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CLOSE FINISHES AT HAMILTON TRACK. Iron Cross II. Wins Military Handicap by a Noso Advance Handicap to A. N. Akin. Hamilton, Ont., June 30. Stirring contests were tho order at Hamilton this afternoon, the finishes in a majority of the races being of the sinew straining variety, with the winners first home by small margins. In a couple of races the results were in doubt until the official placing was displayed. This was especially so of the first race, in which Stormbound beat Wow out a nose and in the Military Handicap Iron Cross II. just nosed out Priscilla Mullens. In the feature race, the Advance Handicap, a dash of three-quarters, which had 200 added, tho odds-on favorite, A. N. Akin, just lasted long enough to beat Rancher by a head. The latter carried top weight, came from behind, and at the end was wearing the winner down. He would have beaten him in a few more strides. There was a decided improvement in track conditions and with the improvement in the footing came a decided improvement in the sport. Better class horses started and keener contests resulted. Tho steeplechase was marked by a bit of rough riding on the part of Brooks, who had the mount on New Haven. He repeatedly crossed and interfered with Early Light, which ruined whatever chance the latter might hav.e had. Brooks was fined 00 and suspended for the remainder of the meeting for rougli riding. Never Fear broke down during the running of the race. Jockeys Estep and Merimee were suspended for the remainder of the meeting, the former by the stewards for rougli riding, and the latter by the starter for disobedience at the post. O. E. Pons purchased at private sale of Mrs. Piatt the two-year-old Irish Idol. He also took the colt Judge Wright II. to train for Mrs. Piatt. Filly Mary Maud Badly Injured. The filly Mary Maud came out of her last race crippled. She stepped in a hole while rounding the far turn. No attempt will be made to start her again until the Saratoga meeting. E. J. Baxter was an arrival from Windsor. He is here to allot stalls to the horsemen who contemplate racing at the meeting there. Jockey Merimees apprentice allowance expired on Monday last. W. A. Burttschell arrived from Montreal this morning and will stay for the remainder of the meeting, lie has decided to start Fruit Cake in the-National Handicap on Monday.- " Mrs. J. Phillips has purchased Sleepy Sam from R. Brooks. There will be a meeting of the Canadian Racing Associations iu the club house at Fort Erie on July 5. J. W. Dayton shins his horses from here to northeast Maryland at the conclusion of the present meeting. They will be rested at Daytons farm until the opening of the meeting at Havre dc Giaee. Sam J. Davis, one of the moving spirits in the Essex Park management at Hot Springs, was an arrival. He is here to attend a conference to decide on plans for a new grandstand at that track.
