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SURPRISES AT HAWTHORNE. Not a drop of rain fell at Hawthorne yesterday during the heavy downpour in the city at noon time, and consequently patrons were agreeably surprised to find the track in excellent condition. A crowd not quite so large as on the preceding day was present arid witnessed a good afternoons sport. The «ard was innocent of any stake race, but was well balanced throughout and atoned for its mediocre quality by producing several close and exciting finishes, chiefly that of the fourth race, a dash of one mile for four-year-olds and upward, in which six of the field flashed over the line in close alignment. Alfred C. was made the favorite by the time the post bell had rung, but the best he could do was to run third, the winner turning up in Cornwall, against, whose chances as good as 15 to 1 could be had. To a good start Frivol, closely attended by Alfred C, led until well into the last quarter, where four others of the field began to move uo, the six being in close order opposite the last sixteenth post. From here to the line the entire six were under keen punishment. Cornwall proved the gamest, passing the judges first by a short head in front of Frivol, which beat Alfred C. a neck for second place. Major Tenny, Rolling Boer and Lingo were lapped on Alfred CI It was one of the closest and most exciting finishes seen here in a long time. Major Tenny was under a hard drive when running next to the inside rail in the final eighth and responded with great gameness. Rolling Boer finished going fast and the same may be said of Lingo. The most important race of the day from a monetary viewpoint was the third, a handicap" purse of 00 for three-year-olds and upward, at one and one-eighth miles. The talent was much divided in its choice in this race, The Conqueror II., Nitrate and Modicum all being generously backed. Nit-*rate finally put up one of his best efforts and proved to be the best. Modicum led by a fair margin until well Into the last quar--5ter, where Nitrate, which had always been running along in second position, moved up on even terms with him and had him beaten when a sixteenth from home, winning easily by two lengths from Zazel, which beat Modicum one for second place. Zazel made up ground fast, running next to the inside rail in the last eighth, and catching the tiring Modicum in the last hundred yards wore him down for second place. The Conqueror II. was slightly pocketed opposite the last eighth post, but got through in the final sixteenth and finished going fast. He was wearing down Modicum rapidly in the closing strides and would have finished third in a few more strides. Barca finished with a rush and bears watching hereafter. Frangible finished well up and is due to win, especially over a soft or a muddy track. The opening race of the day brought a cumbersome field of fourteen to the barrier. It was a seven furlongs dash for three-year-olds and was taken by Orfeo, the favorite. Off well in his stride, he at once assumed command and tiptoeing the field all the way won as his rider pleased by one and a half lengths from Ocean Dream, which finished nine before Serge for second place. Ocean Dream was right there all the way and was easily best of the others. Serge finished going fast. He appears to run to his best form only on a soft track. The second race of the day, a five and a half furlongs spin for two-year-olds, resulted in a rattling good finish between Peter Paul and Auditor, in which the latter proved the best at the weights. Peter Paul, off flying, showed his usual speed in the early part of the race, turning into the last quarter a length In the lead. Here, Auditor began to gradually close up on him and had gotten on even terms with him when a sixteenth out. Both horses were under keen pressure all through the last hundred yards, but in the closing strides Auditor gradually drew away, winning by a half length, Peter Paul finishing three before Commodore for second place. The latter was fairly well up for the last five furlongs, but tired palpably toward the end. Codex and Nettie Dutchman showed some early speed The fifth race, a dash of six furlongs for three-year-olds and over, resulted in a big surprise, the overwhelming first choice, LEt-renne, failing to finish In the first three. The winner turned up in The Giver, the second choice, which came with a rush at the end and just got • up in time to nip Pride of Galore, a ,100 to 1 shot, the latter beating Father Wentker one length for second place. Pride of Galore led by a big margin until in the final sixteenth, where she noticeably tired. LEtrenne ran second, up to the final eighth and then tired rapidly, allowing Father Wentker to beat her a neck on the post for third place. The last race, a dash of one and one-sixteenth miles for three-year-olds and over, went to Sidney C. Love, the favorite. He led all the way and had enough left to stall off Glassfulls determined challenge in the final sixteenth, winning in a drive by a half length. Glassfull beat Airtight eight lengths for second place* Sidney C. Love was at hisbest and ran a creditable race, showing gameness when the pinch came.
