view raw text
WALKOVER AT BELMONT PARK . Royce Rools Only Starter to Face Barrier in Brentwood Handicap. : Interesting Program Marred by Numerous Withdrawals Racing in the Rain. 1 NEW, YORK, X. Y., September 3 What promised to.be nsi interesting program today was sadly marred by withdrawals, the fourth race, a handicap at a mile and a sixteenth, for three-year-olds and oyer, having all withdrawn with the exception of V. T. Wilkinsons pood mud runner Itoyce Rools, which had a walkover for the winners portion of the purse. This was the first instance of a walkover this year on the metropolitan tracks. Rain which fell before the races made the going quite sloppy and kept the attendance down, while frequent showers during the course of the afternoon caused the patrons to seek shelter. The first race brought ont several contestants and resulted in a victory for the Garry Herrmann gelding Osgood. Right Angle, well supported, led until the final eighth, where , he came wide, losing ground and. Osgood, under a vigorous finish, came on to win in game fashion. The second race, for maiden three-year-olds and over, only had three starters and Sanberia, after leading throughout; proved the winner. Thr-Minwla -SflngStefrtwIlyear-olil went to R. T. Wilsons Simpleton, a maiden, which scored easily from Sugarmint and American Roy. Ilackamore wis the only other starter. This race was worth S1,5S5 to the winner. The Coe stables David Harum was withdrawn, leaving Sugarmint to contest for the stake. The defeat of Lucius by John I. Day was costly to the talent, as the former was confidently supported at a short price, but the latter took the lead early and showed the way to the finish. The final race, a dash for two-year-olds, saw S. C. Hildreths Dominique under colors, and lie was quoted at odds -on by the oralizers. He made good easily, with Cleopatra, which had followed the pacemakers throughout, second. REVISION OF SCRATCH RULE NEEDED. Never was the question of a revision of the scratch rule more exemplified than at Belmont Park today, when five of the six acceptances for the Rrentwood Handicap were withdrawn. The race resulted in a walkover, something that should be of rare occurrence in those days, with plenty of racing material available. Nothing like it could occur on any of the tracks in this country excepting under Jockey Club rules, which permit owners to withdraw at random. "I dont see why these men dont send their horses out to race," sdid one of the officials. "They accepted the weights allotted and yet they are not satisfied. Possibly the sloppy condition of the track did not suit some of the horses, but it was not so bad that ail but one should be withdrawn. It is not only disappointing to the association, but to the patrons of the sport." Another peculiar feature of the card today was the entry of but three horses in a maiden race for tliree-year-olds and over. These races generally bring out a large number of entries; in fact, too many for comfort, was the remark of an official in the secretarys office. "Whatever it is, I dont understand. Tiiere should be scores of maidens in the stables, and owners are crying at times to run their horses, yet they dont seem to enter when they have a chance. It seems to me that after Saratoga everybody dodges Belmont. For what reason is unaccountable Tarascon,frorifth"e stable of Geo. Odom, has been turned out at Shntts Farm, New Jersey, for the winter. He lias delicate feet and his trainer deemed it advisable to give him a long rest. A. I. Denny, who has owned and trained several good horses in years past, will return to the turf again as soon as he can get a few horses. Tor the past three years he lias been a farmer at Plainfield, X. J. "Farming is all right," says Mr. Denny, "but the lure of the race track always sticks around and is hard to shake off after one lias been in the business. The surroundings and congeniality are there and they cannot be duplicated anywhere, not even in Plainfield, X. J." There are rumors of a new track being built at Long Beach in the near future. It is understood that members of the Metropolitan Jockey Club, Which holds forth at Jamaica, are interested and that in case such a track is built it may mean the .shifting of the Jamaica meetings to that point. Max Hirsch has sold Daydue, one of G. W. Lofts horses, to James Hewitt. Royco Rools portion of the pur.se after his walkover in the fourth race was SC01. Of this 50 was one-half of the amount originally added by the association, that being the rule in case of a walkover; 01 was surplus run up money, 60 was the amount received from scratches and 0 from declarations, totaling 5001. A. G. Blakeley has purchased the racer Crystal Ford from W. J. Starr. B, J. Wulden purchased ilarianao and will eliip her to his farm for breeding purposes. Jack Richardson is an arrival from Saratoga. Jockey P. Musgrave will leave tonight for Washington to assist iu breaking a number of the Camuel Ross racers quartered at the Venning,.! track. He will return Saturday to fill engagements here.
