starter in the 2 :io class. Starter McElroy got the bunch of ten flyers away on the first score, Caracalla having the pole. It was not until they had gone around the upper turn and up the back stretch that the real contestants flashed to the front. A little way past the half-mile pole Ketcham called on the son of Robert McGregor, and Cresceus quickly assumed the lead. Scott Hudson was after him with the great little mare, Louise Mac, and the finish was between these two. But Cresceus won quite handily, trotting his mile in 2 :09J, thereby cut- 48 CRE.SCEUS, 2 ; O 2 V4 ting a quarter of a second from the record he had gained as a four-year-old in 1898. Dare Devil was apparently not moved for the front in the heat, and he still sold in the auction pools at even money with Cres- ceus, after finishing in eighth position. It was apparent that the driver of Dare Devil was out for the money in the second heat, and the contest which ensued was a stirring one. When Geers made his drive in the home- stretch Dare Devil displayed great speed, outfooting all the fielders and getting up to almost even terms with Cresceus, as Ketcham urged the stout-hearted McGregor stallion toward the goal with whip, voice and rein. It was a thrilling finish, evoking wild cheers from the spectators. Cresceus proved to be too fast and too game for the son of Chimes, for he stalled off Dare Devil's rush in gallant style, beating him by a safe margin. There was more cheering when Starter McElroy announced that the mile had been trotted in 2. :o7^, a new record for the great Ohio stallion. Dare Devil did not come back so savagely after the second heat, and Cresceus was able to land the deciding heat in 2:09, after a battle with Belle J. and Gayton. It was a great race, splendidly fought out in each heat, and Cresceus added much to his fame as a race horse by this decisive defeat of the pride of the Hamlin stable. 49 CHAPTER VIII GEO. SPEAR CRESCEUS DEFEATS DARE DEVIL AGAIN CRESCEUS journeyed from the beautiful little city at the foot of the Adirondacks to Boston, the city of culture, that great New England metropolis where the American trotter enjoys so much popularity. His fame as a race horse had preceded him, and there was a splendid audience present at Readville track on August 24, when Cresceus again tried con- clusions with the Buffalo stallion and the following field: Alcidalia, Gayton, Monterey, Oakland Baron, Louise Mac and Bent on M. The track was not in ex- tra condition, and was at least three seconds slower than the fast course at Glens Falls was the day that Cresceus trotted his great mile in 2 :o7J. Considering the track the race was a fast and phenomenal one. The rivalry between the followers of Cresceus and Dare 50 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 V4 Devil was very keen ; there was much speculation upon the event, and when the horses appeared on the track ready for the word each candidate was applauded liberally. They got away in nice style and quickly, and each horse was trotting like the wind when the word was given. Oakland Baron, the fast son of Baron Wilkes, cut out the work to the quarter, but he broke, and his driver took him to the outside. Now Dare Devil and the California stallion, Monterey, were in the lead, going head and head, with Alcidalia laying just behind them. Dore pulled out with Alcidalia at the half-mile pole, and she raced past them with a fine burst of speed. Ketcham was content to trail behind the field with Cresceus and allow them to do the racing in this heat. Alcidalia now had a comfortable lead, and it looked as if she would certainly win the heat, but Dare Devil came with a rush that would not be denied, and he had New England's queen beaten at the short distance in 2:ioJ. When they got the word in the second heat Ketcham had Cresceus going fast, and he set out to capture the lead. It seemed almost certain that Cresceus would soon be in front, as he was going very fast and was trotting steady and true, but suddenly he made a break, went off his feet and dropped back. Oakland Baron was in front, with Benton M. in second place ; Dare Devil and Alcidalia were to- gether a length behind the second horse. Oakland Baron had two lengths the lead at the half, but at that point Dare Devil began to move, and Alcidalia was A GREAT HORSE right with him. Monterey came with a rush and ranged up alongside the leaders, but he broke and fell back. Cresceus was once more a factor at this stage, but was well back of the leaders. Dare Devil began to pull away from Alcidalia, and Cresceus was trotting very fast in an effort to overhaul the big brown stallion. He headed Alcidalia at the distance stand and was rapidly overhauling Dare Devil, but he could not quite reach Dare Devil, who won the heat in 2 :iof. Cresceus won the third heat as he liked, Mr. Geers having laid Dare Devil up on account of the bad start made in this heat; time, 2:10^. They were fairly well bunched when the word was given in the fourth heat, with Gayton right at the neck of Cresceus. Dare Devil was in behind the pair, with Oakland Baron on the outside. They made a pretty bunch to the head of the stretch, but there Gayton broke. At this point Mr. Geers be- gan his drive with Dare Devil, but try as hard as he could, he did not gain perceptibly on Cresceus, who was trotting with apparent ease. Dare Devil finally jumped off his feet, and Cresceus won the heat by a length or more, without being urged, in 2:10^. The final heat was the fastest in the race, and Cresceus was in front every inch of the way after the first turn was reached. Dare Devil laid in behind him all the way, but he was wobbling and finally went off his feet on the upper turn. Cresceus was trotting fast, and came under the wire the winner in 2 :io. Cresceus gave the 52 CR.ESCEUS, Buffalo crack a fair field and then fairly smothered him with speed, and there was no longer any question about his being the superior of the much-heralded Vil- lage Farm stallion. CHAPTER IX JAMES GOLDEN AT HARTFORD AND NEW YORK BEAUTIFUL Charter Oak Park, at Hartford, Conn., was the scene of Cresceus's next con- test, and while he met defeat at the hands of the veteran campaigner, Captain Jack, his showing was a good one. There is no denying the fact that in this race the great young stallion was not in the best of form, and he was forced to succumb after five hard heats, all of them right around 2:10. It was in the 2:10 trot, and he met Captain Jack, Dare Devil, Alcidalia, Gayton, Oakland Baron, Louise Mac and Belle J. This field of horses were all tried and seasoned campaigners, and were recognized by all race followers as a hard bunch to beat. It was with many misgivings that Cresceus was started in the event, as it was felt that his condition 54 CR.E.SCEUS, 2:021/4 hardly warranted the risk of starting him in a race. Starting him meant that he must battle in each heat if he succeeded in securing any part of the money. Cresceus met defeat, but, as usual, he was one of the chief contestants, and trotted the fastest heat of the race. Dare Devil won the first heat in 2 :ioj, and then Cresceus turned the tables on the field and won the sec- ond, trotting it splendidly in 2 :oo,. His condition was such, however, that he was not able to withstand the strain of three more hard heats, and that sturdy old trotter, Captain Jack, won the next three heats and the race. Never during the entire career of Cresceus has it been necessary to apologize for Cresceus. He was sometimes beaten, but never in any of his races was he ever disgracefully beaten, and while he went down in defeat before Captain Jack at Hartford, yet his admirers were stanch and true, and never wavered in their support of the consistent son of Robert Mc- Gregor. Following Hartford came the opening meeting at Empire City track, New York. The late Hon. W. H. Clark had, with an enterprise that challenged the ad- miration of the entire harness horse world, built one of the most complete and beautiful race courses in the world. Every admirer of the light harness horse was deeply interested in the success of the initial meeting to be held at the new track, and hundreds of promi- nent horsemen journeyed from all parts of the coun- try to attend the meeting. 