view raw text
BIGGEST CROWD OF SEASON ATTENDANCE REACHES OLD-TIME PROPORTIONS AT SHEEPSHEAD BAY. Grandstand Packed and Crowd Overflows to Lawns Kings Daughter Wins Commonwealth Handicap in Fast Time. Xew York. July By far the largest crowd of the season gathered at the Sheepshead Hay race course this afternoon. It seeineil like an old-time Fourth of July gathering, numbering as it did approximately 20.000 persons. For the lirst time in over a year tin; vast grandstand was tilled and an overflow of thousands of men and women thronged the lawns. The sun was tempered by an almost imcomfortahlv eool breeze, which stiffened at intervals into a mild sale- and raised clouds of dust while the horses were running. The Commonwealth Handicap was deprived of its chief attractions by the withdrawal of KHz Herbert and Montgomery. It was just as well that the latter was scratched, because ho would surely have been beaten by Kings Daughter, which, on this occasion, showed a sparkling performance. Areite was an added starter ami a hot tio that trailed a poor last throughout. The .McDowell mare stripped in vastly improved form and in the running led her fast ami light-weighted -opponents. Alllietion. Effendi and Areite. from start to finish under a pull. She covered the mile and a iuaricr in the fast time of 2:04. Tim only pronounced favorite that materialized was in tie jumping nice, which California King, the top weight, won ill impressive style from mediocre opposition. Owner Thomas Hitchcock. Jr.. recently back from France, superintended the saddling of his horse in ierson. Mr. Hitchcock had some misgivings alHiut California Kings faulty underpinning standing the strain, and .remarked- that but for his unsoundness last fall the horse would have been sent to France witli the other jumpers of the stable. Unfortunately, the great steeplechaser came, out of his trial in doubtful shape. In the first and second races the winners. ReylKMirn and Jolly, showed surprisingly improved form coincident with brisk supiHjrt. Clays gelding was bid up by an unknown from 00 to 51.200. anil the owner protected him with tlie customary advance. The mile and nn eighth race over the grass course was easy for Beauclere. The fact that this horse was allowed, to start, with liis owner under sus-lumsion. evoked much surprise. Nearly everyone, had left him out of tiie calculation after the announcement of the barring of Coulters entries by the stewards. The mile race, which wound up -the days sport, developed the liest turf spectacle on the program. Throughout the lirst furlong of the stretch Hill Top. Luwton Wiggins. Twilight - Queen. Blackford and Casque were striving for the lead heads apart. Opposite the grandstand the first-named pair fought ohr an exciting finish. Seymour lieutler, who lias had charge of the Tlukerton patrol on the Canadian tracks this season, was a visitor at Sheepshead today. Mr. Beutler -will leave immediately to assume the Important lutV" of bodyguard nearest the person of the president during the coming Lake Chaniplain celebration. John Huggins is back from -England, whither lie went for the express liurpost; of seeing the running of- the Epsom -Derby. 31r. Huggins says lie had a 1et on Sir iMartiu but could not see what happened to him at Tatteiiham Corner, which was nearly -three-quarters of a mile away from where he viewed Hie race.
