Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

  “No, sir. Thank you for your words.”

  The morning went on and Gilbert did not leave Allerton’s stable. He made sure he was pampered, watered, fed and brushed properly in preparation for his race against the two great fillies. Mr. Williams and Mr Hussey showed up late in the morning to check on Allerton.

  Mr. Hussey asked, “How does he feel today, Mr. Fenny?”

  “The heat may be running him down a bit, and he is worn down from studding.” Gilbert said. “His ankle may swell after the race, but I don’t think it will bother him much during the race. I have wrapped his ankles firmly. We probably should have stopped studding him a few weeks earlier than we did. I think if he doesn’t have to go more than five heats he should do well.”

  “If any one asks, you tell them he couldn’t be in better shape.” Mr. Williams said to both Mr. Hussey and Gilbert. “Tell them we have wrapped his ankle as a precautionary measure, which is true. I want no excuses for him and no bragging if he wins. Let me handle any press afterwards.” He cleared his throat, “That includes any discussion with Miss Timms. I mean it, that goes for both of you.” Then he smiled.

  Clara was going to be at Rush Park that morning to assist Mr. Soener at the Vienna Café booth. He had insisted everyone, under his employment, would be able to watch the big race between Allerton, Nancy Hanks and Margaret S. the second race scheduled that day. All three horses had great career’s and could easily trot the mile on any track in 2:15. Nancy Hanks, the mare from Kentucky, was the favorite with the pools paying $300 with Allerton next at $235 and Margaret S. who was recovering from an illness, brought $30.

  The bell rang for the first event of the day which preceded the five year old trotter event. Mr. Williams and Mr. Hussey took Allerton out of the barn to trot him around the half mile track a few times to warm him up. “We’ll bring him back to you to rub and water him before we head for the kite.” Mr. Williams told Gilbert. Gilbert looked around and saw a tremendous crowd around the practice track to watch the three horses as they warmed up.

  Hundreds of people surrounded the half mile track to watch Nancy Hanks jog around the track. Gilbert watched her in amazement. She had a beautiful gait, and was a fine looking animal. Nancy Hanks was all brown with black main and long, waving tail. Her muscles sculptured like they were carved in granite. Her head was small but very handsome, her neck long and sleek. She appeared to him as the perfect horse and like Alix, was slightly smaller, weighing around 950 lbs. Allerton was very refined as well, but just didn’t seem to carry himself with as much pride and dignity.

  Margaret S. emerged from the big barn, making her way to the small track as Nancy Hanks finished with her jog and merrily made her way back to the barn. Margaret S. was also a beautiful horse, but she appeared to show some stress, a bit thin and her normal springy step was slow. He had seen her before, and this was not the same horse.

  He couldn’t help but feel sad for this great animal. However he had seen other horses who looked under strength and found they trotted very well. He remembered Axtell had appeared awkward to everyone at Keokuk the first race he was in. He ended up winning and starting a road to glory for himself and his owner.

  As Nancy Hanks was escorted from the practice track, Gilbert spoke to her driver, Mr. Doble, “She looks very sharp today, sir.”

  “She is at her best, Mr. Fenny,” Mr. Doble returned with a kind smile. Gilbert felt good about himself after being addressed as Mr. Fenny by such a famous man as Mr. Doble. He wasn’t sure how he knew his name.

  There was a roar from the crowd at the track as the first event got underway. This was the 2:23 Pacers for a $1,500 purse they couldn’t get started the day before. The crowd cheered louder than Gilbert had ever heard at the track before. He looked to the stands and saw more people standing along the rail than ever before. It was speculated that this day would have the largest crowd of the meet, hard to tell how many there were.

  Gilbert was rubbing Allerton down when the bell rang for their event to get ready. Mr. Williams had stayed with Allerton, feeding him carrots and softly rubbing his head.

  The three horses were escorted to the kite shaped track at the same time. Mr. Williams spoke out to Mr. Doble, “Nancy looks in good form today?”

