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EMPIRE CITYS BEGINNING JREAT CROWD SEES SHORT GRASS DEFEAT R0AMER IN A GRAND CONTEST. Dick Williams a Failuro and Unplaced Gnat Wins Her First Race of the Year and Is Bid Up Sam McMeckin Claimed. New York, July 12. That racing over an elipti-cal track is popular hereabouts was proved by the big crowd which witnessed the decision of the opening days card at James Butlers Empire City track. The special attraction of the day was the Empire City Handicap, which brought out a representative lield of horses, including Roamer, Short Grass and others that have been racing hereabouts, together with John AV. Schorrs Dick AVilliams, a recofit arrival from Kentucky. Emil Herz Short Grass was returned the winner in sensational fashion. Short Grass ran around his opponents after being a distant follower and won by a length from Koamer, with Spur a close third. It was a race that brought the crowd to its feet and when Short Grass was seen to be gradually working his way up the crowd went wild. It could be seen a quarter of a mile from the finish that Short Grass would be a formidable contender. Spur was following Short Grass and this tended to make the struggle much more interesting. The lield ran bunched in tin; early racing, with the exception of Shorjt Grass and Friar Itock. The latter was never a contender. Slumber II., Trial by Jury and Roamer were always in the front division, but Roamer was the only one of the trio to hold on. Short Grass caught Roamer when a sixteenth from the finish and after that the only one to be at all dangerous was Spur, which ran far better than it was generally anticipated ho would. Dick AVilliams loomed up temporarily at the head of the stretch, but failed to go on. It was the universal opinion of horsemen that Short Grass is an exceptional horse at this time. AVoodward, after accounting for the first race, was advanced from ,700 to ,500 by J. Iowers. trainer for Mrs. C. II. Shilling, but was protected by trainer George M. Odom. Cheer was claimed out of the first race Tuesday by Godfrey Ireece, but was afterwards repurchased by the Brighton Stable at a slight advance. C. Buxton, who has Shyness and Old Broom, is on the lookout for some horses to take to Tijuana next winter. J. AV. Schorr and party arrived from Cincinnati last night, having made the journey by automobile. Eddie Dolling was in the party. Jefferson Livingston will have fifteen of his horses here tomorrow. They are the division of his stable trained by Mose Goldblatt. John AV. Schorr says all his horses shipped as well as could be exepcted. It McDermott is now riding free lance, having severed his connection with the Butler stable. The chute has been taken out of the Empire City track and three-quarters races are now started on the turn. After Gnat won the second race, making her first start of the year, J. AV. Hcdrick was on hand and advanced her from ,000 to ,500, but failed to get the Butler filly. Short Grass in winning the Empire City Handicap ran within one fifth of the track record of 1:51 for one mile and an eighth, held by Dalmation. J. AV. Hcdrick claimed Sam McMeekin out of the first race, for ,450. Jockey Muck Garner has left for Saratoga where he will indulge in a rest until the opening of racing at the Spa. The lad had been riding hard since the opening of racing at Lexington, April 27 and the short period of rest will probably prove beneficial to him. There will be a meeting of the stewards of the Jockey Club tomorrcv. at which the existing selling race rule v-fU he discussed. The division of surplus li rjeii-y among owners of losing horses, has not br-glit about the desired-Result and a change ma;Me made. J. AV. l.r-drick; continued his bidding activities by advanciiv Hanworth 00 over his entered price, but was ayn."uusuccessful, for the gelding was protected. Empire City work-outs, with the track fast, this morning were: Pan Maid Toroequarters in 1:18. Cantara Three quaf tors in 1:1S. High Noon Thrce.-fquarters in 1:14. Hanohala-Five-oiijhtlisVin 1:04. Daddys Choice Milii in" 1:47. Flare Half mile inMi. .7 Top I hit Mile in 1:52. Tea Cuddy Hal mile in 50.-Delancey Half mile in 51. A Roly Half mile in 49. Buchanan Brady -Half mile in 51. Illuminator Thpe-qiiurters in 1:19. j Transit Three-quarters in 1:19. " ! Dr. Larrick Five-.eighths in 1:03. i : s Ticket Five-eighths in 1:00 . Meditation Five -eighths in 1:00. Hussy FIve-eigl.ths in 1:03. Monocacy Mile in 1:47. Pockichoo Three-quarters in 1:19. Kilkenny Boy Half mile in 52. Aariety Three-ftuarters in 1:24. Jacklet Three -quarters in 1:1S. Scylla Three-eiuhths in 30. Tootsic Half mile in 50. Ida Claire Five-eighths in 1:05. Deer Trap Throe-quarters in 1:17. St. Rock Three-quarters in 1:19. . Cockleshell Half mile in 51. Malachite Half mile in 50. Qui Alve Three-quarters in 1:22. Namesake Thri:o-eightlis in 3SJ. Star Maid Half mile in 51. Storm Nymph Three-quarters in 1:21. Ash Can Half mile in 50. Mother Machrei Five-eighths in 1:05. Big Fellow Three-quarters in 1:1S. Brother Jonathan Half mile in 48.
