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<\/a>Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Ohio, Friday, July 19, 1872\nThe Race
\nFastest Time on Record<\/p>\n
They were started from the three quarter pole. Every eye was riveted to the spot. The flag fell and they were all of together. On the stretch Bassett comes to the front and is making the pace at a terrible rate. They come to the stand, and a cheer greets them as Bassett passes under the string a length in advance of Defender. When they went around the turn the same hot pace was kept up, and Bassett would not let Longfellow reach his head. They approach the quarter pole, Longfellow gets closer to the flying Bassett, and a cheer goes up from this backers, but when they pass that point his nose is only at Bassett\u2019s tail, Defender out of the race. As they rush along the back stretch Longfellow is urged forward and laps Bassett. The sight is a beautiful one and the excitement is intense. Now Bassett gets away again, and at the half he leading his great competitor a length, and again the cheers roll out over the course. Now, again, on the lower turn, Bassett is crowded upon, and Longfellow is again lapping his quarter. The shouts continue and increase in volume, but at the three quarter pole Bassett is away three quarters of a length. Now they came up the stretch. Longfellow comes with a rush. The excitement is intense. He heads Bassett. The men are hoarse with shouting, and the ladies shout with them. They near the stand, and the gallant Bassett suddenly shows his head to the front. Again they go to the turn, and again Bassett goes away from his competitor, and is now a length ahead. \u201cLongfellow\u2019s heart is broken,\u201d shout the partisans of Bassett, but anon Longfellow crowds upon Bassett again, and the former laps the latter\u2019s quarter. They rush toward the half mile pole, and Bassett is still half a length in the lead. They are now half a mile from home, and as they go round the lower turn Longfellow covers a great deal of ground, and is on even terms with Bassett, but the later does not give way; but keeps up the tremendous and tireless pace, and pushes past the three quarter pole a neck and shoulders in front. They now turn into the home stretch, and the scene beggars description. The policemen endeavor to make the people keep their seats, but without avail. White haired men are young again. They never saw such a contest. They shout, they throw up their hats. The confusion is worse confounded. Up they come. Bassett is still leading, he is a length in front, and the excitement knows no bounds. They approach the goal, and Longfellow gets the whip. It is no use, although he got up a little closer. Bassett never tires, and beats him home by a length in the fastest time ever made by two and a quarter seconds. They scene beggars description, and our pen falls in its haste to do it justice. It is wearied with the excitement of the day, and rests with the recording the mournful fact that Longfellow is hopelessly broken down. It appears that his shoe plate broke, and curving up during the race buried itself into his foot.<\/p>\n
Every time I search through old newspapers for Harry Bassett during the 1870\u2019s, I keep coming up with hits for a horse named Harry Bassett. For something a bit different, here is information on one of his most famous races. … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"