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FOKT ERIE GEOSES MONDAY. LOSS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE CAUSES MEETING TO, END. Sally Preston Wins the Fort -".Eric- Selling Stakes, Is Bid Up by, Mose Goldblatt and Complications Ensue. , Buffalo, N. Y., August 31. A, surprise was in store for both horsemen and public when they gathered at the Fort Erie track today by the official announcement that on Monday the meeting would terminate. The explanation was madexthat after more than ordinary preparations had been made- to continue through Old Home Week, a halt had to be called because the Grand Trunk road; on account of unusual traffic caused by excursions to Buffalo, and also to Toronto, where a fair will be in progress, would be unable to continue the transportation service. Todays card was of good average quality with the Fort Erie Selling Stakes at seven furlongs and a steeplechase over the short course as the- features. The Stake developed several sensational features In which Sally Preston, Fantastic and her owner, Mose Goldblatt, were the star performers. Fantastic was a prohibitive odds-on favorite ami was decisively beaten by Sally Preston. Rankled by "her defeat and taunts from his fellow owners, Goldblatt art vanced, the selling price of Sally Preston from 00 to ,900, a record boost for the meeting, but failed to get her. Not sufficiently content with having taken all" but 5 of the purse money away from Sally . Prestons owners, Goldblatt then lodged a protest against the payment of the purse on the ground that Sally Prestons present , owner had not "received a due transfer from the original nominator entitling her to eligibility in the. stake. There seems to be a general, , mix-up about the mare; Originally Sally Preston was nominated in the stake by a Mr. Rogers, who borrowed a sum said to be 00 from Mr. Secnian, in whose name the Ally ran today and tendered him a conditional bill p sale. Mr. Rogers protested some days ago to Judge Price, who advised him to settle the matter in the law courts, as he did not desire to pass upon the question of the ownership of the filly. James Robertson, the tralnpr, since declares an amicable adjustment has been reached between the disputants g and that Sally Preston was entirely eligible to compete in the stake today. Judge Price will inquire into the matter fully. In the event that he deems it just to disqualify Sally Preston, Goldblatt will lose the 50 as his share of the run-up money, as under the rules 01iiye.sn would be placed second. Aside from thcprotest and run-up the race was noteworthy for the marked Improvement displayed by Sally Preston over her previous effort, when, she was a strongly supported choice and failed to finish among the placed horses. Today she spreadeagled her opponents, in track record time. The tabled history of the Fort Erie Stakes is as foHows: - Year. Winner. A. Wt Jockey. Val. Time. 1908 Little Boy 8 S7 Gilniore ... .,150 l:14t- 1901 Rusk ...3 97 Ronianelli... 1,150 l:17i 1905 Crestfallen ...0 91 Swain 1,150 J.:252 1900 Art. Cummer. .4 100 J. Lee 1,150 1:274 1907 Sal. Preston.. 3 98 A. Martin.. 1,150 1:254 At seven furlongs since 1901. In the steeplechase there was activity on the part of the, judges before the race and after Its running. Talk of jobbery led, to a rigid investigation, with the result that jockey Ford, who was to have ridden Ralph Reese, . was ordered away front the grounds. The supposition is that; this riiler has shown too much concern about jumping races, arid on several occasions has been desirous of paying jockeys fee mounts conditional that owners would enter their charges, With Ford and Ralph Reese out, it seemed as if any prearranged affair had been pipped in the bud, but Huestons circus tumble from Merry George, a logical contender, was so crude as to cause the judges to suspend him pending further investigation. The supposed nominee Little Wally, won very easily. The bidding on winners seems to be contagious. After Aii-burndales victory he was raised 00 over a like amount, hut retained. He was -bid up by O. A. Crandall, from whom P. J. Williams took June Time a few days ago. Marion Moores four and a half furlongs in :54 in the fifth race marks a new track record for the distance.
