view raw text
FINAL WEEK AT BELMONT Champagne Stakes, Brook Steeplechase and the Autumn Gold Cup Outstanding Features. NEW YORK, N. Y., September 10. While the .program for the first ten days of tiie autumn meeting at Belmont Park has produced good sport, there is promise of racing of the highest class in the five days remaining before the meeting of the Westchester Racing Association comes to a close. The public has seen the best of the horses in training in races which were framed to bring out those qualities Avhich the guardians of the Sport in this part of the Cnion want to see preserved in the thoroughbred. The Lawrence Realization, the Fnturity and the Jockey Clubs Gold Cup have passed- into history and the public will discuss the individual quality and breeding of the Avinners of these races until spring rolls round again. While the Futurity has always been a popular race, because of its value and the interest it holds for so many persons on account of its being a product; stake, it is nothing like the test of the capabilities of a tAVo-year-old that is furnished by the Champagne Stakes, which will be the particular feature of next Wednesdays card. The Futurity is run over a three-quarters course. The Champagne is a trial of seven-eighths of a mile, calling for stamina as Avell as speed, anil no mere sprinter can hope to avih it. In England the-Middle Park Plate; which corresponds to the Champagne Stakes, is regarded as a conclusive test of the twoveai-o!ls of that country and the winner is almost invariably made the favorite for the Derby of tin; following year. Grey Lag Avon the Champagne Stakes of 1920. Prior to that lit; was regardt-d as a colt, of fair quality only, but the form he displayed in Avinning the Champagne caused S. C. Ilildretlj to pay 0,000 fur him. That. Grey Lig. avIiPii at his best, is the king of the three-year-olds is generally conceded. If he wen; sound he avoiiIiI be entitled to a place in history among tl.. great horses of the American turf. Cleopatra won the race in 191!, and she was the best filly of the year and could beat all the colts with the exception of Man o AVar in the autumn. . MORVICH MAY BE A STARTER. The Champagne Stakes of the current, year holds .1 particular attraction for students of the turf. The running of the race will decide the status of Morvich. the undoubted champion of his age to date. If he can take up the penalties and defeat tiie horses which will oppose him on Wednestlay next, he Avill be entitled to the praise of everybody and Avill have done his part to lolster the claims of tiie houses of Voter and Domino to their abilities to stay. One of the essentials usually possessed by a great race horse is free action. Morvich lias this quality in a superlative degree. He gallops Avith littb effort and so deceptively that few realize how fast he is going until they note the gap he opens on his competitors in the early stages of a race. Judging by the manner in which he finished the thre-qunrters of the Hopeful Stakes, the extra eighth of the Champagne is Avell Avithin his powers. Whether it is or not this will be disclosed In Wednesdays race, for in Kai-Sang, William A., Little Chief. Modo, Pillory, St. Henry, The Snob II., Mercutio, Oil Man, Bunting and Whisk.way be Avill be meeting a fast band of juveniles, many of which will have concessions in Aveiglit. That Kai-Sang is a genuine, stayer is assured. The same is true of Pillory. The former has a lot of admirers Avho are Avilling to Avager that he Avill Avin more money next year than Morvich. He is bred in stouter lines than the son of Runnymcde, but in the matter of speed the latter is the champion to date, Avhilo no horse surpasses him for gamo-nes. OUTSIDER MAY FURNISH SURPRISE. It is one of the possibilities that the winner of the Champagne of 1921 may coine from the ranks of the dark division, several of which are by Friar Rock, a noted stayer. Another of this brigade is St. Henry, by The Finn Lilly Sterling, by Hanover, Avhich is the dam of Sir Martin and Sir Barton, the former by Ogden and the latter by Star Shoot. Just why this colts dam was not nominated for this years Futurity is a mystery, as she is one of the famous matrons of the American turf. The fact that the Champagne will be run over tiie main course is pleasing to tin; public, as the.v Avill have a perfect view of the race from start to finish. The record for the race under the circumstances, 1:22, made by Paris in 1914. will not be approached. This aspect, however, will be swallowed up by the other and more desirable finalities Avhich the race will present. Other races of importance during the closiiii days at Belmont Park -are the Brook Handicap Steeplechase with 0,000 added OAer the two and a half miles course, and the Autumn Gold Cup, ,000 added, at two miles. The former will be the feature of Thursdays card and is tin; jumping feature oT tin; local racing year. Among those entered are the champion Sweepment, Robert Oliver, Soumaugha, Syrdarya, Decisive, Earlocker. Val-spar. The Trout, Royal Arch, Bullseye, Elysiau. Lytic, Joyful, Overmatch, Flying Scout. Highland Light, lloudiiii and Doublet. That fine fencer Barklie won the race in 1920, but he is out of training this fall, flue to an injury, and Sweepment has a chance to score for Mrs. Ixft with top weight in the saddle. Joseph E. Wideners Compliment -carried 1C0 pounds lo victory in 1914. This constitutes a record for the race. The Autumn Gold Cup, to be run on the closing day, is also a handicap. Geldings are not barred as in the Jockey Clubs Weight-for-Age race and Exterminator, which Avon the event in 1920. and is the cup horse par excellence of the present day, will no doubt be a starter. This marvel of soundness has a great following which will be faithful to him until lu; is beaten over his favorite distance. The best of those eligible to oppose him on Friday are Mad Hatter, Grey Lag, Thunderclap, Touch Mi Not, Doiuiaiona and Sporting Blood. It. is not a large field, but ample for the purpose of determining tht; stamina of the present -day thoroughbred and a notable gathering should come out to set; the race.