55 A GREAT HORSE The meeting opened on September 4, and the day marked the return of New York to the Grand Circuit ranks. It was the day of days to the metropolitan roadite and horse enthusiast ; the day when the $800,- ooo Empire City Track, the finest in the world, opened to the public, and a new lease of life should be guar- anteed clean turf sport along the light harness line to Greater New York. Words can scarce tell of -the mag- nificent success the opening day was. A heavy thun- der-storm Sunday night threatened to cause a post- ponement, but Monday dawned clear as a bell, with that crisp fall atmosphere which causes the blood to fairly dance in one's veins. It was a drying wind, which aided old Sol to prepare the upper layer of the track for the various processes to which the veteran Seth Griffin subjected it, and by eleven o'clock horses were reeling off work-out miles around 2:10 over it. A good-natured holiday crowd it was, with appetites whetted for the races to follow. Nearly every person of prominence in the horse world was present: David Bonner, the Nestor of New York horsemen, was a conspicuous figure on the club-house veranda. Col. Lawrence Kip was there, and so was Gen. John H. Shultz. John Shepard, one of the most loyal of the old-timers, came down from Boston to add his presence to the great throng ; Cicero J. Hamlin, the veteran breeder, was a guest at thfc club house, and he found little comfort personally in the day's racing, as he saw his leading stallion go 56 CRE.SCEUS, 2 ; O 2 down in- defeat before the superior prowess of Cres- ceus, the mighty Buckeye champion. Hon. Dan J. Campau, the distinguished politician and horseman of Detroit, and others equally as well-known in the horse world were among the guests. Ten thousand people packed the grand stand, the club house, the lawn and the betting ring, and the glorious weather helped to make the occasion enjoyable. The opening event on the card was the Manhattan $5,ooo-stake for free-for-all trotting stallions. It was the first free-for-all trot for stallions that had been seen on the turf in recent years, and the interest and enthusiasm was very great. Eight of the best bred and fastest stallions in America were to do battle for honor and glory and a magnificent purse. Cresceus, Charley Herr, Askey, Benton M., Bingen, Oakland Baron, Monterey and Dare Devil made up the field, and as each horse appeared before the stand the great audience scanned them eagerly, and feasted their eyes upon these kings of the American turf. Bingen, the pride of all New England, came out, looking fine as a fiddle. His brown coat shone like satin, and he was roundly applauded. He was the favorite, and was expected to carry the colors of his owner to victory. Cresceus, the grand young stallion from the Buckeye state, came next, and while a few of his loyal follow- ers greeted him with iiand clapping, there were not many in that vast throng who gave him more than a passing notice. Bingen was the hero; the crowds 57 A GREAT HORSE saw only the hero, and Cresceus jogged back and forth with probably the least attention of any of the stallions. Monterey, the big burly light chestnut stal- lion from California, was one of the best looking horses in the bunch. Charley Herr, with John Kelley up behind him, appeared. He looked coltish, old-fash- ioned and level-headed and seemed to know nothing but- trot. The Kansas-bred stallion Askey, a long- necked, long-bodied brown horse, symmetrical of form, was another of the candidates that caught the eye of all observers. Dare Devil, who had recently gone down before Cresceus, looked stale and jogged lame. Askey also nodded and Benton M. was distinctly lame. At last they were lined up for the word, and there was repeated scoring before Starting Judge Frank- Walker got them properly aligned, and gave them the word. Oakland Baron drew the pole, and just as the horses got the word "Go" Cresceus made a losing break which left him four or five lengths behind the leaders. The pole horse held his position in the lead around the first turn and half way up the back-stretch. Bingen was at his wheel all the way, however, and when his driver once got him straightened out in the back-stretch the favorite held Oakland Baron safe, and he was two lengths in front as he struck the upper turn. Meanwhile Askey, Cresceus, and Charley Herr had closed on Oakland Baron and given him the go- by. They swung round the upper turn all in a bunch. Coming into the home-stretch Titer drove wide with 58 CRESCEUS, 2s 02 »/4 Bingen, and, before he knew it, Tanner had shot Askey up at the pole, while Cresceus and Charley Herr were closing on the favorite on the other side. Titer attempted to rouse him, but Bingen went to a break and was quickly out of the hunt. With Bingen disposed of Ketcham had but to sit still and allow Cresceus to have his head to beat the other two horses to the wire. Cresceus came down the stretch in com- manding style, and won as he pleased in 2:ioJ, the first mile ever trotted in a race over the new track. Bingen's showing in the opening heat sent his backers to the hedge, and they deserted the untrustworthy stallion, who was inclined to quit, and flocked to the standard of Cresceus. It was just another case of "The king is dead, long live the king," and the brilliant young Ohio stallion was installed as the favorite at $100 to $40. The audience applauded Cresceus when the horses appeared for the second heat, and they at last began to realize that he was the real hero of the race. Askey had warmed out of his lameness when they scored down for the second round. Dare Devil, on the con- trary, was so lame that he had to be drawn. The original favorite broke repeatedly in scoring this time, causing horsemen who knew him well to say : "It's not Bingen's day. They've got him beat right now." And so it turned out. Bingen broke, stood still, struck a pace, stood still again, shifted back to the trotting gait and went on again nearly a furlong behind his 59 A GREAT HORSE field. Cresceus, too, made a break before reaching the turn, but he recovered quickly, losing only a couple of lengths, and his position at the pole. Benton M. snatched the inside track, sprinting away with his nose in front as the horses rounded the lower turn. Char- ley Herr overhauled the white-faced sorrel stallion a little way up the back-stretch, and took the lead and the pole before the half-mile pole was passed. Round- ing the upper turn, Cresceus closed on the Kentucky stallion and was up to even terms as the pair swung into the home-stretch. Kelley had a whip in one hand, and a scraper in the other, and he used them both when he called on honest little Charley Herr in the home-stretch. Charley Herr was quickly seen to be overmatched. Cresceus simply trotted at ease, coming through the stretch with a stroke that was the perfec- tion of trotting action. Ketcham never made a move to drive the son of the 'old "Monarch of the Home- stretch," and he completed his mile in the remarkable time of 2 :c>7^, duplicating his great mile at Glens Falls. Many watches in the hands of competent timers caught the mile in 2 :o6}, and it showed that Cresceus was even then beginning to show championship form. He trotted the last quarter in 31^ seconds, and once safely out in the lead Ketcham talked him back to within one hundred and fifty feet of the wire, which demonstrated that he could have gone faster had he been forced to do so. It was a great race, and Cresceus and his driver were given a great ovation at the con- 60 CRESCE.US, 2 : O 2 »/4 elusion of the winning heat. The fractional time of the heats was 133}, 1:04!, 1:374, 2:ioJ, 1324, 1:03!, i 136, 2 :o7J. Having disposed of the lordly Dare Devil, the bril- liant Bingen, and all of the other crack 2:10 trotters, Cresceus traveled away from the effete east, and made his next stand at Indianapolis. CHARLES TANNER CH AFTER W. O. FOOTE IN HOOSIER LAND AND OLD KENTUCKY FRESH from his triumphal trip through the east, and honor-crowned by his successive defeats of Dare Devil, Bingen, Oakland Baron, Gayton, Louise Mac, and all of the other famous 2:10 trotters through the Grand Circuit, Cresceus reached Indianapolis ready to do battle with the free-for-all trotters in the Hoosier cap- ital. The free-for-all trot failed to fill, however, and a match was arranged between the stalwart young gladiator, and the celebrated John Nolan, a horse which had earned a wide reputation as a fast trotter, and good race horse. The race took place on Septem- ber 22, and Cresceus proved an easy winner. The race was best two in three and Cresceus simply played with the big son of Prodigal in 2 :oo,, 2 ,:ioj. The race 62 CRESCEUS, 2 ; O 2 was simply a walk-over for Cresceus ; John Nolan merely acted as a pace-maker, and did not appear to have speed enough to make the chestnut stallion ex- tend himself. The great Kentucky Breeders' Association Meeting at Lexington, Ky., was the scene of Cresceus's next race. The Lexington Association, in the hope of bringing together all of the most sensational trotters of the year, had offered a purse of $2,000 for free-for- all trotters. It was hoped to bring into the contest the greatest and most