  “Yes, she is ready for the task at hand,” he returned, “I see Allerton looks to be in great shape.”

  “He hasn’t been this ready for a race in the last two years.”

  “Got that nasty ankle fixed up good?” Mr. Doble inquired.

  Mr. Williams returned with confidence, “We just wrapped it for precautionary reasons.”

  “Good,” Mr. Doble replied sincerely, “we should have a fine race then.”

  “How is Margaret?” Mr. Williams called back to Mr. George Starr, who was leading Margaret S.

  “We’ll see,” he answered. “You two better not forget she’s here.”

  The three of them stopped before they entered the track grounds. Mr. Williams looked at the two other driver’s, “Gentlemen,” he addressed them, “We have three of the finest trotting horses in the world here today. Regardless of the outcome, we can be very proud of the horses we drive. I have tremendous respect for both of you, and I am proud to be racing in this race with the best horse drivers on earth. Let’s show this crowd what the spirit of harness racing is to the world.”

  “Hear, hear,” spouted out Mr. Starr, and Mr. Doble nodding with great enthusiasm. The small crowd that had gathered around them clapped as the three driver’s shook hands.

  Then they escorted their horses into the track area. Mr. Williams entered first with Allerton and the crowd cheered. They moved slowly through a tremendous crowd of people. People were everywhere around the horses.

  As the crowd on the grounds was made aware of the horses coming through, they separated in good spirit to make a path for them. The stands were packed with people. The bandstand had been overtaken by spectators, disregarding the warning signs and officials trying to keep them off. The infield of the track was infested with spectators as well. The judges stand’ was full of judges, and the reporters’ box was crammed with reporters.

  The first event was coming to a close with cheers from the crowd that was watching the race. The first event was concluded with Forrest Wilkes taking first place, Nellie B. in second and Fedora in third. The crowd was so thick it was difficult to see where the entrance gate was to the track itself.

  As the horses approached the track, security workers, who were badly outnumbered, had trouble getting people moved away to allow the horses to enter the track. Allerton showed a bit of frustration and began to stomp the ground uncharacteristically. A path eventually emerged through the crowd exposing the gate.

  Allerton calmed down as he entered the track area, which was not overrun with spectators. A great cheer rose from the entire congregation of spectators when he entered the track. The cheer went on for several minutes, allowing Mr. Williams to tip his hat several times as he always did.

  There was a cheer as enthusiastic for Nancy Hanks, the great trotter from Lexington, Kentucky, and Mr. Doble. There was yet another great cheer as Margaret S. from Pleasanton Stock Farm, California, and driver, Mr. Starr, entered the track.

  The three horses trotted around the track’s small loop a few times. The drivers all stopped to listen to the head judge giving routine instructions, but with the crowd cheers, it was difficult to hear. Gilbert desperately tried to find a place to watch the race in amongst the rustling crowd. He found himself between the rails in the infield of the track, near the Judges Stand. It was nearly impossible for him to get a good spot to watch. He was smaller than most, and it was a push and pull match to get any kind of a view of the race. He might be able to see the start and the finish, but no chance to see the entire race.

  The race was set, Allerton received the pole position with Nancy Hanks and Margaret S. on the outside. They scored up and came ar
ound the small loop ready for the word. The judges, were determined to get a fair start to the race, even if it took all day. All the drivers were intent not to lose any advantage at the start. The start was tense and fast paced. They each jockeyed themselves frantically into a false start. So, they had to try again. If there were many false starts, it would give Nancy Hanks an advantage. Allerton was slightly out of shape with the recent studding duties and Maraget S. recuperating from an illness couldn’t be in proper shape. Budd Doble was a respected driver and would not try to exploit this advantage. The judges watching for trickery, would not stand for the sabotage of any race. It would be hard pressed for them to accuse any of the respected group of drivers.

  The second score was also unsuccessful. Finally, after the fourth unsuccessful start, the drivers agreed to slow the start down to increase the chance of good start. This plan worked well to get the word from the judge to start the race. The three speedy trotters were off for the race of the year. They were bunched up until Nancy Hanks pulled away by a neck as they neared the first quarter.

