JOHN R. GENTRY MAKES A WORLD’S RECORD.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 8

JOHN R. GENTRY MAKES A WORLD’S RECORD.

A MILE IN 2min. |sec. On September 24 John R. Gentry succeeded in lowering his record of 2min l|sec, accomplished a fortnight previous, cutting the figures down to 2mm An American exchange gives the following account of this wonderful performance : —“ To-day was an eventful day for Rigby, because the world’s pacing record was broken by John R. Gentry, the magnificent horse pacing the fastest mile ever made in harness and placing the world’s record at only half a second over two minutes, or 2min Jsec. Gentry was roundly applauded, when he appeared on the track for his great trial of speed. The air was chilly, and a light north-westerly breeze blew up the home stretch. His record before starting was 2min Hsec, which he made on September 8 at Glen Falls, N.Y., in the second heat, of a race with Star Pointer. Andrews had given Gentry two warming-up miles, and it was nearly sunset when he was ready to start for the eventful ; mile. Andrews rode his sulky easily, with an air of confidence, but among the spectators there were very few who believed that the record would be lowered so near the two-minute mark.

A runner appeared with Gentry to pace himAfter.shoring ,jt wide Andrews came down to the- < wire to begin the fastest mile ever accomplised by la horse in harness. The crowd cheered as he the Starting point. : - - “ Go ’. ” shouted Starter Culbertson, and hunIdreds of watches caught the pacer at the start. .The runner’s nose was within 2ft of Gentry’s as ■jthey made the first turn. In the stretch Gentry iwas going gracefully and steadily, getting over (the ground in good shape, and the runner had to (work hard to keep up. The first quarter was -given by the judges as made in People began to wonder when the half-mile was finished in 59Jsec, and to look for a two-minute pace. At this point the runner’s driver was using the whip and making a great effort, and succeeded in keeping at the wheel of Gentry’s sulky. The third quarter was reeled off in 30fsec„ making the time at the three-quarter post Imin 30£sec. This was great going, and now came the last quarter and home stretch. As the horsesturned into the home stretch, and caught the wind in their teeth, the crowd began to shout and hurrah, and Andrews shouted encouragingly to his horse. The runner’s driver also urged his horse, and used the whip. All this nerved the pacer to a supreme effort, and he made the last quarter quicker than the third quarter, doing it in 30Jsec, thus covering his mile in 2min Oisec. This was a whole second less than his former record, which had never been surpassed by any horse, and only equalled by Robert J. (2min l|sec) in 1895, at Terre Haute.