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GRAND JUMPING RACE Soumangha Victorious in the Rich Brook Cup Steeplechase. - Prodigious Runs a Fast Mile Goaler Carries High Weight and Wins Surprising Race. NEW YORK, N. Y., September 14. It is seldom that a steeplechase is the feature of a race track program, but such was the case at Belmont Park today when Soumangha and Sea Skipper fought it put for the 0,000 Brook Cup Steeplechase, over the two and a half miles course. Never was there a better jumping race since the old race was inaugurated in 1905, when it was won by W. C. Hayes Grandpa, and its running was the occasion for the attendance of a number of steeplechase enthusiasts who were only attracted by the Brook Cup. The race was worth ,250 to the winner and the victory pleased the crowd well, for none is more popular than those of the Greentree Stable. There had been eleven named overnight to start, but Houdini, Sea Serpent and Hallavill were withdrawn, leaving eight to go. It was probably the best field of jumpers seen this year and there have been few better races through the field in any year. Sweepment, which had been away from the races ever since his one winning race for Mrs. Loft at Havre de Grace in the spring, started out to make the pace, but "Sheps" Crawford had him under stiff restraint and the pace waand slow. Sea Skipper was in second place, with Peccant, a stablemate to Soumangha, running third. J. S. Cosdens game little Bullseye was fourth, with Joseph E. Davis Earlocker fifth and Vincent Powers had old Soumangha galloping along last or all. Dolly Byers, evidently with an idea of making Sweepment run fast, went after him with Sea Skipper before one turn of the course had been completed and as the pace quickened Peccant dropped back slightly. Crawford could hot be coaxed into permitting Sweepment to increase his speed, but after he had gone to a fence lapped on Sea Skipper and his mount blundered slightly he steadied him and did not repeat the mistake. POWERS WINNING DASH. In the meantime Soumangha was gradually improving her position. Bullseye continued to hold his position well and he wa3 saving ground every foot of the way. Que-creek and Decisive had dropped back badly, while Earlocker was moving up resolutely on the outside. When swinging into the field for the drive home Sea Skipper was showing the way, but Sweepment was right with him. Then Powers made his winning dash along the inside with Soumangha when going to the last jump. Sea Skipper was only a half length before Sweepment, but he was jumping in better style. The mare was a length back. Once over that last fence there was a desperate fight to the finish. Both Sweepment and Sea Skipper swerved out under the drive, while the mare ran straight and galloped home first by a length. Sea Skipper, although swerving out, lasted to save second place, but he was out to the last ounce to save it from Earlocker, when the Davis jumper came with a mighty rush that beat the tired Sweepment home for the short end of the money. Bullseye was a good fifth and fifteen lengths back of him followed Quecreek, Peccant and Decisive. Though he was beaten, the race run by Sweepment was a notably good one. He pulled up in good condtion and will have to be considered in the cross-country races that are to come. After the finish Mrs. Payne Whitney, owner of the Greentree Stable, was escorted to the stewards stand, where she was presented with the trophy that went with the victory. THRIVES ON RACING. Chester Applegate made it a double for his silks when his Dicks Daughter was the winner of the throe-quarters selling dash for two-year-olds that was the third offering. This filly appears to thrive on racing for she is started many a time. Today she lost little time in rushing into the lead and once there she held her command to the end, although she was being shaken up by little E. Kummer, who had alsd shared in the double, for he had the leg up on Orcus. Liwaito raced to second place, after having overcome some early resistance, while Leloba beat Ducks and Drakes for the short end of the purse. All of this would probably have been different had it not been for the bad racing luck that was suffered by Ducks and Drakes. He was away well enough, but could not hold his position and was cut off and shuffled back until he was in last place when leaving the stretch. Ensor made a second attempt to come through, only to be cut off Continued on twelfth page. GRAND JUMPING RACE Continued from first page. again, and finally, when it was too late, the gelding closed an immense gap on the outside and was going better than the three that finished in front of him at the end. The opening race was a six and a half furlongs dash for ordinary selling platers and Chester Applegates Orcus furnished something of a surprise when he was an easy winner from Overtake, with Sea Mint just beating Sling for third place. Orcus raced in his best form to win and made most of the pace. Overtake finished with a rush, while right at the end Sea Mint was going well along the rail and had scant racing room when the final action came. The second best race of the day was a mile handicap for fillies and mares and it resulted in "a close fit between Joseph E. Davis Prodigious and Story Teller, with Emotion, the top weight, third. The other twostarters were Crossless and Bonus and they followed as named. Story Teller made all the running and made it fast, and Prodigious was showing the way to Emotion. In fact, the horses finished much as they ran all the way, except that at the end Prodigious outgamed Story Teller under a well-timed ride by Johnson. It was not until well into the stretch that Johnson made his real move with Prodigious. She dr.ew up on Story Teller when an eighth from the finish. At the same time McAtee moved up on Emotion, but she had been forced to come a bit wide. Then she tired, but Prodigious rushed right along and outgaming the Macomber filly was drawing clear at the end with a half length to spare. Nate Byer furnished the surprise of the day when he saddled S. Landos Goaler in the fifth race, at a mile and a sixteenth. It was another thrilling finish and only in the final stride did the English horse get up to nip out Billy Barton and Bellsolar. Whisk made must of the running and Billy Barton followed after him under restraint.