sensational field of trotters ever seen on a race track in America. In point of numbers 'the race was a disappointment, as only three horses remained in the event, The Abbot, Bingen and Cres- ceus, but from a racing standpoint it proved to be one of the best and fastest races of the year. The Abbot had shown rare form throughout the season, and was regarded as the coming champion. Bingen had shown such extreme speed that, regardless of his poor show- ing during the preceding weeks, many regarded him as a certain winner. Cresceus was also highly re- garded, and his admirers knew that he would give a good account of himself, even if- he failed to win the race. The entire horse world was gathered at Lex- ington that October day when the three greatest trot- ters of the year appeared to do battle over the famous Kentucky course. The audience knew the race would be a duel to the death between these great trotters, and the excitement and enthusiasm was intense. All 63 A GREAT HORSE present knew that the race would be one of the greatest of a sensational year, and they were not disappointed. The star of the great Village Farm, the brilliant New England champion and the stalwart young Buckeye hero met that autumn day, and engaged in a battle which will always live in turf history as a battle of kings. Bingen won the first and second heats in 2 ro/J and 2 :c>9, and the superb Cresceus was a close second each time. The Abbot had apparently not been moved in earnest in the opening heats, but he stepped away from his rivals, and won the third heat from Bingen in 2 :o7J, with Cresceus back in third position. He re- peated the performance in the fourth and fifth heats, winning in 2 :o8i, 2:ioJ. Cresceus was second to the Chimes gelding in each heat, and while he did not succeed in snatching victory away from the winner, he proved that in point of speed, courage and racing ability he was the equal of either The Abbot or Bingen. This race ended his campaign of 1899, and he returned to winter quarters sound and vigorous, with a reputa- tion as a race horse second to no living trotter. He retired with a record of 2 :c>7J, one of the most likely candidates for championship honors. It was a grand campaign, full of honors, in which, in the most decisive manner, he met and conquered nearly all of the best horses of the year. CHAPTER XI GEO. W. WEST THE FAMOUS CAMPAIGN OF NINETEEN HUNDRED CRESCEUS pursued the even tenor of his way at Ketcham Farm during the winter and spring of 1899 and 1900; a roomy box stall, plenty of light, air, wholesome food, and the regular quota of light jogging on the sandy roads and the snow paths. He grew and developed and waxed more sturdy and strong as the long winter days passed by. Many noted matrons came to his embrace, and his stud season closed early before his active training opened. In the early spring he was taken to the Cleve- land track where he was trained and prepared for what proved to be one of the most splendid and suc- cessful campaigns of his great career. While at Cleve- land he was not worked any fast miles, and the fastest workout he received there before he went to Pitts- 65 A GREAT HORSE burgh to open his 1900 campaign was one mile in 2:i6J. He took to his work splendidly, and early showed that he was a much-improved horse, and had increased spee4 and endurance. There had always been considerable speculation among horsemen as to the quality of Cresceus and Tommy Britton as race horses, and a spirit of friendly rivalry sprang up be- tween the two great trotters. Tommy Britton was thought to be directly in line for championship hon- ors ; he had shown so much extreme speed ever since his first appearance on the turf that the handsome son of Liberty Bell was thought by his many admirers to be a faster and better horse than Cresceus. The followers of the son of Robert McGregor were equally positive that he could beat Tommy Britton. In order to settle the controversy a match race was arranged between them to be trotted over the new mile track on Brunot's Island, Pittsburgh, on July 4. It was early in the season, and many horsemen thought it to be "a very unwise move to ask these two great horses to trot a race at that early date. It was not thought that either of them was in proper condition to go any fast miles, but the wonderful ability of Cres- ceus as a race horse was hardly realized at that time, and the splendid manner in which he won this match proved that he was one of the greatest horses of his day. Cresceus won the race in the most decisive man- ner, trotting two consecutive heats in 2:10 which was the fastest race ever gone by a stallion at that time of 66 CRESCEUS, 2 ; O 2 '/4 the year. The friends of Tommy Britton were confi- dent he would defeat Cresceus, and the fact that the race was best two in three was thought to be very favorable to the Chicago stallion. Britton was said to be in the best of fettle, having trotted an eighth of a mile in fourteen seconds, a i 152 gait, the morning before the race, and was thought to have the race at his mercy. Yet Cresceus put it over him at every stage of the game, and in each of the heats the finish was an affair of one horse only, Britton being very palpa- bly out of it, sometime before the wire was reached. It rained in the evening before the race and on the morning of the race the track was slippery with mud. Horses, were worked on the outside of it, however, and by afternoon it looked to be in first-class shape. It was late in the afternoon when Cresceus and Brit- ton appeared on the track ready for the race. They had been warmed up, and the way Britton stepped through the home-stretch showed he was not short of speed, no matter what else troubled him. Cresceus was placid and steady as usual, and so great was the differ- ence between his rather lumbering gait and Britton's showy way of going that it really looked as though the two stallions were not in the same class. A strin- gent anti-betting law in Pennsylvania prevented any public speculation on the race, but in what little private wagering was done there was far more Britten money in sight than could be taken care of. All the trainers at the track, and all the wise people were on Britton. 67 A GREAT HORSE Cresceus drew the pole for the opening heat and after a couple of scores they were sent away on even terms. On the first turn Britton made one of his rushes, and in a twinkling had the track, and as he flashed past the quarter in 32 seconds it looked as though Cresceus was not going to be able to head him. The same clip was maintained up the back-stretch, the call at the half being i 104, and at that point Britton was a clear length to the good and apparently going easy to him- self. His clock-like stride carried him to the turn in a jiffy, but as the pair passed the three-quarter pole in i 138, Cresceus had quickened his gait and his nose was at Britton's wheel. Ketcham was urging Cresceus slightly, but it was nothing like a hard rally, and under it he crept up on Britton until half way down the home- stretch he was nearly on even terms with the brown stallion. Then West went to work very industriously on Britton, and for a few strides the two stallions swept along on even terms. At the long distance Cresceus had Britton "by the neck," as a horseman , says, and those who knew the two horses were confi- dent he would win. The brown horse hung to him for an instant, but Cresceus was trotting in bull-dog style while Britton seemed to falter. A few feet fur- ther and he had quit in earnest in spite of West's urg- ing with bit and line, and from there to the wire it was Cresceus all by himself in 2:10, everybody seeing the race was as good as over although another heat was to be trotted. 