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EMPIRE CITY PROSPECTUS Outlook Brightest for Greatest Meeting in History of the Yonkers Course. NEW YORK, X. Y.. July 7. More than twenty years ago a handsome man of forty, driving a pair of bay trotters to a Brewster wagon, threaded the country roads of Westchester county until he reached an eminence overlooking tin; city of Mount Vernon and Long Island Sound. The man was William H. Clark, who had been corporation counsel of the City of New York, and he was searching for a site for a race course. Though the ground was uneven, and much of the surface was covered with boulders, the young lawyer decided niton it as the proper spot for the enterprise he had in mind and bought the property that same day. Thus began the Empire City Race Course, now one of the most popular of the tracks in the Jockey Club circuit, and a resort for the sport loving resident of the Bronx, many for the never patronize racing at any other tint. William II. Clark might have purchased land as cheaply elsewhere in Westchester county at the time territory to which railways could have built a spur but the situation with its beautiful outlook appealed to him, and he set about the work of construction with the same degree of optimism and enterprise! that had carried him along from the moment he came to New York a poor buy until he became a recognized power in New Yorks political and financial life. Before the gates were opened ?SO.IOO of his money had been put into the plant. Empire City cost W. II. Clark bis entire fortune before he got through, as the course was too far from the railways and the great, throbbing city of Greater New York had not sought the open reaches of Westchester in its struggle for expansion. The property passed into the control of James Butler, who, like his predecessor, lias no partners. A program of liberal stakes and purses speedily won recognition for the Empire City Racing Association, and the loyal people of his own borough locked to his support in a way that, must have been flattering to Mr. Butler. The coming of the automobile solved the problem of transportation, however, and for many years past all roads lead to Empire City during the last three weeks in July. Those who come this year will find a plant rehabilitated and rejuvenated to a point where it would not be recognized by those who knew it in an earlier period. Chief among the. stake features, which will be decided at the coming meeting, opening on Saturday, July 9, and concluding on Saturday, Julv 30, ari! the Empire City Handicap, ,000 added. at a mile and un eighth, and the Empire City Derbv for three-year-old colts and fillies at a mile and a quarter. There are other races which surpass these events in value at Empire, notably the 0,000 East View and ,500 Whirl stakes for two-vear-olds, but for real racing tests which will have a bearing on the future of the thoroughbred in this country the two first named features are outstanding. This is particularly trim of the Empire City Derby, which must now be reckoned as one of the best races of th year, and which, because of its value, will compel the attention of many owners who in former years ignored the Yonkers meeting and shipped from Aqueduct to Saratoga. Should any of the best three-year-olds be sent to the Spa for a period of recuperation among the pines they would unquestionably be returned to Empire Citv for such an important engagement. With its ,000 added value and a large entry it ought to be more valuable than the Empire City Handicap. EMPIRE CITY DERBY PROBABILITIES. The race closed with fifty-five nominations. The death of Broomspun removed a prominent factor, but in his stead the Whitney confederacy lias Tryster Prudery and Touch Me Not, and it is possible that New Yorkers will get their first view this year of the black colt in this event. Those crack fillies Nancy Lee and Fiambette are certain starters if they continue training soundly, while the Rancocas Stable lias a wealth of Derby material in Grey Iig, Knobbie and Jlayfellow. That Grey Lug was a powerful three-year-old in the Belmont and Suburban is conceded by everybody. Whether -lie can, like Man o War, lake up his penalties and go on beating those of his own age will be demonstrated at Yonkers. Exodus, Smoke Screen, St. .Michael, General J. M. Gomez, Pluribus, Careful, Ivemian, Dimmesdale, Bon Homme, Mulciber and John Paul Jones are others that may go to the post. Pluribus showed phenomenal trials early, in the spring and he is going sound again. His owner is afraid of no three-year-old in training. There are sixty-three nominations for the Empire City Handicap. They include the pick of the handicap division and include Mad Ifatter, Grev Lag, Cirrus, John P. Grier, The Porter, Audacious", Tryster, Wiidair, Naturalist, Yellow Hand, Upset, Gladiator, On Watch, Blazes and Playfellow. It is bound to produce a great race and ought to crowd the Empire course to repletion on the rpening day, for which it is the especial feature. Roamer holds the record for the Empire City course at one mile and an eighth and also for the Empire City Handicap, which he landed in 191S with 128 pounds up, covering the distance in 1:51. Naturalist ran one of his rare good races to win it last year in 1:53 over a course which was not at its best. Naturally the two-year-old stakes have drawn well. Both the East View and Whirl closed promisingly, the former having 139 nominations as against 130 for the Whirl. Among the cracks engaged are Broomster, Sweep By, Kai-Sang, Zealot, Irish Brigadier, Pillory, Lord Allen, Lord Baltimore, Good Time. My Play brother to Man o War Missionary first of the get of Ibmrless, Sun-reigh brother to Sun Briar, Good Times not to be confused with Good Time already mentioned, -which is an imported colt by Negofol. sire of Hour-less, Bigheart. Biackstone, Mustard Seed, Knot Grass and Little Chief. There are many other fine stakes and handicaps, as welj as a diversified lot of overnight dashes on the card for the nineteen days which secretary Scliauiiiburg has arranged with his customary skill". That there is great sport in store for the "patrons of Empire City is guaranteed before the gates are opened.
