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JOHN P. GR1ER BY A HEAD Defeats Cleopatra Narrowly in a Thrilling Finish. Great Crowd Gathers at Aqueduct and Is Rewarded With Some Excellent Racing. NEW YORK, N. Y., Septemler 25. With Meal Indian summer weather and a Rood program one of the largest crowds of the fall scsson of racing at Aqueduct wns out today. Only two started in the Aqueduct Handicap, feature of the days racing. The Ilildretll pair. Cirrus and Mad Hatter, were withdrawn, leaving John P. Crier and Cleopatra as starters. John P. Grier was an overwhelming favorite. It was a close finish, with John P. Grier Just lusting to win after leading nil the way. Jockey MeAtee, who rode Cleopatra, entered a complaint after the race that Ambrose had interfered with his mount when entering the backstretch by foul riding tactics. Cleopatra would have won in a few more strides, as the Whitney colt was all out at the finish. The time, 2:112, established a new track record. Major Parke, heavily backed favorite, won the third race, a selling handicap at seven-eighths of a mile, after a hard drive in the stretch. The Livingston colt followed War Note to the stretch bend, where he raced into the lead. After a shaking up to withstand the challenge of Pickwick a sixteenth out, Major Parke came on to win by three-quarters of a length. Different Eyes showed early speed. Pickwick ran a good race, coming iast when straightened out inutile.. stretch, but. he was hardly good enough for the winner. "Kashmir, whicTi "finished third, was a follower in the early racing and came front far back to take third place. Mrs. U. W. Lofts brown gelding Sweepment led all the way in the Queensboro Steeplechase Handicap, nt two and one-hnlf miles. The favorite Flare was twelve lengths back at the finish, with Wisest Fool, the only other starter, decisively beaten. Sweepment fenced faultlessly for the entire race nnd seems to have developed into a crack crosscountry horse. C. 11. Boots, veteran California turfman, arrived at Aqueduct today with twelve yearlings, the property of A. K. Macomber, from Mr. Boots, Elmwood ranch in the San Jose valley. In the dozen are six colts and six fillies, eight by Hesperus now dead, and four by Palo Alto. Tiiese yearlings will be sold at auction during the Jamaica meeting. They are fine looking individuals and are the pick from forty-one brood mares belonging to Mr. Macomber at Elmwood. The stallions at Elmwood are Hand Grenade, Liberty Loan and War Fame, the latter by Prince Palatine. Mr. Boots says prospects for the revival of racing in California are good. He says that this year the 00 and 00 purses offered at state and county fairs has whetted the appetite of Cali-fornlaus for the return of racing. "At the State Fair at Sacramento recently three running races every afternoon was one of the main attractions nnd there were several days on which as many ns 50,000 persons were in attendance. Mr. Boots was busy during the afternoon renewing old acquaintances, as he has not visited in the east for several years. Fred Burlew, trainer for J. H. Rossetter, will ship tite Rosseter horses to Laurel Monday. J, A. Coburn claimed Kashmir out of the third race for ,000.