68 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 V* It took place half an hour later and was short and sweet. They were away on the third score, but this time Britton did not trot around Cresceus on the turn. The first quarter was in 132!, and up the back-stretch they trotted at a terrible clip, the half being reached in i :c>3f . They traveled practically as a team over this part of the route, but on the upper turn Cresceus put on a little more steam and drew away from Britton. The three-quarters were reached in i 136, but just as they turned into the home-stretch West stopped mak- ing an earnest drive with Britton, realizing that he was beaten and at the finish Cresceus was actually pulled up to a jog, and yet the mile was in 2:10, the final quarter being trotted at only a 2 124 gait. It was claimed by the friends of Britton that the track did not suit the stallion, and the footing bothered him so that he was not able to do himself justice. This claim, however, did not affect in any way the splendor of Cresceus's victory, as it only proved his ability to race gamely and well on any sort of track. Cresceus's victory at Pittsburgh was an auspicious opening of the great campaign of 1900, which was one series of triumphs. CHAPTER XII N. W. HUBINGER THE GREAT 2 :o8 TROT AT CLEVELAND CRESCEUS returned to Cleveland after the vic- tory over Tommy Britton at Pittsburgh, in rare good condition, took kindly to his work, and after two weeks of careful training he was fit and ready to trot one of the grandest races ever seen on the turf. This race took place at Cleveland on July 23, 1900, and created one of the distinct sensa- tions of the year. It was the opening day of the Grand Circuit meeting, and with the advent of the new cen- tury Cresceus came to the front the winner of the greatest race of the season, succeeded in breaking all previous records, and trotted the fastest mile ever be- fore trotted over the Cleveland track. No fairer, more beautiful day could have been desired for record- breaking racing, and many thousands were v.i attend- 70 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 ance. The full contingent of race followers were all on hand, and these, added to the elite of Cleveland so- ciety, made up a gathering that represented the wealth and beauty of many states. The weather was perfect and the track in splendid condition. The feature of the day was the 2. :o8 trot, and it proved to be one of the most splendid races known to racing annals. The star performers, Cresceus, John Nolan, Tom Britton, King- mond — the real hero of the M. and M. stake the year previous — and Charley Herr, made up a field of the highest class trotters that had been seen on any track that year. There was heavy betting on the event, and the first selling was John Nolan, $100 ; Cresceus, $50 ; Kingmond, Tommy Britton and Charley Herr, $5 each, and Grattan Boy, $7. Just before the race a number of tickets were sold which read, "John Nolan, $1,000; field, $800." The Hubinger brothers, those famous plungers of the trotting turf, who formerly owned John Nolan, had great faith in the son of Prod- igal, and bought many pools on him, being the chief takers of the largest ones. There were just as many field tickets, and the auctioneer did not have to urge the crowd to buy, bets being taken so fast as to make the uninitiated turn dizzy to see the way the money changed hands. There was also a heavy play in the books on Cresceus for place, and as Andy Welch marked the odds up at even money, he remarked to the crowd that this was an opportunity of a lifetime, for Cresceus would never be marked up at even money A GREAT HORSE for place again. This statement was prophetic. How true his words is shown by the after career of the champion. The audience evidently expected fast work ; a hush fell over the great gathering as the field of fast trot- ters scored down for the word ; they were not disap- pointed, as the race was a truly magnificent exhibition in every sense of the word, and stamped Cresceus as a lion-hearted giant among the trotters. In the open- ing heat Tommy Britton drew the pole ; Charley Herr second, Grattan Boy third, John Nolan fourth, King- mond fifth, and Cresceus on the extreme outside. They scored down several times before they got the word with all of the horses on their stride and going fast. Cresceus was going the long mile on the outside of the track, up to the half; it was Britton and Grat- tan Boy fighting for the place as they rounded the first turn; in these positions they remained until the three-quarters was reached, where Grattan Boy had secured the lead. Down the stretch they swept, in one of the hottest finishes between Cresceus and Grat- tan Boy ever seen on any track. The audience was en- thused; there were cries from the stand that Grattan Boy would win ; and then it was Cresceus ! Within twenty-five feet of the stand Cresceus put on an extra spurt of speed and landed under the wire the winner, amidst the greatest enthusiasm, and the cheers of the audience. The mile was a most remarkable one, a-s Cresceus at no time was in better than fourth 72 C1VESCEUS. 2 ; O 2 1/4 position during the entire mile, trotting all around his field. The fractional mile was 131, 1:04, 1:35!, The second heat proved still more sensational ; Cres- ceus, seemingly fresher and better than ever, led them a killing mile, and was never in danger throughout the route. Cresceus stepped away like a runaway horse, and Tommy Britton went with him to the quar- ter in 3<>J seconds, and then dropped out of the hunt. When Cresceus went to the half in i :O2-J the audience arose en masse, horsemen clicked their watches and looked surprised as the great trotter came on faster and faster, and when i 134! flashed from the timer's stand as he passed the three-quarter pole everybody knew the mile would be sensational. The others were trailing far behind from the three-quarters, and as they came around the back turn Cresceus was leading by seven lengths. When they came down the home- stretch Foote had John Nolan going at the top of his speed, but he might as well have tried to have caught the Empire State Express as to catch Cresceus, the chestnut stallion passing under the wire six lengths to the good, pulled up in 2 :o6f . The audience was standing on its feet, hats were waving, men cheered themselves hoarse, and as Cresceus was driven back to the stand after the race he was accorded one of the grandest receptions ever given a horse. From any point of view this race can be classified as one of the greatest in the history of the light-harness horse, and stamped Cresceus as the greatest of his kind. 73 CHAPTER XIII ROY MILLER THE GREAT STALLION RACE AT COLUMBUS GREAT as was the victory won by Cresceus at Cleveland, he rose to still greater achieve- ments at Columbus, Ohio, the week follow- ing. He met and defeated Grattan Boy, Charley Herr and Dare Devil in the greatest stallion race ever trotted. The Columbus Association had offered a purse of $5,000 for free-for-all trotting stallions, and the event was looked forward to by all lovers of the light-harness horse with pleasurable expectancy. Cresceus had shown phenomenal speed in his Cleveland race ; Grat- tan Boy had also proved that he was a grand race- horse, while game Charley Herr and Dare Devil were thought to be capable of fast work. It was one of the big events of the Grand Circuit series, and a crowd 74 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/j, of ten thousand people crowded the great grand stand, and overflowed on to the lawn. It was an enthusiastic audience and they cheered each horse as they paraded before the stand waiting for the word. It was con- ceded among the betting contingent that Cresceus would prove the winner, and the advance pooling was Cresceus, $200, and the field, $50. There was consid- erable betting, with Cresceus barred, and in this Dare Devil sold for even money against the other two to finish second in the race. The four horses were hard to get away in the first heat ; eight times they scored down and each time Starter Merrill rang the bell and called them back. The trouble was mainly due to the bad acting of Grat- tan Boy, who was determined to come to the wire on a canter. When he did come right Dare Devil would spoil the start. Cresceus, as usual, was plodding along with his long easy stride, apparently oblivious to the surroundings, intent only on winning the race. When they at last got the word Cresceus quickly stepped to the front. At the quarter in 13 rj it was Cresceus by a length. Then came Charley Herr, with Grattan Boy at his wheel. Geers with Dare Devil had dropped back several lengths in the second furlong, after going the first one with the bunch. Cresceus raced along in front and won the heat from Grattan Boy by two lengths in 2 107 J. The fast mile enthused the audience, but the second heat stirred them to still greater enthusiasm. Only 75 A GREAT HORSE Cresceus, Grattan Boy and Charley Herr appeared in the second heat, Dare Devil having been distanced. Cresceus led the hunt through the mile and was at the quarter in 32^ seconds, and went by the half, trotting like the wind, in I 103^. Around to the three-quarters in i 135 with Grattan Boy at his wheel. Grattan Boy maintained his position to the distance stand, where Miller saw the task was a hopeless one, and gave up the struggle with the son of Grattan. Cresceus stepped home without trouble in 2 :o6, the fastest mile which had ever been trotted over the Co- lumbus track. There was renewed cheering when the time was flashed from the stand. When the horses scored down for the third heat it was evident that each driver was going to make a stirring drive. Cresceus was