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ONE OF ROAMERS BEST RACES IS DEFEAT. One of the greatest races that Roamer ever ran brought him defeat. Some blamed Jimmy Butwell his jockey The race is question was the Municipal Handicap run at Rclmont Iark on Tuesday, September 4. Three horses were entered, but the ,orse Frizzle declined the issue and was scratched. Be Roamer and Stromboli alone answered the starters call. Roamer broke away to a good start with a half lengths lead and made it a length on the turn. So they ran until the great pair entered the stretch. Then came Stromboli running like a wild horse. With every stride he gained. Butwell, riding Learner, seemed to take things easy and kept the gieat gelding under restraint. Roamer wanted his head, wanted to loosen all the speed that was in his po.verful legs for that final dash but Rut-well, folding he had a safe lead, held him in check. Too late did Butwell realize his mistake. Strom-bolis giant strides soon brought him to Roamers --.id lie. to Roamers head, and then they were on even terms with only about one hundred feet to go. Butwell loosened his line and put the whip to the game old Koamer. The Miller gelding responded with all that was in him and. whether the call had come too late or Roamers old finishing powers had failed him, the race was over. Stromboli dashed past the Miller representative with a torriffio burst of speed that carried him over the lino a winner by a half length. The pace was fast throughout, and the mile and a half was run in 2:39.-,. A great race and a great finish. Great was Roamer, even in defeat, and the plaudits of the big throng at Rclmont Park that day were equally distributed betwen the victor and loser. Roamer has been called the best-loved thoroughbred in America. Hes a homely horse, as stake horses go, but underneath his unsymmetrical frame beats a stout heart — and an honest one. Roamer always could be depended upon to give the best that is in him. He won small fortunes in the heyday of his career lor those who loved him. And. though he was beaten repeatedly in 1910 and cost his backers, they ta-ver cursed him, never reviled him. They knew that Roamer. when beaten, was beaten honestly — and by .1 better racer. The gelding never caused trouble for the starters. He never "acted up." He stood calmly, patiently, it the hairier and waited for the word. He always was ready. He never was "left at the post." He was a dependable, honest, lovable race horse — and no wonder he was an idol.