  Allerton then found a strong stride and steadily achieved a half length lead at the first quarter mark. The first quarter was trotted in a fast pace 32 ½ seconds. Margaret S. to weak from sickness and did not have her usual step. Her spirit remained strong, and kept trotting hard, but she fell several lengths behind the other two. They started the long turn with Allerton ahead by one and a half lengths to the half mile mark. The half mile was trotted in the blistering time of 1:04. Doble encouraged his mare to make a race of it and Nancy Hanks quickly, seemingly without effort, closed the gap between them.

  As they approached the three quarter post, Nancy Hanks had achieved a neck lead over Allerton. Allerton recharged by Mr. Williams encouragement, surged and was even with the mare when he broke stride and fell back one and a half lengths.

  Allerton regained his trot quickly and began to close on the mare as they flew down the final stretch. The crowd which had taken to their feet from the very start of the race was screaming at the top of their lungs. As they closed in on the finish line, the crowd was on their tip toes. It was neck and neck to the finish, and when they passed the judges stand the result was not clear to the spectators.

  It suddenly went deathly quiet for an instance before a Judge yelled out, “Hanks.” The crowd, reacted with a combination of moans and cheers. The time was sent up on the board at 2:12. That was the fastest race time in a heat ever recorded in the history of harness racing. Allerton did the race in 2:12 1/4. Which would have been the best race time ever, if Nancy Hanks would not have beaten it in the same race.

  The normally speedy Margaret S. was unable to stay with the healthy trotters in the heat of the day. Her heart and pride kept her close enough to stay for the second heat. Gilbert and Mr. Hussey took charge of rubbing Allerton down with warm water. Mr. Williams yelled to them, “If he hadn’t broke, we would have won that.” He had to yell, even though they were only a few feet apart. The crowd was buzzing madly with more excitement seeing the two horses were going to go at it from start to finish.

  The second heat was scored up and the crowd was unusually quiet for the start. They wanted to hear the word be given to the horses. It took the third score to get the horses away. Allerton broke right at the start and Nancy Hanks took a commanding six length lead on the stallion. Allerton is determined not to be humiliated this way and stubbornly trotted his best to close the gap to within a length by the half mile. Even with the break at the start of the race, the first half was done in 1:05. Gilbert feared Allerton would tire after working so hard to catch up.

  They trotted without any fluctuation in the distance between the two as they passed the three quarter mark. Then the great stallion began to gain by inches on the mare. Doble drove his mare hard and Allerton lost a step, but recovered quickly to close on her once again. The great Nancy Hanks kept her pace fast and won the heat with Allerton at her wheel.

  The time put up for the second heat as 2:12 3/4. Allerton had shown great promise and speed surpassing that of the mare, but could not keep his composure throughout the entire race. Everyone witnessing this race wondered if Allerton could take the great mare in the next race. It seemed nearly impossible for him to beat her three times in a row to win the event over the steady, confident performance of Nancy Hanks. Allerton had raced many great trotters in the past and had always performed well. Nancy Hanks looked to be unbeatable, unless he can perform steadily.

  It was known to most that when Mr. Williams was involved, the impossible could somehow get done. No one in the crowd would count the great stallion out of this race.

  The start of the third heat was more intense than the rest. Everyone was on their toes from the beginning. The crowd in the stands pounded the amphitheater with their feet in a steady beat. The three horses scored up once again, all the drivers fighting to make sure they got the best start possible. They were off, and all three shot out like a bullet. Margaret S surprisingly showed that she still belonged in the race keeping pace with the others to the quarter mile, timed at 32 ½. Nancy Hanks in the lead by a length. As they started the long turn, Allerton made a move to pass her, and as they passed the half in 1:05 Allerton is nose to nose with her. Margaret S. began to drop back unable to sustain the fast pace of the others.