well on his powerful stride as they passed the judge's stand. At the quar- ter, which was reached in 31 seconds, he was drawing away from both Grattan Boy and Charley Herr. The half was reached in I :oij, and the crowd began to cheer. Grattan Boy is closing up the distance; his dark nose is working ahead ; he is passing Cresceus. No, the wiry bay can not do it. Cresceus is holding his own. He is doing a little more as they thunder round the turn. They enter the stretch. Look at Cresceus ! The whip is waving over him now, and Ketcham speaks a word of encouragement. The Grat- tan horse, too, feels the goad and responds nobly. The crowd is on its feet, half crazy with excitement. Cres- 76 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 ceus is being" pushed. He is shining with sweat, his nostrils are widely distended, but his eye is bright and he comes grandly on like a gladiator. And the stride, the stride of him ! He seems to labor a bit as he nears the finish but he does not falter. He is not the falter- ing kind. 2. :o6 flashes out from the timer's stand for the second time. Well done, well done, Cresceus ! That long, low stride of yours, your perfect steadiness, your splendid courage — you are the best horse of your kind in the world. The race has passed into history. But four stal- lions started ; as one was distanced, but three finished the battle ; yet it was the greatest race ever engaged in by stallions. The time — 2 107^, 2 :o6, 2 :o6 — was far below the best ever before made in three consecutive heats by a trotting stallion. CHAPTER XIV WILL J. DAVIS T DEFEATS TOMMY BRITTON AGAIN HE admirers of the Chicago stallion, Tommy Britton, were not entirely satisfied with the outcome of the match race between their- champion and Cresceus at Pittsburgh on July 4, and another match was arranged between them to be trot- ted at Washington Park track, Chicago, on August II. Tommy Britton was especially prepared for the event and thousands of his admirers were present to see him redeem himself. The weather was threatening all the afternoon, and indeed it looked at one time as if the stallions would not meet at all. Light showers fell, but in the end they served to improve the track, and put it in good con- dition for fast work. When the horses appeared on the track in their CRESCEUS. 2;02V4 preliminary warming-up mile they were both liberally applauded, but when they came out with the drivers up there was more cheering, the Chicago stallion seem- ing to have a little the best of it. In the draw for position Tommy Britton got the pole, and with little scoring they were sent away for the first heat on even terms. Britton's forte is getting away from the wire at a speed which had heretofore discouraged many of his competitors, and he sprinted away in great style when the word was given. But he never got away from Cresceus. The great young champion was at his wheel around the first turn, and, as they passed the quarter pole in 13 if, and swung into the long back-stretch, he moved up to Britton's shoulder, and they raced that way like a team to the half in i 103!, the pace for each quarter being exactly the same. A 2 :o7 gait to the half-mile pole portended a good mile, even with the wind blowing strongly against the horses through the home-stretch, as Cresceus was known to be a game finisher. As the horses rounded the third turn and it was seen that Britton still held his own, some enthusiastic partizans of the Chicago horse imagined that he was going to win and sent up a cheer for their favorite. But those people did not know Cresceus. Once straightened into the home- stretch Ketcham gave the chestnut stallion his head and the race was over in a few strides, for with a great burst of speed Cresceus swept by Britton and finished alone in 2 :o6J. For the last two hundred feet he was 79 A GREAT HORSE not driven at all, and finished in a common jog. He had trotted home from the half in i 103, and the third quarter, in which he stepped around Britton, was done in 131^, a 2:06 clip. Had Cresceus been obliged to fight out the heat to the wire the mile would have been close to 2 105, as he is a horse that slows up when his opponent is beaten, and this was apparent to the audience, the finish being utterly tame, Britton having been out of the fight half way up the stretch. A great cheer went up for Cresceus when he jogged back to the paddock gate, and during the cooling-out process he was the center of the admiring crowd. Most of them knew the great stallion's history but few had seen him, there having been no trotting meeting in Chicago for years. When Starting Judge Taylor announced the time, he added that it was the fastest mile ever trotted in Chicago, to let the people know that they were getting something out of the ordinary. Cresceus was not at all distressed by the mile, although the day was a muggy one and not suitable for stallions, which go best on a clear, hot day. When the stallions were called for the second heat Cresceus went away from the wire at a moderate pace. This would not do Brit- ton, however, and he set a terrific clip, taking the pole away from Cresceus and kading to the quarter in 31 seconds flat. Down the back-stretch he had a little the best of it and passed the half in i :o$% like a winner. But on the upper turn Cresceus made one 80 CRESCEUS. 2 ; O 2 of his characteristic rushes, and it was all over with Britton. He was beaten an eighth of a mile from the wire, and Cresceus won on the heat in 2. :o7j, with Tommy Britton considerably farther back than in the first heat. This decisive defeat of Tommy Britton demonstrated the fact that Cresceus was the king of all trotting stallions, and placed him directly in line for the championship. 81 CHAPTER XV JOHN DICKERSON CRESCEUS DETHRONES DIRECTUM CRESCEUS had met and defeated all of the greatest horses in his class, and his three great miles at Columbus had earned him the world's race record for trotting stallions. He was the un- beaten champion of the year, and all good judges con- ceded that he would certainly wrest the stallion crown from the great Directum before the season ended. He trotted an exhibition mile at Syracuse, N. Y., on Au- gust 29, to beat Directum's record of 2 105 J, but failed. He, however, trotted a fine mile over a track that was not in the best of condition in 2 :o6J, the fractional time of the mile being 131!, I :O2| , 1:344, 2 :o6J. Then on September 5, over the historic Charter Oak Park track at Hartford, Conn., he performed the won- 82 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 derful feat of dethroning the world's champion trot- ting stallion, the black whirlwind, Directum, 2. 105 \. Before shouting thousands Cresceus was crowned king of trotting stallions, and proved himself to be the gamest and most wonderful trotting stallion the turf ever knew. Ever since 1893 Directum's record of 2. 105-1 had stood as the record for trotting stallions, and many well-informed horsemen did not believe that his record would ever be beaten, but the son of Robert McGregor added another star to his crown by trotting a mile in 2, :o4f . It was one of the most wonderful exhibitions of speed ever seen in America. Cresceus, by his wonderful performance, placed himself in a class by himself, and earned the title of king of all trotting stallions. When it was announced that Andrew J. Welch had wagered Ketcham $1,000 to $i that Cresceus could not trot a mile below 2. 