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ROAMERS DAY OF VICTORY. FAMOUS OLD GELDING WINS THE SARATOGA HANDICAP FROM END TO END. Spur a Close Up and Gaining Second Old Rosebud Unplaced Papp Takes the Flash Stakes and Al Reeves the Shillelah Steeplechase. By J. L. Dempsey. Saratoga Springs, X. Y., Auk. 1. Andrew Millers crack Itoamer turned the tables on some of Ills recent fomiuerors, -when lie accounted for the valuable and much coveted Saratoga Handicap, at a mile and a quarter, which featured the good card arranged for the opening here. Driving hard and pressing the winner closely came Spur and directly behind Uie pair, also showing a sterling effort, came Ticket, a stable-mate to Roanier, which had been added immediately after the hard rain had converted the course from lightining fast to a soggy strip. Far in the distance and thoroughly beaten, came the western mainstay and favorite in the race, Old Itosebud. He had followed Itoamer and Ticket under choking restraint and flattered his supporters momentarily, when he moved up at the last turn as if about to pass Itoamer, but lost ground fast during the stretch sprint, the weight and restraining tactics, seemingly being his undoing. Roamers victory was popular. Ho was accorded a big ovation on his return to the scales. The horse likes this track and indicated his good form in a preliminary of a mile and an eighth Monday, when he covered the distance rather easily in 1;52. Butwell, who hnd the mount on him, and probably understands the horse better than any other jockey, took the lead immediately after the start, followed by Ticket, with Molesworth taking an exceptionally strong restraining hold of Old Itosebud to prevent his going into the lead. The order wan not changed much while going down the backstretch excepting that Campfire had moved by Old Koschud and Ticket had begun pressing Itoamer to an extent that forced Butwell to urge Roqmer some and it likewise put him in jeopardy in cane of a strong stretch challenge. Campfire fell back after going three-quarters and at this ptyut Old Itosebud loomed up with his last effort and speedily fell back beaten. Spur, however, would not be denied, and came under punishment in fine style, gradually overhauling Ticket, hut missed getting to his stableniate by the margin of a neck. Mr. Miller was more elated with Tickets performance than he was with Roamers. The net value of the stakes was ,850. The Saratoga Handicap lias been a popular attraction each year since its establishment in 1901. The history of tiie race is here briefly told: Year. "Winner. A.AVr. Jockey. Val. Time. 11105 Caughnawiiga .0 11! T. Burns ..3002:07 1900 Dandelion 4 113 Sewell 8,300 2:04 1907 McCarter 3 111 AV. .Miller.. 8,300 2:05 1!08 Monford 4 100 McCahey .. 1,150 2:05 110! Affliction 3 10 E. Martin.. 3.S50 2:05 1910 Olambala 4 12S Butwell ... n.SOO 2:0S 1913 Ok o tit Walks 107 J. Glass ... 3,850 2:0! 1914 Borrow 0 123 .T. Notter. . 3.S75 2:05 1915 Itoamer 4 128 J. Butwell.. 2,300 2:04 1915 Stromboli 5 121 J. McTagt. 3,850 2:05 1917 Roamer 5 122 J. Uutwell.. 4,850 2:0Gb No racing in 1911 and 1912. Great Contest in Flash Stakes. In the Flash Stakes, which preceded the handicap and an old fixture, having had its inception in 1809, .Congressman Lofts good colt Iapp, carrying the steadying impost of 127 pounds and conceding weights to all the others, triumphed after a well sustained and earnest drive that lasted for almost the entire length of the stretch and got up to overhaul the speedy Adeline Patricia, which had shown the way from the start. Top Coat landed third place. The Glen Riddle Farms Bully Roy, -was given the call in the betting, but after following closely for the first quarter, dropped back steadily. He suffered from some interference early, hut not enough to cut a serious figure had lie been good enough in such going. The stake was of the 52,500 guaranteed order, hut the customs of the eastern racing associations to give the excess money in the event there is any over tint guarantee, made the winner receive ,100 net for his part. The Flash is an old established stake event of Saratoga racing, having been instituted in 1S09. Its history in brief form since 1905, is here shown: Year. Winner. Wt. .lockey. Val. Time. 1005 Iturgomaster 125 Hihlebnd ...S50 1:08 1900 Peter Pan 125 Radtke 4.850 1:00 1907 Fair Play 122 Mountain .. 