Dick Welles Great Race., Daily Racing Form, 1903-07-01

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DICK WELLES GREAT RACE. c The most sensational performance ever •witnessed on the American turf took place at "Washington Park yesterday. In the first trace, three-quarters of a mile, J. B. Respess wonderful three-year-old Dick "Welles wasj - turned the wrong way when the start w*as ■ ■effected, but went after the field and, jvith a meteoric finish, beat John A. Drakes /Runnels a head and established a new /record if or the distance in a race run around fand turn. The official time of the race was lJht, one-fifth of a second better than thfe former record of 1:12, held by Bummer/ and Lux Casta. Dick "Welles did over a second better. He was individually timed by Several competent timers in 1:101. Fred /wood caught him in l:10g. It was an unprecedented and almost incredible feat that created intense enthusiasm and evoked/ general and prolonged applause. The colt was a public favorite, backed by small sind big bettors. The start shocked and provoked the crowd. After ■a* -period of .* gttxl-jxapplness immediately following the" finish of the race, Ehere was - a reactipn to ill humor and intemperate expressibn, which prevailed throughout the afternodn. The bad send off caused the :olts /real quality to be revealed, but it probably fortunate for the starter that the race resulted as it did. Directly after the Atart John Peters became the pacemaker, with Martinmas, Bardolph and Run-■nelar "was in close attendance. A. D. Gibson and Federal were outspeeded from the opening strides. Beginning the upper turn John ■d?eters drew clear of his followers so swiftly that he looked a certain winner when half way around. The spurt stimulated C. Gray, -who rallied Runnels and sent him along at a clip that brought him to Peters saddle at the end of a half mile. Meanwhile Knight had rated Dick "Welles judiciously. He passed Federal at the half mile ground and « a- little farther along caught A. D. Gibson. Until rounding into the homestretch there ■was no indication that the favorite would k be asked to extend himself. Then he dashed through into third position. He straightened out in the middle of the track and three open lengths behind John Peters and Runnels, apparently sure to finish first and second. With a little over three-sixteenths to run Knight pointed him to the inside and let him down. The response was a flash of speed that rapidly lessened the space between him and the leading pair, bewildered the railbirds scattered along the stretch and caused them to yell frantically. Fast as; he went, he did not catch Runnels, which had beaten John Peters, until within a hundred yards of the goal. "When he became a contender the occupants of the lawn and grandstand became impressed as had the spectators farther up the track and intense and demonstrative excitement resulted. When, in an energetic and close final struggle, he reached the goal first by a head It seemed as if pandemonium had broken loose. Then when the magic time was hulletined there was another hysterical manifestation v of delight. Another outburst occurred as the great colt returned to the scales. And as he was led back to his stall by a colored attendant, who was visibly afflicted with emotional insanity, his progress was marked by spasmodic greetings, which only ended when the stable boys about the upper turn iad exhausted their vocal resources. Dick T Welles was -with one accord received as a hero. It -was a spontaneous and mighty [ c ■ - S- W. Streett and Co.s chestnut filly Witchcraft / Won the second race, five furlongs, in wnyvh thirteen maiden two-year-olds carried colors. Jason, the favorite, made all y.ie running and was caught and headed in the closing strides. The winner got away poorly, was admirably ridden by • C. Gray, and ran through the final quarter in a whirlwind manner. At the head of the stretch Trompeuse was second and Buccaneer third, seemingly certain of places. Instructor, ridden by Crowhurst, ran out on the turn. The Kenwood Stakes, five furlongs, for two-year-olds, was won by an outsider in the betting. Talbot Brothers Prince Silver-wings, by The Commoner— Miss Leaflet, a 15 to 1 chance, getting home first. Proceeds was the favorite and English Lad a strong second choice. English Lad was obstructed and pulled up in the opening rush and Proceeds was outrun at every point by the winner, Requiter and Lonsdale. The latter showed the way from the gate until near the -deciding-liher-while Requiter and Prince-Silverwings were alternating as second and third, slight margins separating them. The stakes were secured by a length and Requiter beat Lonsdale a head. Peter J. Somero ran out, but exhibited great speed. M. H. Tichenor and Co.s Waswift, the favorite, won the fourth race, and equaled the track record of 1:45 for a mile and a sixteenth. Aladdin was the pilot to the quarter. On the backstretch Waswift assumed command and was not afterward headed. Aladdin, Glassfull and Dr. Stephens were prominent for five furlongs. Bragg and Nitrate were the contenders at the end. Fore and Aft nearly beat them in front of the stand. He ran much better than In his previous start. Bragg did likewise, his improvement being noteworthy. Backed from 10 to 31 to 1, The Kentuckian led all the way in the fifth race, a selling race of a mile and a sixteenth. He was never in trouble. The gray gelding, Prince Webb, which had been persistently backed, finished second. He was quoted at 25 to 1. Omdiir-man was a close third. Miracle n., the second choice, got away badly and finished fourth. Caviar was heavily backed to win the last race of the day, a mile and a sixteenth, selling. Orsina, a 10 to 1 shot, won, with Haviland less than a length behind. Serge was third, five lengths from the second. The favorite encouraged his backers by leading for nearly a half mile and then weakened. When he retired Orsina and Haviland went out together and contested the purse to the end. T. J. Gallagher.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1903070101/drf1903070101_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1903070101_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800