105 J the effort to be made over Charter Oak Park track during the Grand Circuit meeting, it created a sensation among horsemen and race followers, and speculation was rife. The chances of the great young stallion accomplishing the feat had been discussed pro and con among the circuit follow- ers, and while all conceded the extreme speed of Cres- ceus, the consensus of opinion was that he would fail in his attempt to wrest the stallion crown from the head of the great Directum. The day was a perfect one, warm, yet not oppres- sive, with hardly enough wind stirring to cause a rip- 83 A GREAT HORSE pie in the folds of the big flag in the infield, and no better day as far as weather conditions were con- cerned, could have been selected. Ketcham drove the stallion a couple of warming-up miles in 2 124 and 2:14^, and each time he appeared the "hoss" crowd looked him over carefully, and it was the opinion of all that he was in fine condition and fit to make the ef- fort of his life. Yet there was hardly a man who be- lieved that he would trot the fastest mile ever trotted by a stallion, and establish a new record that was likely to stand for many years unless he himself should lower it. Every race on the card was finished, and it was almost six o'clock when Ketcham drove Cresceus in front of the stand and announced that he was ready. John Dickerson scored along side the stallion with a runner, Joe Patchen's old pace-maker; and Ben Walker was stationed over at the half-mile pole with another runner, ready to accompany the stallion home in his trip against time. Twice Ketcham scored him down to the wire ; Starter Frank Walker was ready to give the word, but Ketcham shook his head each time and took the coming champion back. The third time down Cresceus was trotting steady and true, and as he neared the wire Ketcham nodded. Starter Walker, leaning far out of the stand, yelled "Go !" and the great horse started on his record-breaking journey. Dickerson moved the runner up alongside him, and was on his wheel to the quarter in 31 J sec- onds. Cresceus was trotting like a whirlwind, and 84 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 »/4 Dickerson was urging- the pace-maker forward with whip and voice. Around to the half in i :o2j, hundreds of watches clicked, and the great crowd watched the game stal- lion with breathless interest. Walker joined them here and ranged his runner alongside the flying pair. The three-quarter pole was reached in i 133^ and Cres- ceus never faltered nor weakened. As Ketcham headed him home and began the last end of the journey Dicker- son and Walker were alongside, urging the pace-mak- ers with old-time Indiana yells, and Ketcham was call- ing upon the stallion for the supreme effort. Grandly and nobly the splendid stallion responded, and as he flew under the wire a mighty cheer went up from ten thousand throats, for the audience knew that a new world's record had been established. When 2 104 J was hung out from the timer's stand the audience again went wild, and when Ketcham jogged the new champion back to the wire and dis- mounted, no horse or driver ever received such an ova- tion. Hundreds of men sprang over the fence on to the stretch and crowded around the horse ; and a hun- dred hands were stretched out to Ketcham. Mr. Welch was one of the first to grasp Ketcham's hand, and offer his congratulations, and the genial Andy ap- peared very proud of the new record that had just been given his track. The band played a lively air as the great horse was led away, and Ketcham, his face wreathed in smiles, followed the new champion to the barn, while the crowd cheered them again and again. CHAPTER XVI R. J. WHEELER THE GREAT STALLION RACE AT BOSTON THE supreme test of Cresceus's ability as a race- horse came in the great $20,000 stallion race at Readville, Mass., on September 27. But once in the history of the trotting turf had so much money as was contested for at Readville — $20,000 — been offered in a purse for a race. It was early in the spring that the idea of bring- ing together in a race all the best stallions in the country was first broached at a meeting of the di- rectors of the New England Trotting Horse Breed- ers' Association. The idea was favorably received, and the time seemed auspicious for such an event. The fall of 1899 had witnessed the development of an unexpectedly large number of trotting stallion? of apparently free-for-all caliber, and these, with 86 CRESCE.US, 2:02 »/4 others of tried and recognized worth, presented a field of trotters such as had never before been enrolled on the records of the light harness turf. It was the most splendid race of a sensational year, and Cresceus was doubly crowned king of trot- ting stallions. Champion among stallions, by virtue of his record of 2. :o4J, racing king by right of conquest. At one time it looked as if the balance was going to fall against the champion. With a mighty rush in the third heat, he snatched victory from the fire and then defended the prize. Cresceus, Charley Herr, Grattan Boy, Arion, Lord Vincent, Benton M. and Jupe made up the field of starters ; they were the pick of the land, the acme of trotting-horse development. Twenty thousand spectators, with staring eyes and quickened pulse- beats watched seven of the grandest stallions strug- gle for supremacy and the rich purse. Nine special trains rolled out of the south station in Boston bound for the track at midday, and the regular trains were packed full of passengers inspired by an enthusiasm for horse flesh in action. The electric cars bore their burdens of enthusiastic humanity. Fashionable equi- pages of various characters traveled the highways. The automobile passed through the gate to the common gathering spot of the sport-loving folk, leaving its trail of mist behind. The great grand stand, packed to the roof, had a color scheme that might have been devised by an artist. The waving white ker- 87 A GREAT HORSE chiefs, the dresses of many hues, the ribbons and laces on the hats of the ladies, contrasting richly with the darker shades of the clothing- of their male es- corts, were part of the scene from fairy-land, beauti- ful to behold. The lawn in front of the stand was inhabited by the citizens of Cosmopolis, representing all the quarters of the globe by birth, and every trade or profession to which man has turned his hand ; doctors were next to gamblers, lawyers crushed against butchers, merchants were sandwiched in be- tween the clerks of their employ. It was a jovial con- glomeration of sport-loving people intent upon en- joyment. Shortly after two o'clock the stallions were on the track in full view of the excited multitude. They had scored a number of times and both horses and drivers were ready for the serious task of the day. "Go!" said Starter Wheeler. The cry had no more than left his lips when there was a stir of peculiar sound among the twenty thousand spectators, male and female, who occupied the lofty bank of seats, rising tier above tier, until the topmost seem to touch the lowest blue of the heavens. It was like the rustle of leaves in a wind-swept forest, and was the unspoken language of suppressed emotion, a frenzy that must burst into hurrahs. They are off ! Those mighty kings of the turf, seven of them, swung down the stretch. The race was full of surprises. Victory went just where it was expected, 88 CRESCEUS, 2 -.02 1/4 but only after a contest that kept the "I told you so" people close mouthed. Grattan Boy was picked to win second money and he just managed to get third. Jupe was never a factor, and Lord Vincent, counted a sure winner, never was dangerous, and was not fast enough to save his entrance. Arion was not expected to finish the race, but he won fourth money and made a creditable showing. In the first heat Arion set the pace to the stretch, but Charley Herr overhauled him at the long distance and beat him home in 2 :c>7^. Cresceus got away four lengths behind, but finished fourth. As the Kentucky stallion passed under the wire the winner in 2. 107^ of the opening bout in this great equine duel, the spectators broke into a pro- longed ah ! which swelled into a mighty hurrah, re- verberating over against the green and brown hills. Charley Herr wasn't headed in the second heat. Grattan Boy was second to him, coming into the home-stretch an open length away, and Cresceus was carried wide by the position of the Grattan horse. Ketcham made a strong bid with Cresceus, but the champion only managed to reach Charley Herr's wheel at the wire, and the Kentucky stallion won in 2:07^. The third heat was a thrilling one and set the im- mense crowd wild with excitement. Charley Herr again cut out the work leading Cresceus and Grattan Boy by an open length into the stretch. Ketcham be- gan his drive a little earlier than he did in the opening heats, and foot by foot the lion-hearted Cresceus drew 89 A GREAT HORSE upon Charley Herr, who was under a lashing drive. Cresceus reached his opponent's wheel fifty yards from the wire. Ketcham called for his supreme effort, and gamely rallying, Cresceus shot up to Charley Herr and nosed hirn out in 2 107 J. It was a sensational moment; counted by sensa- tions and not by calendars, it was a lifetime, and there were cheers for Cresceus, the king of stallions. Charley Herr got the pole from Cresceus in the second quarter of the fourth heat and led the champ- ion by an open length into the stretch. But in the final quarter Cresceus again showed his magnificent racing qualities by out-footing Charley Herr and beating him home in 2 :O7|. Cresceus wasn't headed in the fifth heat. Charley Herr clung to his wheel into the stretch, but Cresceus shook him off at the flag stand, and came to the wire eased up two open lengths in front in 2 :o8f , winner of the heat and race. Cresceus was proclaimed the win- ner, and his deed was greeted with an avalanche of hearty huzzas. It was an equine battle that never will be forgotten, while the history of the turf survives on printed page or in the memory of those who lived to see the battle royal. Hats flying in the air and the crowd swarmed through to the track to examine and congratulate. It was in the fastest five-heat race ever trotted that Cresceus so grandly and successfully defended his title of stallion king. It was a wonderful contest, and 90 CRESCEUS. 