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MEDIOCRE RACING AT GRAND RAPIDS. Handicap Feature to Slippery Elm Joseph Murphy to Act as Steward at Thorncliffo Meeting. Grand Rapids, Mich., July 9. Todays attendance was again of satisfactory proportion and it indicates a rising interest in the sport on the part of the local populace. From a strict racing sense there was little merit to the card. Most of the starters were of the nondescript kind, but their even calibre resulted in some fairly good sport. The feature, a handicap at five and a half furlongs, went to Slipperj1 Elm. which outfooted the uncertain Petrovna. The latter was on her good behavior at the barrier and showed a high flight of early speed, but tired fast in the last eighth. The Keene colors continue their success and inaugurated the afternoon by a victory for Zamora. County Court, headed a bad band in the second race and Talebearer sprinted away from those that started in the third. Joseph A. Murphy announced this afternoon that he had accepted the position of steward at Thorncliffe, Ontario, for the meeting there. He had previously declined the engagement, as his time was full, but a personal message from James Ollaril induced him to accept. He had permission to leave in time to reach Chicago for the opening there. In regard to the Chicago situation lie said: "I have sufficient assurance of the success of the meeting to accept the task of looking after the racing end of it. I shall be glad to get back in Chicago, where I held my first official position as steward at Garfield Park." Numerous owners here have signified intention of shipping their racers to the Thorncliffe meeting at the close of the racing here. Recent comers from Kentucky were much in the limelight during the day and their supporters, as well as those who like to back favorites, were in their element, for,- with the exception of Nephthys, the others were highly regarded. After Busy Alices victory, she was claimed by W. C. Weant for 1917.sh25.
