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I THE MILE RUNNING RECORD The improvement of thoroughbred speed in the past thirty years as estimated from the time standpoint is an interesting retrospect and the present record for one mile sta ¬ tistically at least proves that intelligent breeding together with other advantaga ons conditions of race track training etc has increased the speed of the race horse to a very appreciable extent Whether the fast milers of today could make the time they do now on the tracks of thirty years ago is of course a question which can never be proven and is open to argument pro and con We can therefore in discussing progress only be guided by well authenticated statistics upon which is founded the entire system of probabilities Prior to 1872 the record for one mile was 144 and the idea of 140 ever being beaten was the excres sence of a dreamy brain at which the typical turfmen of that generation hooted In 1872 at Saratoga Alarm 3 carried 90 pounds and ran a mile in 1421 In 1874 tha late Hon A Belmonts Grey Planet 5 110 on a wager to run a mile icl43i or better ran the mile in 1 42i which was the record until May 13 1875 when Searcher afterward Leandar 3 by Enquirer with 90 pounds ran the mile at Lexington Ky in 1 4H At Hartford Conn Septembar 2 1875 Kadi 6 by Lexington with catch weights ran the distance in 1 41J but as the weight he car ¬ ried was unknown the performance of Searcher was considered the more creditable and on May 21 1877 Ten Broeck by Phaeton Fanny Holton with 110 pounds was sent to baat the 141 of Searcher which he accom ¬ plished end placed the record at 1391 whare it remained until 1890 when Racine 3 107 at Washington Park boat it in 1 33i La Tosca 3 105 pounds October 10 1891 equaled Bacinea record at Morris Park On June 1 1893 Choris ¬ ter 3 112 at Morris Park reduced Racines record to l39h Octobar 21 1891 Libertine 3 90 pounds at Chicago placed tho record at l38i which stood until July 17 1900 when Voter 6 122 ran tho distance at Brighton Beach in 138 and Orimar 6 109 pounds at Washing ¬ ton Park Chicago equaled Voters record Brigadier 4 112 pounds at Sheepshoad on June 22 placed tho record at l37 l37Major l37s s Major Domo 6 116 pounds ran a mile at SheepsheadBayinl892inl39 and Maori 4 105 at Washington Park July 12 1892 in 139J The records for the straight course at Mon mouth Park are Salvator 4 110 against time l35i August 28 1890 Ravaloe 3 107 July 31 1890 139 and Kildeer 4 91 pounds August 13 1892 l37i The number of miles under 140 run at the recent meeting of the Coney Island Jockey Club at the Sheopshead Bay track is somewhat phenomenal Outlander 3118 pounds ran the distance in 139 Vax Taper 4 117 in 139 Brigadier 4 112 137 Scurry 3 88139 Watercolor 3 126 138J The Puritan 3 106 139JS Roohampton 3 105 138 Wax Taper 4 120 138 Contend 3 106 l399s and Intrusive 6 120 139 Tho foregoing are not supposed to be all the miles run faster than 1 40 but are sufficient to explode the ideas of thirty years ago as well as to indicate very great improve ¬ ment in the epaed of race horses and race tracks To judge from the past few years de ¬ velopment we may in the near future expect horses which cannot beat 1 40 to seek some other calling than racing Turf Field and Farm