2:02V4 as predicted when the stake was first opened it proved to be the race that will be the longest remembered of any decided during the nineteenth century. The audience cheered Ketcham and the great stal- lion again and again, and at last Ketcham was forced to go into the judge's stand, where Starting-judge Wheeler introduced him to the spectators. With a voice hoarse from urging the champion, he acknowl- edged the applause and expressed his gratification. The victory placed to Cresceus's credit the world's record for a three, five and eight-heat race. CHAPTER XVII A. C. PENNOCK THE RECORD AGAIN BROKEN THE stallion race at Boston was the last race in which the champion appeared during the season of 1900, and it being the desire of Ketcham to have him, if possible, lower his record oi 2 104! , it was decided to send Cresceus to Cleveland and prepare him for another assault upon the record. He was given a careful course of training for a few days, and on October 5 demonstrated that he was in the best of condition by trotting a trial quarter in 28J seconds, probably the fastest quarter ever trotted by any horse. It was decided to make the effort on Saturday, October 6, and in the presence of a great audience of shouting admirers, Cresceus broke his previous record and trotted a mile in 2:04. It was after four 92 CRESCEUS, 2 t O 2 */4 o'clock when Cresceus appeared on the quarter stretch ; as the champion approached the grand stand he re- ceived one continual ovation, and as Ketcham mount- ed the sulky he was cheered to the echo. When Cresceus scored down the first time a strong breeze had sprung up and this seemed to dampen the ardor of the crowd, for it was feared that it would interfere with the attempt. On the third score Ketcham nodded for the word. Murnen, with a runner, kept on the outside and Cres- ceus was trotting as steady as a clock. When the first furlong was reached, however, he made a misstep and the crowd gave a groan as he broke badly. He steadied down again, but Ketcham checked him and drove back to the wire. He was sent on his second at- tempt at the first score, and he was going like the wind. He reached the quarter in 131} seconds, the same time he made at Hartford. After passing the third furlong, Mr. Pennock, with another runner, joined the party and this seemed to put more life into the great stallion. The first half was reached at i '.02^, one second and a quarter faster than the Charter Oak mark. It was then conceded that if he met with no mishap the record was at his mercy, and that The Abbot was in danger of losing his laurels as well. The third quar- ter was a trying ordeal, as it took him '.31% seconds to reach that point, which was the slowest quarter of the mile. At the upper turn he seemed to falter for 93 A GREAT HORSE an instant, but with a little encouragement from the runners and Ketcham's reassuring voice, he was quickly the demon trotter of old. After passing the three-quarters the hardest trial was to come, as he had to face the wind. He trotted down the stretch with- out a sign of weakening ; with his ears listening to the cheers of the crowd, he came like the wind. At the draw-gate, for the first time Ketcham tapped him lightly with the whip, and he seemed to jump forward. It was seen that he would break the record, and the only question was by how much. The crowd rose and kept time by the jumps of the runners. It was now up to the final stride, and it was all over before the crowd knew it. He finished strong, and many watches in the grand stand caught it bet- ter than 2 :o4. It was some time before the time was announced, and when Judge Barnard shouted : "Cres- ceus broke the stallion record, he stepping the mile in 2 104," the crowd could not hold itself. The horse and driver were surrounded by an immense crowd, all eager to shake hands with Ketcham, and then to have a good look at the champion. It was a wonderful performance, the last quarter being stepped in 31 seconds, an extremely fast quarter considering the conditions. The fractional time of this record-breaking mile was as follows : 131 J, i :oij, 1 133, 2 104. The mile once more proved the superiority of Cresceus to Directum beyond all argument — this with- out disrespect to the latter as one of the most extraor- 94 CRESCEUS, 2:021/4 dinary of all trotters. Cresceus's career, the season through, had been such a series of triumphs of ever- increasing splendor, that it were a work of supereroga- tion to shower fresh encomiums upon this, his last and greatest performance. But it was evident to all who saw him trot that record-breaking mile at Char- ter Oak, that he had not reached his limit at 2 104^, and equally so that neither had he at 2 104. As an example of sustained evenness of pace, Cres- ceus's great miles at Cleveland and Hartford are two most remarkable miles. The fractional time of the Hartford mile was 13 ij, 1314, 130!, 13 ij, while at Cleveland, it was 13 ij, 130^, :3i^, 131. They showed Cresceus as a steady rater, almost unequaled. In both attempts the opening quarter was the same, 31 \ seconds, bvt by increasing the pace through the second quarter at Cleveland three-quarters of a second was gained at the half, half a second of which was preserved at the three-quarters, and the last one- quarter second regained in the flight through the stretch. This last quarter in 31 seconds bespeaks Cres- ceus's strength and courage nobly. Only one other trotter — Alix — had ever trotted the last end of as fast a mile at the same rate. CHAPTER XVI I I GEO. STARR CLOSING DAYS OF CAMPAIGN OF COVERED with honors, and followed by the plaudits of the entire contingent of trotting- horse admirers of the United States, Cres- ceus, on October 12, arrived at Toledo. His name and fame were world wide, and his home-coming was made the occasion of one of the most remarkable demonstrations ever witnessed in the city of Toledo. The reception given Mr. Ketcham when he arrived in Toledo with the unbeaten Cresceus, showed the esteem in which both horse and man were held by the people of their home city. It was a splendid demonstration and showed loyalty to one who has done much toward bringing Toledo to the front rank of the cities of the country. Ketcham arrived at the Union depot shortly after 7 o'clock. 96 CRESCEUS, 2 t O 2 */4 Cresceus was unloaded from his special car and the parade to the Ketcham home began. The column which marched behind Ketcham's carriage was com- posed of the bugle corps, Battery D, four companies of the Sixteenth Regiment, delegation of letter car- riers and street railway employes, members of the Toledo Driving Club in carriages, and the Cherry Fickers, the famous drill squad of the local lodge of Elks. The music was furnished by the Traction Company's and Strobel's bands. The streets through which the parade passed were magnificently illuminated and thronged with citizens who enthusiastically applauded as the parade passed. On reaching the Ketcham residence, Mr. Ketcham thanked those who had given him the splendid ovation in the following little speech : "Fellow Townsmen : "I do not know what to say or how to say it. For once I am overpowered with emotion, and my voice is somewhat shaky. I appre- ciate it more when I know that this demonstration is due in a large part to the performance of the great- est horse that ever lived. This is made the more satis- factory to me and you, when it is taken into consid- eration that Cresceus is a product of Toledo. He was raised here and trained in Toledo; he has upheld the honor and dignity of the city by defeating the fast- est horses in the world, and establishing a record that is unbeaten. I can not close without mentioning the 97 A GREAT HORSE man who is responsible, in a large measure, for the success of the horse. He has been with me ever since I have had Cresceus, and has cared for him faithfully on all occasions. I refer to Mr. Tim Murnen, one of the best horsemen in America. I thank you, one and all, for this grand welcome, and believe me, I shall al- ways remember the occasion as one of the brightest moments of my life." Then the crowd gave three cheers, Cresceus was led to his stable and the crowd dispersed. The following day, October 13, will long be re- membered as a red-letter one in the history of Toledo. The Cherry Pickers, the widely known and popular drill squad of the local lodge of Elks, had arranged a great gala day of sport at the fair-grounds, and Mr. Ketcham consented to allow Cresceus to appear upon that occasion. It is doubtful if Cresceus ever appeared before a more friendly or more enthusiastic audience. He was at home, and almost every person in the vast throng of ten thousand people had watched his career year by year and saw him develop into the champion trotter of the world. The wealth and beauty of the city were present, augmented by prominent people from all over Northern Ohio. The ladies were present in large numbers and by their presence added to the pleasure of the occa- sion. The reserved seats in the grand stand looked, at a 08 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 V4 distance like an animated flower garden, filled as they were with handsomely gowned women, their vari- colored toilets presenting a kaleidoscope of color beautiful to behold. The other seats were filled almost exclusively with men, their darker clothing adding much to the color symphony. Out in the infield were the drags, carts, spider phaetons, gigs and hundreds of other vehicles used by Mesdame Society from which to view the event. Promptly at 2. 