4,850 1:00 1903 Edward 115 C. H. Shilg 4,850 1:07 1909 Waldo 122 D. McCrhy. 805 1:07 1910 Semprolus 127 C. H. Shilg 4,125 1:09 1013 Old Rosebud . ...124 J. McCube. . S05 1-.07 1914 Trial by Jury ...110 T. Davies.. 1,185 1:07 1915 Prince of Como..ll0 J. McCahey. 1,050 1:10 1916 Rickety 103 F. Keogh .. 1.S55 1:07 1917 Papp 127 L. Allen .. 3,100 1:07 No racing in 1911 and 1912. The Shillelah Steeplechase Handicap over the about two mile route resulted in a spirited finish with Al Reeves being the winner from Maitre Cor-beau and Pebeto, with Weldship coming next, having dropped back after showing the way for most of " the race. Maitre Corbeau, was probably the best in the race but Haynes made the mistake of delaying his rush with the good French fencer too long. Weldships retirement was probably due to the condition of the course. Of the nine starters only six finished, Shannon River, Bet and Sun King coming to grief at some part of the race. Sun King was going well and would have been dangerous but for bolting at the third fence. Tills was the fourteentli running of the Shillelah Steeplechase, the condensed history of -which is as follows: Year. Winner. A.Wt. Jockey. Val Time. 1905 Gatebell i 140 Ray ,310 5:29 1900 Grandpa 7 160 Ray 3,690 5:19 1907 McKittredge ..4 130 T. OBrien. 3,475 5:20 1908 Bayonet 5 148 McKinney . 485 5:31 1909 Byzantine 7 147 Kay 075 5:22 1910 Aunt .Iille 4 154 S. Williams 1,150 4:21 1913 Shannon River. 5 134 W. Allen... 005 5:30 1914 El Bart 0 140 T. Tuckey. 005 5:20 1915 KI Bart 7 138 T. Tuckey.. 005 5:27 1910 Weldship 7 155 C. Srnoot. . . 1,505 4 :19 ?f 3917 Al Beeves 5 141V. Powers.. 1,410 4:23 Distance about 2 miles in 1910 and 1910. No racing in 1911 and 1912. Terrific Storm Threatens Days Proceedings. Todays racing was marred considerably by a terrific storm that developed suddenly soon after the noon hour and it raged witii heavy force for more than an hour and threatened a continuance for the whole afternoon. At times the thunder was deafening and the flashes of lightning blinding. The rain and hail came in a solid sheet the hard drenching the course received caused It to resemble a river, but the perfect drainage carried the water from the track so that but little traces of it remained when the horses answered the bugle call in the initial dash. As a result of the rain the crowd was late in arriving at the track and not until the second race did the spacious stand begin to show that it was becoming taxed. The club house contingent was also tardy, but the boxes and reserved sections all showed good attendance. Persons prominent in all walks of life were noted and they seemed to enjoy their outing and took keen interest in the sport. Backers of favorites fared somewhat disastrously, for with the exception of Starfinch, the others were bowled over in successive fashion. The worst defeat was probably that of Roly in the fifth race, which succumbed in easy fashion to Square Dealer and Cheer Leader. Square Dealer was entered for ,300, but went to W. II. Pearce on his bid of ,800. The officials for the meeting are as follows: Stewards, S. L. Parsons, U. T. Wilson, W. S. Vosburgh; stewards representing the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association: F. J. Bryan; judges, C. II. Pettingill, E. C. Smith; starter. Mars Cassidy: clerk of the scales, H. U. lloman; handicapper, AV. S. Vosburgh; paddock and patrol judge, J. L. Hall; assistant clerk of the scales, Albert Burlen; patrol judges, James McLaughlin, E. II. I.Ianna, G. C. Iteynard; timer, M. M. Allen, secretary, Andrew Miller. During the afternoon, John E. Madden closed a deal with A. A. Reilly, whereby the master of Hamburg Place secures second call on the services of jockey Troise during the Saratoga meeting. Mr. Madden is also trying to secure a call on the riders services for next year. Roly came out of Ids race In a bad way and was with difficulty led back to his stable.