  When they hit the three quarter post at 1:39, Allerton had her by a neck. Gilbert could see them as they came down the final stretch. He was at a bad angle, but he could tell they were extremely close. Both horses were straining for every inch as they battled down the final stretch. The mare, trotting strong and steady, began to pull away at the very end, and won by two full lengths.

  The hearts of many of the locals fell at the defeat of their beloved Allerton. Those same hearts were filled with love and admiration for the horse that had defeated him. Nancy Hanks had proven to everyone to be a great trotting horse. She had tied her new race time record with the last heat trotted in 2:12. It was a remarkable time that, not long ago, no horse had ever gone trotting a mile before, under any condition.

  Allerton could not be disgraced in his efforts that day. He had set a new three race record, for stallions with times of 2:12 1/4, 2:13 ½ and 2:13. He had forced one of the greatest harness racing horses to trot faster in three heats than any horse had done in a race before.

  The crowd poured uncontrollably onto the track to greet the two horses. Gilbert had to fight his way through the crowd to get to Allerton. When he did he hugged him around the neck showing his admiration for Allerton’s effort. Mr. Doble was a bit testy toward the crowd that had collapsed around him and his valuable mare.

  Security personal began to angrily push people away from the horses. Gilbert was even grabbed by one of the security people, luckily Mr. Hussey screamed, “Leave him!” Gilbert began to push at people to get them away as well. The judges came over and also assisted in getting people away from the horses. Everyone could understand the crowds’ exuberance, but it could result in injury to the spectators and the valuable horses.

  They were able to regain enough order to get the horses moved out. One of the security men came up to Mr. Williams showing a look of urgency, “Sir!” He called, “Sir, Mr. Williams, sir!”

  “Yes!” He had to yell in response.

  “Sir, the bandstand has collapsed,” when he said this, it caught the attention of several people around them. “Could you come, sir?”

  The many people around them looked toward the bandstand and there was dust in the air and the bandstand seemed to be missing. Mr. Williams looked to Mr. Hussey and Gilbert, “Get him back to the barn and I’ll see you later. Stay with him, Mr. Fenny.”

  Mr. Williams left for the band stand area. The bandstand had fallen during the last heat of the race, and many people were injured. Many of the injured were taken to the Rush Park infirmary located in the big show barn. There were nearly one hundred on the stand, thankfully nobody was seriously injured.
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br />   The track was eventually cleared of the crowd so the rest of the races could be conducted. There was also a delay as the bandstand collapse was addressed. The following races were anti-climactic as the crowd had thinned out afterward.

  The third event for the day was the pace-free-for-all. They were lined up as follows; Roy Wilkes, Major Wonder, Bud Doble, Guy, Dallas, and L.C. Lee. They got the word, and it quickly became a race between Roy Wilkes and Guy to the half. Roy Wilkes took a three length lead when Guy closed in to make a race of it. Roy Wilkes paces hard to hang on for the victory in a time of 2:12. Major Wonder finished as a close third.

  The second heat was taken without a doubt by the son of Adrian Wilkes. The third heat was again taken by Roy Wilkes in a time of 2:11 3/4. Guy took second and Major Wonder a close third.

  When the day finally ended it was a great relief to Gilbert to see the crowd had left and the only people at Rush Park were people caring for their horses. He stayed with Allerton in his personal stable barn. It was a hot day so Gilbert left the barn doors open for ventilation. He was rubbing Allerton down when the doors closed. He turned around, and the two big thugs were approaching him.

  “Sorry, kid,” a thug said. “You should have done what we told you to do. I would rather be in town celebrating. But no, I got to come here and take care of business.”

  Gilbert was no match for the big thugs, and there was nothing handy to use as defense. He was determined not to go down without a fight. There was one thing he hated in the horse racing business and that was the crooked people that tried to fix races. He felt this was his big chance to get back at them. He had no illusions that he wasn’t going to make much of an impression on them. He kicked the nearest thug in the shin who hopped around while Gilbert retreated away from Allerton, to protect him. He saw an ax hanging on the wall, but didn’t want to use it. Gilbert swung at them but missed and they got hold of him.