view raw text
SURPRISES AT HAWTtfORNK. It was a moat disastrous afternoon at Hawthorne for the talent and form players yesterday. The card, on paper, looked soft and it seemod, in advance, that the bookmaker who was courageous enough to lay prices against the different horses in their respective races, that seemed to ba such. royal cinches, would certainly go broke, The public started out with a hurrah beating Marito in the first race. This gave confidence and May me M M. was backed almost off the boards to win the Eecond race. She fhilpd to score and this set the previously confident speculators to guessing. Borne played Bonneville and others May Beach in the thirl race, but as Grazilla came along and beat both, the ring had a rich break. This made the bookies frisky and thy carried Flop from 6 to 5 up to 2 to 1 in the fourth. He was backed well and delivered the goods, j Then the greatest surprise of the dsy turned up. Serrano seemed to be a "moral" in his race and the speculators fell over one another to bet on him at 4 to 5. He finished third. Then those that had currency enough left after his defeat went to Robert Bonner "hook, line and sinker" to Ret out. This fellow failed to score and the early trains to the city were crowded. There was only one close finish during the afternoon and it was a beauty between Samovar and Mayme M. M. in the mile and a qaaiW dash. The pair had the race to themselves all the way and fought like demons through the last quarter of a mile When they swung into the stretch Samovar had a lead of about two lengths but opposite the paddock Mayme M M. got to him and a fierce struggle eneued. Samovar wobbled under his heavy impost of 114 pounds at the eighth post and the cry went up "Mayme M. M. wins, Mayme M. M. wins," but Knapp, who was on Samovar, used rare judgment, and instead of going to the whip, as nine out of fivery ten boys riding here generally do when they feel their horse weaken uuder them, sat still and nursed Samovar along skilfully. Thu horse held his own with Mayme M. M., and Knight, becoming too anxious, went after his -whip. He is a light boy who rides a good race all the time, but he was n it strong enough to use the whip and hold the fillys li-ad up at the same time. The consequence was that Samovar and Knapp got the decision. It was a very pretty contest, and both Knapp and Knight were applauded when they came back to the stand to weigh in. Knapp can ride perhaps the strongest finish of any jockey at the track but it is hard for him to ride at ItSB than 112 pounds. There was a rare lot of speed collected in the fourth race, a three-quarter allowance affair, and had the track baen at its bast a new record for the distance might have baen made. As it was the race.was a fast one and by winniQg, Graziella showed speed it was never before dreamed she po3ae3sed. This filly was not fast enough to keep up with May Beach and Helns Pet, who stopped the first half in 48 seconds, .but she had the most staying power and when called upon in the Btretch she went to May Beach like a lady and eventually won handily by about a length. Canova fin-ished third and Bennevillo, who seemed dull of epeed, was nowhere. Morito wdn the initial fiva and one-half furlong scramble for two-year-olds off by herself. The field in the fourth race was a very ordinary one and Flop, hard driven and out to the limit, won in a staggering finish from Pitfall and Elidad. Semper Eadem, who is fit and good, cantered home with .the fifth race and made Serrano, who was short and nowhere near ready, look like a cheap selling plater. P Serrano appeared to far outclass his field and it hardly seems fair for a trainer to send a good horse like him to the post in a cheap field where he is sure to be a strong favorite. The closing mile selling race went to Little Singer who suffered from bad handling, but still easily beat the odds-on favorite Robert Bonner. Jockey Nutl has patched up his grievance with the clerk of the fcales and will be seen in the saddle today. Nutt was fined 03 and indefinitely suspended Saturday. His fine was suspended and he is permitted to ride again.