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: j : THIS "YEARS HARBOR HILL CUP CONTEST. Many Eligibles Promise a Eig Field of Starters in Thursdays Renewal. New York, October 10. What the Lawrence Realization is to threo-year-old flat runners the Harbor Hill is to the three-year-olds that race through the field. Established in 1905, the first year there was racing over the Belmont course of thi: AVestchester Racing Association, it has ever since been one of the most coveted of the cross-country fixtures. This race was made possible by the generosity of Clarence Mackay and he lias annually added a prize of .,000 and a handsome piece of plate for the running. The race itself is named after Mr. Mackays Long Island estate. The race was taken over by the Piping Rock Racing Association in 1912, the first season there was racing at the beautiful Locust Valley course and it has been decided continuously there ever since. This year the Harbor Hill will be run Thursday, Columbus Day, and it is certain that the field will be the largest that ever contended for the prize. Secretary Bryan is confident there will be at least a dozen starters. The first running of the Harbor Hill was won by Delcanta. Then in 1100 T. S. Martin, which went on to be one of the best jumpers of his time, was winner. In 1907 Sandy Creeker won and the following year Thomas Hitchcocks Stokes, also a truly high-class jumper, was the victor. Gwyn Tompkins saddled the 1909 winner when he sent the filly Belle to the post. The Harbor Hill was not run in 1910 or 1911. In fact there was no racing on the big New York tracks in either 1911 or 1912, but in 1912 the Piping Rock Association, with a fine courage, kept alive the interest in racing by opening up its beautiful course. Mr. Mackay was induced to transfer the Harbor Hill to the new association and it promises to remain a feature there as long as horses are raced at Locust Valley. For the 1912 running, the initial at Locust Valley, C. R. Fleischmanns George Kno was the winner in a good field. Repentant, racing for Miss E. Randolph, beat the Greentree Stables Ballet and seven others in the 1913 running, while Joseph H. Davis was winner of the last two runnings of the "oveted prize, taking the 1914 race with Single Stick, while he won it last year with Vifir. Both of these Davis victories came as a surprise for "Miss Chamblets" Chupadero was looked upon as the best in the race and, after forcing the pace, the Davis gelding, with a ten-pound advantage, beat him a head. Later in the year Chupadero beat Single Stick each time he met him. Then there was an element of luck in the victory of Vifir last year. Garth, who started Faker in the race, wagered that his horse would beat Al Reeves, the Greentree Stable starter, and the pair of them were raced out together in un effort to decide that wager. The result was that they killed each other off and Faker was beaten by both Vifir and Bill Dudley. Later in the season Bill Dudley took the measure of ifir But Mr. Davis is going to try hard and make it three in a row for the big prize. He has three named. The Decision, Brooks and Bryn Chant, and at least two of them will be seen under silks. Other eligibles for the running Thursday are: Harry La. Montagues Masterful, F. J. Nolans Henry Jr., Herbert L. Pratts Socony, Greentree Stables Hubbub, Raymond Belmonts Russell Rock, M. L. Schwartzs Ormers Head and Tres Moutarde, Thomas Hitchcocks Alley and Meadow Brook, Leonard Jacobs King Fortune and Raconteuse, North-wood Stables Plaintiff and Marchena, G. T. Arnolds Mary Estelle, F. E. Crafts Ojala, John E. Maddens Sea Urchin, Hendrie and Fellowship, H. W. Sages The Brook, Simon Jones and Jacobus, W. R. Coes Bet, J. J. Flanagan, Jr.s Jasper and Jefferson Livingstons First Out. Thus it will be seen that the Harbor Hill has grown until it is a race of truly national importance. The three-year-olds engaged that have already been raced have shown a quality that will make the field not only the largest but the best that has ever contended for the prize and it is safe to assume that the winner will go on to a brilliant career in 1917. The Harbor Hill is only one of the good races that will be offered Thursday and a deal of interest is being taken in the Subscription Steeplechase for the older horses. This is under handicap conditions, over the trying three-mile course and it has a value that has attracted the best crosscountry horses in training. The other steeplechase to be decided Thursday is the Brook Champion. It is a two-mile handicap and it has also brought together the best horses of the year.
