Shilling pushed Worth into the lead, and the big brown son of Knight of the Thistle went about his work in a determined manner. He needed no urging to keep him in front and ran straight and true under the clever guidance of his rider. Free Lance cut across at the start and took the second position, laying back of Worth about a length, although Wheelwright breaking first, did not get to going right away. Sonada broke well, with Duval only a short distance back. Guaranola was a couple of lengths behind soon after they got to going, with Flamma bringing up in the rear, the filly having been caught unawares. Shilling took no chances with the Hallenbeck colt, but held him right to his knitting, coming down the stretch for the first time.
Passing the wire, Worth was easily a length and a half to the good of Free Lance, which was laying back in a contending position at all times. A length back of Free Lance, hugging the rail, came Sonada, which was only a head in front of Duval. Wheelwright followed Duval, being three lengths back of him. Guaranola was two lengths in front of Flamma, which gives an idea of the poor start gotten by the filly. Around the turn going into the backstretch, Worth was still leading by his length and a half advantage. Free Lance was still holding on, although half a length separated the Alvescot colt from Guaranola, which had slipped up on the rail. Duval was laying back in fourth place on the outside, being half a length in front of Flamma, which had passed Sonada and Wheelwright. Sonada had dropped into last place and Wheelwright was not much better, both of them running neck and neck for the booby prize. It was plain to all that they were outclassed and the crowd passed them up and centered all their attention on the leaders. Away over on the far turn, those without glasses could still distinguish that Worth was in the lead, although it was growing dark fast. They also noticed that Duval had slipped upon the inside and was now only a length behind the Hallenbeck champion. Flamma, on the outside, had also passed Free Lance, and it was quite patent here that the Long colt could not go the route, for Guaranola had also passed him. Sonada and Wheelwright were trailing nearly ten lengths back. Worth still held his advantage turning into the stretch, but Shilling was becoming nervous, for he felt the colt was tiring.
It was now a question with him as to whether he could stick out the last furlong. Drawing his whip he gave him a couple of blows and the big fellow hung on. Duval was only a length back and in this way they raced to the sixteenth pole, with Flamma in third place. Duval was gradually gaining on Worth and Fain started to ride hard. Shilling again pulled his whip at the sixteenth pole and applied it vigorously. It was well he did, for the colt was dead tired, but still game. Fain had no whip, but proceeded to give Duval a hand ride. Shilling held Worth’s head straight during the last gruelling sixteenth and the colt dashed before the grand stand a neck ahead of Duval. Fain rode his mount out, but he could not get up in time. Five lengths back of Duval came Flamma, after running a good, game race. Four lengths behind Flamma was the dead tired Free Lance, a length ahead of Guaranola. Sonada finished away back and Wheelwright was pulled up.
Worth had won and the crowd was satisfied that the best horse was the victor. As was said before, there is no use considering “if the race had been a few yards longer” the result might have been different.
The jockeys hurried back to the grand stand, the usual wreath was placed about the neck of Worth, Shilling was given a bouquet of roses and then came the deluge.
SUMMARY
May 11, 1912. Track muddy. Purse $6,000. Net value to the winner $4,850. 1¼ miles. Time, :24⅗, :49⅖, 1:16⅕, 1:42⅗, 2:09⅖.
Worth, br c, by Knight of the Thistle—Miss Hanover, 117 lbs., ridden by C. H. Shilling. Won by a neck; 4 to 5. Duval, 2nd, Fain. Flamma, 112 lbs. Loftus, Third. Also ran Free Lance, Peak; Guaranola, Molesworth; Sonada, Koerner; Wheelwright, Byrne. Owner H. C. Hallenbeck. Trainer F. M. Taylor.