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HISTORY OF THE MILE RUNNING RECORD. The weather and track conditions being propitious, David C Johnsons five-year-old bay gelding. Rose-ben, by Ben Strouie Roseleaf, will run a mile at Belmont Park this afternoon in an effort to reduce the record of 1:353, made by James W. Haggins chestnut horse Salvator, by Prince Charlie Salina, over the famous straight course at Monmouth Park, August 2S, 1S90. Salvator was at that time four , years old. He was ridden In that feat by the late Marty Bergen at 1J0 pounds. The Monmouth Park Association gave Mr. Haggin a purse of .5300 for the performance. The stipulation was that Salvator should beat Raveloes record of 1:391. The betting was 2 to C that Salvator would win. The time for the first quarter was 23? ; for the half, 471 and for the three-quarters 1:113. Salvator was sent away to a flying start and had jKicemakers. If Itoseben succeeds in beating this record Mr. Johnson will receive from flic Westchester Racing Association ,000 and a gold cup valued at ,000. If, however, he does not beat 1:35 and does run faster than 1:37, which is the track record made by Kiamesha, October 9, 1905, and likewise the present American record for an eliptical course made by Dick Welles at Harlem. August 14, 1903, he will receive a silver souvenir of the occasion. It is stipulated that Koseben shall carry 110 pounds, and more if his owner elects. Willie Shaw will ride. The trial will be made over the main course, which means that the mile is shaped like this: I- IX. Start. c Finish. f -Stand. Ten Broeck, son of Phaeton and Fanny Holton. bred and owned by John Harper, Xantura Stud, Spring Station, Kentucky, was the first horse to run a mile better than 1:40 and his record of 1:39 J stood for thirteen years. He did it at Louisville, Ky., May 24, 1877. the third day of the spring meeting at Churchill Downs. The liest record for a mile prior to that date was 1:41, by Kadi, as a six-year-old. at Hartford. Conn., September 2, 1870. It was in the second heat of u race at catch weights that Kadi made this record. He had won the first heat in 1:42, which in itself equalled the time made by Grey Planet in his race against time at Saratoga August 13, 1874, and which had stood as the best mile until the three-year-old Searcher with 90 pounds up ran tiie distance at Lexington, Ky., May 13, 1875. The Kentuckians were hi high glee when the record came to them, but when Kadi lowered it by a half second the Xew Englanders had their fling in elation and put the people of the Blue Grass country in the dumps, though swearing to find a horse that would bring the record back. They were unsuccessful In wresting the honor from Kadi in 1S76, but in September of that year Ten Broeck, then a four-year-old, had run four miles against time in 7:15, lowering tiie record for that distance from 7:19. During the winter John narper was jierslstent in his claims that Ten Broeck was- "the fastest boss that ever stood on iron," declaring that he could break the mile record as easily as he had the four mile record. This caused the Louisville Jockey Club to offer a purse of 1906.sh50, the conditions reading: "Ten Broeck Continued ou second page. HISTORY OF THE MILE RUNNING RECORD. Continued from first page. to beat the time of Oie fastest mile on record, viz: Kadis second heat at Hartford in 1:414." It was planned to have the trial on the first day of the meeting, but the track was not fast, neither was it so oh the second day, but on the third day everybody agreed that tlie going was right and s Ten Brotick. mounted by Walker, weighing 110 pounds, whirled around the oval in 1:39, made good tlie boastis of his owner and caused the Kentuckians to swell out their chests again. Ten years passed lwfore any horse ran a mile as fast as 1:40. This was accomplished in a race at Sheepshead Bay September 7, 18S7. by Stuyvesaut, a three-year-old brown colt by Gleijgarry Dublin Belle,- which had been known th$ previous year as Scott Newman. He carried the colors of flie late Captain S. S. Brown, who had purchased him from Henry Simons. "Snapper" Garrison rode Stuyvesant at 111J pounds. Favor, ridden by Jimmy McLaughlin, and Choctaw, piloted by Godfrey, ,. were the other starters. Stuyvesant won by a head from Favor. Nq mile was run as fast as 1:40 in 1SS.8, but in a race at Washington Park July 12, 1SS9, P. M. West