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HARLEMS OPENING DAT. The continued rains of the last week or so made the going at Harlem yesterday about the worst aeen there this year. The track was heavy and holding, the horses sinking into it far above their fetlocks. Despite this drawback, there was little scratching indulged in. Seven horses in the steeplechase went over the short course without a mishap, something unusual when the bad condition of the course is taken into consideration. The feature race of the day was the Forward Stakes, a da9h of seven furlongs, for two-year-olds, with ,000 added. Of the seven scheduled to start the only absentees were Gold Bell and Philo. S. C. Hildreths entry, consisting of Topsoil and Capable, was made an even money choice, but the beet it could do was for Topsoil to run third. The winner turned up in Qregor K. an outsider in the betting which won easily by two and a half lengths from Gyp-zene, which beat Topsoil a head for second place. The winners form reversal was marked as Topsoil had beaten him off in his last race before. Gypzene led by a big margin up to the final quarter, where Buchanan called on Gregor K. and he easily passed into the lead winning as his rider pleased. Gyp-2oU8 wastiringfastdn-the closing strides and had to be driven out to the limit to stall off Topsoils bid at the end. The latter began slowly, but made up ground fast in the final quarter and finished with a rush under a vigorous ride. Judge Himes and Capable might just as well have remained in their stalls for whatever figure they cut in the race. The stake was worth ,560 to the winner. Lucien Appleby is certainly a grand three-year-old on a muddy track. He won again yesterday in the fifth race, a dash of once around the track, for three-year-olds and upward. He was made an odds on favorite and certainly won as the betting indicated. McChesney, which was scheduled to start, was scratched owing probably to the holding condition of the track. Corrigan led by about two lengths for the first quarter but when well straightened down the backstretch Lucien Appleby easily closed up on him and held him safe through the rest of the race, winning as his rider pleased by one length, while Corrigan beat Flying Torpedo five for second place. Bragg was hopelessly beaten off for the entire route. Lucien Appleby appears to be invincible on a soft or muddy track. The steeplechase over the short course was taken easily by David S., which was backed heavily by the talent. He led from start to finish, fencing cleanly throughout and winning by two lengths from Jennie Day, which beat Captain Conover one and a half lengths for second place. Jennie Day closed up on David S. in the last eighth, but he at call. Captain Con-over came away from her handily began slowly, but made up ground fast after the ninth jump had been taken and finished stoutly. All the horses went the route without a single mishap. The days opener, a dash of six furloners for three-j-ear-olds and upward, was taken oasily by Joe Martin. He caused a delay of some thirteen minutes at the post by his obstinacy, but finally broke to a good start and at once went to the front where lie easily remained to the end, winning by two lengths from Duelist which beat Muresca two for second place. Muresca ran a dull race, tiring fast in the last eighth drive with Duelist. Lady Contrary showed some early speed. The others were never in the hunt. Aladdin keeps right on winning in the mud, taking the second race, a dash of one mile for three-jear-olds and upward, in easy fashion by a length from Bag Tag, which beat Vulcain twenty for second place. Bag Tag displayed much speed, but tired palpably when challenged by the winner a furlong from home. Yulcains race was too -utterly bad to be true. He labored heavily in the going and was always beaten off. Fake ran well for about a half mile. The last race of the day, a dash of one and one-sixteenth miles for three-year-olds and upward, proved to be an easy thing for Trentham. She and Wyola ran in close company until just after turning for home, where she came away easily, winning in a canter by live lengthB from Wyola, which beat Obstinate Simon one for second place. Wyola tired fast when challenged by the winner. Obsti nate Simon finished resolutely and bears watching. Compass was well beaten when entering the final eighth. Irving Mayor showed some early speed. In attendance was one of the largest Monday crowds that has visited a local track in some time, and the betting was heavy and spirited. The track at its best today will be holding and heavy.
