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THRILLING SPORT WITNESSED * Close and Hard Fought Finishes Feature Belmont Park Racing. • Smallest of Margins Separate Sunflash II. and Old Eoenig in the Hempstead Handicap. a New York. June 10.— Overcast skies could neither keep a large attendance from Helmont Park todav. nor mar the excellent sport provided. Although the scene was draped in a gloomy haze, the sjxirt was thrilling and close finishes were the order throughout the afternoon. With barely a nose senarating the first two, the Hempstead Handicap proved to, be one of the most thrilling handicaps witnessed at Belmont Park at this meeting. The race nroved a contest amtanu I. J. Learys Sunflash II. and Old Koenig. 1 lie pair raced from the start together, with littl- t » s -parate them. Robinson kept the Loarv colt in front long enough to withstall Old Koenigs challenge. Byrne displayed rare horsemanship in getting Old Koeaat in front in tin- hat sixteenth, but the son of Golden Maxim faltered and hung when the flaal test came. R. T. Wilsons Straight Forward, which joined the leaders at the eighth |H»st. closed a tremendous gap from a poor beginning and threatened for a while, but tired from the terrific pace set by the leaders. Lanius was fa vorite for th- race, but ran a poor race and ap parently is far from being at his lust. He lacked s|M-ed today and was never prominent. The success of Sunflasli II. in the Hempstead Haiulic-111 today, iliustrates anew tin- fascination ami uncertainty of racing. The winner was one of the thoroughbreds 1 rought from England by Graat Hugh Baaaaa two veers ago. John Anderson, wno is mm in the employ of trainer Tom llealey, secured the horse in settlement of a bill for wag"s and turned him over to "Little" Mike Daly to train. Sunflash II. was a big undeveloped three-year-old, but ini proved surprisingly in the hands of Daly and won several gooii races befere he attract! d the attention of his present owier. D. .!. L-ary. who Rave .MMl for him. With ii:e exception of one crooked front foot. Sunflash II. is a fine sjiecinitii of the English thoroughbred. Today he surprised some of the liest jlilgcs at tin- track by sticking out the mile anil a sixteenth. The race was fast run from the strrt. with Iu- last mile in 1:3*7;.. The opening race resulted in a close and hard fought finish between Salvestrn and Ima Frank, the heavy impost on tin- latter bringing about her defeat, laaa Frank quickly dished to the frent an 1 set a fast pace to tin- stretch, when- Salvestra joined her. Then began tin- struggle, the 1H BMaaaai on baa Frank telling at tin- end, although shining on gamely. Salvestra secured a slight lead i i the last eighth and managed to hold it to the end. Jyntee, which shared favoritism with Ima Frank, might have figured in the finish, but for suffering from interference in the last quarter. 0VEB.C0NITDEHT BIDE BEATS L0UV0IS. Seldom is there a finish in a jumping race so close as the one that featured todays stii-ph-chase. Tin-rail was considered to lie a duel between the two high-class jumpers 1 .envois anil Superhuman. They furnished tin- principal contention true enough and I.ouvois should hive won. but his rider became overconfident after taking the last fi nee and was ire prepared for tin- sensational closing nidi of aaaaart Oliver, skillfully rMdra by W. Alh-n. with the result that Robert Oliver get the decision pv a no 1. A big field contested the running of tin- third race, which was for two-year-old maiden fillies. It was, however, a truly run race, with alxuit a half dozen of the contestants closely hunched throughout. Wise Joan, from the Stable of C. i . Widcier. ana favoiite and was n turned the winner after disposing of Keen Jam- in tin- str-teh. The mil- dash went to tin- Quincy Stables Starry Iauner, which beat Phnlcriau a length after the latter had closed a hi", g-iti from a slow beginning. Aunt Dinah ran a splendid race today !i defeat the I.M-I.et Stakes winner Osgood. After dis|M»sing of the pacemaker. Aunt Dinah moved into the load ami withstood every challenge of Osgood in tin-final eighth. Osgood ran a game race, but could not overtake the Uncle filly. Eugene Lutz reports the loss of Messenger Roy. The stallion was injured wi:ilc romping about tiie paddock of a Louisiana stock farm and it was found :i"cessary to destroy him. Stanley Hollis, a steeplechase rider, arka wore the :;ilks of H. O. Berne at hunt mectiuus in this vicinity, has boon killed somewhere in France. Tin- jockeys service flag now numbers forty-five stars, of whicli three are gold. Frank J. Taylor, acting for the Meadow Brook Stock Farm, has virtually completed negotiations with Eugene Lutz for the transfer of jockey Erii-k-sons contract. Owing to the sickness of Matthew Allen, the official timer. Charles Thomas has been appointeo to fill tin- position at Helmont Park. lie was placed in the office after Hal first race, in which no time was |a a owing to the mist, according to the report handed to the stewards. Kueele Hrown will assist Mr. Thomas as timer. A