140 o'clock, Chief of Police Raitz and Sheriff Newton, garbed in the Cherry Red of the Elks' crack squad, and mounted on handsome horses, started from the back stretch, followed by the band ; then came the open carriages containing the officers of the Driving Club and a committee from the lodge of Fifty- Three. After the carriages came the Cherry Pickers, and then Cresceus, driven by Mr. Ketcham. The cheers and applause that greeted the parade could have been heard a goodly distance, and were sincere and hearty enough to warm the cockles around any man's heart. After the parade and drill, Ketcham appeared with Cresceus and announced that he was ready for the ex- hibition. Judge Wheeler, in a few well-chosen words, introduced Ketcham and the champion stallion, and once more the audience cheered. After a few scores, the third time down Ketcham nodded for the word, and Judge Wheeler called "Go !" Cresceus was trot- ting like a streak of light, when the word was given, 99 AGREAT HO R S £ and Tim Murnen was trailing him with the pace- maker, Mike The Tramp. At the first turn the running horse swung wide, and Cresceus put several lengths of daylight between his sulky wheel and the runner's nose. But the runner was on his wheel again quicker than it takes to tell it, and the two horses were speeding around the back turn before the crowd had caught its breath. On the back stretch the two animals were neck and neck; as they passed the quarter pole the timers knew that record-breaking time was being made. Cresceus reached the quarter in 33 seconds, and was trotting like a great machine. The horses traveled like a team ; Cresceus trotting in an even, steady way that delight- ed every horseman present, while the runner was run- ning like a record-breaker. They reached the half in fine style, and the watches caught them in i .-03! , the second quarter being in 30$ seconds, remarkably fast time on a half-mile track. Just as they were passing around the first turn in the second half, Cresceus made a slight mistake, caused by striking the sulky, and went off his feet. The crowd, which was holding its breath in the presence of such splendid trotting, moaned rather than said, "He's broke." But the champion was on his stride again in an instant, and the moan was changed into a great chorus of cheering approval. Cresceus reached the three-quarter pole in 1 137^, and then came the trip through the home stretch that 100 C R. E S C £ U S , 2 : '6 2 V4 no enthusiast will ever forget. The crowd was eager, silent, expectant, and it was not until Cresceus had poked his golden-chestnut nose under the wire in 2 :o9f that the pent-up enthusiasm of the multitude broke loose. When the mile was completed and Ketcham, with uplifted whip, drove back to the judge's stand, both horse and driver received an ovation. The ovation continued after Ketcham climbed out of the bike, and turned Cresceus over to his grooms. Cresceus undoubtedly lost almost a second by his break in the third quarter. He lowered not only the track record, but the world's trotting record for a half- mile track as well. Later in the afternoon Cresceus was hitched to a wagon and trotted an exhibition mile in 2:13^, the world's half-mile-track record to wagon. He showed that he was equally as well at home to wagon as he was to sulky, and the fast mile again set the audience to cheering. His time by quarters was 135^, i :o8, 1 140^, 2:13^. Two greater miles were never trotted by the champion, and the day will long be remembered in Toledo as one of the most enjoyable in the history of the city. The Terre Haute (Ind.) track had long been known as one of the fastest tracks in the United States, and many world's records had been made over it. Ketcham had always been desirous of allowing Cresceus to trot over the Hoosier course, and late in October it was 101 A G R EAT HORSE decided to ship the champion to Terre Haute and make an effort to lower his record of 2 104. He made his first attempt on October 16, but failed, trotting a mile in 2 105^, the fractional time being 130!, i :O2^, i 133!, 2 :o5-i. Three days later the champ- ion made another attempt, and again failed, but he trotted the mile in 2 104^. The time by quarters was :3oJ, i :02, i 132^, 2 104^. It was late in the season, and under the circum- stances his efforts were very remarkable. Each time the pace-makers were driven by George Starr and Murnen. After these efforts Cresceus returned to the Ketcham farm, and retired to his winter quarters, the undisputed champion race-horse of the day. Directum's single heat in 2 105^ stood for a half a dozen years as the best mile by a stallion. During the season of 1900 Cresceus trotted three heats better than Directum's best mile, and on another occasion equaled it. The average of these four miles, in each of which he equaled or beat the record of Directum, is practically 2 104^. In addition to this Cresceus, on nine different occasions during the season, in races and against the watch, trotted better than 2 107, and the average of these nine miles is just over 2 105^. One of them was the second heat of a winning race at Cleve- land, and another the third of a winning race at Co- lumbus, in each case a formidable field being beaten by Cresceus. When he returned home at the close of the memorable campaign of 1900, he held the following 102 CRESCEUS, 2 : O 2 1/4 world's records : Fastest mile by a stallion ; fastest two- heat race ever won by a trotter ; fastest three-heat race by a stallion ; fastest five-heat race on record ; fastest eight-heat race on record ; fastest mile by a trotter on a half-mile track, and the fastest mile to wagon by a trotter on a half-mile track. It was a showing superior by far to that ever made by any other trotting stallion, and placed Cresceus in a class by himself. CHAPTER XIX JOHN KELLEY CRESCEUS OPENS THE CAMPAIGN OF IQOI DURING the winter of 1900, horsemen discussed the question of the championship with a great deal of interest, and as a matter of course, Cresceus and The Abbot were the commanding figures in this discussion. The friends of The Abbot were persistent in their claims that their favorite would be able to lower his record of 2 :£ 1:37 2:07^ Columbus 32/4: I '-O3/4 1 135 2:06 Columbus 31 1:0124: 1:33^-2:06 Chicago 31 # 1:03^ 1:35 2:o6>£ Chicago 31 1:03^ i:35# 2:07^ Syracuse: 31^ 1:02^ 1:34^ 2:06^ Hartford 31^ 1:02^ 1:33^ 2:04^ Readville 31^ 1:02^ 1:34^ 2:07^ Readville 31^ 1:03 1:34^ 2:07^ Readville 32^ 1:04 1:36^ 2:08^ Cleveland ' 3JX I'°l/4 1:33 2:04 Toledo (j^-mile track) 33 1 103 >/ i :37>£ 2:09^ Toledo (to wagon, ^-mile track). .35^ 1:08 1:40^ 2:13^ Terre Haute 30^ 1:02^ i:33K 2:05^ Terre Haute 30^ 1:02 1:32^ 2:04^ 1001. Detroit 30^ 1:02^ 1:35^ 2:06^ Detroit 30^ 1:02^ 1^35 2:05 Cleveland 30 1:01 1:31^4: 2:02^ Columbus 29%: 0:59^ 1:3034: 2:02*4: ' Poughkeepsie 31*4: 1:03 1:35^ 2:O6X New York 30^ i:oiX 1:32*4: 2:03^ 212 CRE-SCEUS, 2:02 »/4 New York .3034: :35 2:06^ New York I'Ol1/ :^4 2:01; Readville . . t*s 1:04% Readville y :36X 2:06 Readville 2:07^4: Providence y I:O2J4: Philadelphia -^o1/ I 'OI 2 i/ Baltimore 1:02^ :^4 2:o^lA Toledo (^-mile track) Toledo (^-mile to wagon) •33 1:04^ i -o6^ :^y2 2:0914: 138^ 2:12 Columbus y i'oi)4 Kansas City (l/2-rm\e track) .... Minneapolis •32^ ?I 3/ 1:04^ 2 132^ 2:05^ St Louis . . 2:07 Denver I :35K 2:°8 Los Angeles . . 7.2 54: 1:02^2 n=; 2:0754: Dallas . . :^7¥ 2:0754: THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL PINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. NOV221940M LD 21-100m-7,'40 (6936s) I C. yp on A "70 I O £.\jt~t I O