and Co.s Maori, Uien four years old. by loulet Queen of Cypress, ridden by "Pike" Barnes, defeated Little Minch, Lutra Davidson, Hlndocraft and Aloha a mile in 1:39J. She carried 105 pounds to Little Miuchs 110 and beat him by a head. The purse was , but part of the conditions of the race read: ",000 additional will be given the winner if Ten Broecks time, 1:30, is beaten." Al Farrow, at San Jose, Cal., in April, and Badge at Sheepshead Bay in June had each run a mile in 1:40 in races that year. It remained for Racine, the bay son of Bishop and Fairy Rose, which was brought to Chicago from California by Thomas II. Williams in the Undine Stable string for the spring meeting at Washington Park- In 1890, to take a quarter of a second oft Ten Broecks record. The race was run on June 2S. II was for a purse of 1906.sh00 and the other starters were Marlon C, Gymnast. Almoiit, Churchill Clark, X.. Otil B. and Jed. With Racine, then a three-year-old, carying 107 pounds, loading all the way and winning easily by a length from Marion C, the time was 1:39. Joe Nnrvaez. then called "Nar-vice." was Raeines rider. Tlien came the meeting at Monmouth Park, where a number of races wort programed at a mile over tlie straight course, but T Pnvyears f hree-year-oltl Raveloe, by Joe Hooker, out of Illusion, was tlie only horse that succeeded in-beating 1:40 July 31, witli 107 pounds up and ridden by Covington, he won from Druldess, Tulla Blackburn and others in 1:39. - This, of -course. was a quarter of a second faster than Racines record, hut the straight course records were no more popular in that day than now and horsemen were not inclined to regard tlie achievement as more n.oritorious than had been that of Racine or that of Ten Broeck, which it certainly was not. Then-came tlie performance of Salvator. In a race at Morris Park, October 10, 1S91. P. Lorillards La Tosea, three years old. by St. Blaise Toucques, ridden -by Fred Littlefield at 105, equalled Racines record of 1:391 for a mile over an eliptic.il course. Tlie fastest mile in 1S92 was 1:37? by the four-year-old Kildeer, with 91 pbunds iqi, running over the straight course at Monmouth Park, August 13. This was in a race. The fastest mile of that year over an eliptical course was Major Doniofj 1:35$ at Sheepshead Bay June 2S. Major Domo was then six years old and carried 110 pounds; At Morris Park, June 1, 1S93, in winnig the Sea and Sound Stakes. James R. Keenes three-year-old Chorister, by Falsetto Addle C, ridden by Fred Taral at 112 ponmls. reduced the mile record for circular courses to 1:39. The following year, October 24, at Harlem track, Chicago, J. G. Browns three-year-old Libertine, by Leonatus Falaise, carrying 90 pounds, ran a mile in a handicap against Cash Day, in 1:3SJ. This, record stood until Janies R. TCeenes imported horse Voter, by Friars Balsam-! Mnvour-neen, then six years old, in winning the Test Handicap at Brighton Beach, July 17. 1900. ran the mile in 1:38. He was ridden by Harry Spencer at 122 pounds!. Incidentally, that was a great day for Mr. Keene. In addition to this performance on the part of Voter, Unmasked and Outlander each won a race for him, giving him half the card. Voter, however, had ids glory alone only four days, for. at Washington Park on July 21. J. T. Stewarts Orimar, a six-year-old horse by Sir Dixon Prairie Queen, carrying J. Winkfield at 109 pounds, ran the mile in 1:3S. Since that .time only three-fifths of a second have been taken off the record. At Sheepshead Bay, June 22. 1901, August Belmonts Brigadier, four years old, by Rayon dOr St. Bridget, won the Sheepshead Bay Handicap In 1:37J. He-carried 112 pounds and was ridden by Winnie OConnor. This stood until T. C. McDowells four-year-old, Allan-a.-Dale, bv Halma Sudie McNairy, ran tlie mile at Washington Park. July 1. 1903, ridden bv Dick Crowhurst with 110 pounds up, in 1:37?. At Harlem, on the fourteenth day of the following August. J. B. Respess three-year-old Dick Welles, by King Erie Teas Over, ridden by Tommy Knight at 112 pounds, in a special race against Grand Opera, ran tlie mile In 1:375. Octolxjr 9.. 1905, the Oneck Stables three-vear-old, Kiameslia. by Esher Reflection, equalled this time at Belmont Park. She was ridden by Willie Knapp at 104 pounds. So tlie records stand today: Salvator over a straight course 1:351 Dick Welles around two turns Kiamesha around one turn 1:37
