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SOCRATES IN FRONT ♦ Takes Belmont Park Feature Race in Gallant Fashion. ♦ Serenader Shows Great Speed in Defeating Prince of Umbria and Frigate. ♦ — — NEW YORK, N. Y., May 27.— William Daniels Socrates and Master Billy were first and second in the stake race feature at Belmont Park today. It was the Bouquet Selling Stakes over five-eights of the course and was worth ,375 to the winner. Third was the portion of James Butlers White Wash. It was another dreary day at the big Nassau County track and the weather more resembled March than May. This had its effect on the attendance, though there was a goodly crowd out for the sport. In addition to the Boquet Stakes there was a high-weight handicap for sprinters that brought about one of the best finishes of the meeting when the Greentree Stables Skyscraper just nosed Noon Fire out. Then there was a claiming steeplechase in which Vox Populi II., after making most of the pace, was the winner from Peccant-Decree beat the others away in the Boquet Stakes while White Wash bolted out sharply to the outside and Burke was busily engaged for most of the race in endeavoring to keep him straight. Socrates and Master Billy both left the post running fast, while Arno, the Whitney starter, would not extend himself and was quickly outrun. It was not long before Socrates found his way into the lead and at the stand Master Billy, his stablemate, was following him, with White Wash on the outside outfooting the others. There was no change in these positions to the end where Socrates was an easy winner and Master Billy had no trouble in saving second place from White Wash. SERENADER WINS. John Sanfords Serenader, after having been away from the races almost two years, came back a good horse when he won the Mineola Purse from Prince of Umbria, Frigate, Ten Minutes, Pricemaker and other good ones. He raced his mile in 1 :37% and it was one of the real good performances of the afternoon. Little time was lost at the barrier and in the first sixteenth of a mile Serenader rushed into the lead and set a terriffic pace under restraint. On the turn out of the backstretch Pricemaker ran up to him and the pair were well lapped almost to the stretch turn, where Serenader parted company with the Belmont colt, but at the same time Prince of Umbria stole up on the inside and for a time threatened seriously but Serenader had speed in plenty left and was still going fast at the end. Serenader was cut out for a good horse, but his retirement was brought about by his having bled in races. Hollie Hughes has brought him back a good racer and if he is cured j j of his affliction he may be expected to go on to greater things. The Harry Payne Whitney Stable accounted for the running of the final race of the afternoon, which was at four and a half furlongs, straightaway, and finished one, two, with Reminder leading Arcady by a narrow margin, while the Riviera Stables Fast Mail was third. The latter was probably best and met with severe interference from Reminder when the latter swerved back | j j and forth across the track. Turner, how- ever, did not lodge a complaint of fouL A CLOSE FINISH. There was a smashing finish in the high-weight handicap over the three-quarters distance when the Greentree Stables Skyscraper nosed out James Butlers Noon Fire, while Indian Trail, the top weight of the field, was a distant third. The start was a good one and almost at once it resolved into a two-horse race when Skyscraper rushed to the front and was closely attended by Noon Fire. The pair set a sizzling pace and quickly drew out from the others. The leaders swung into the stretch closely locked and Skyscraper was hanging on to his : • lead with great gameness, though Noon Fire seemed to be gradually wearing him down. An eighth out Noon Fire was just showing his nose in front of Skyscraper, but when the Greentree gelding clung to him resolutely Burke made the fatal mistake t * going for his whip on Noon Fire. As lie swung his whip he dropped his mounts head slightly and Skyscraper again showed iu front and from there to the end he held an advantage that was only a matter of inches. Indian Trail always held the others safe, but was beaten five lengths for third place and Wampee was fourth. It was a good band of platers that came together in the opening mile dash and Master Hand, from the stable of P. EL Sims, proved an easy winner from David Harum, with i Belphrizonia third. Cano, after being badly outpaced in the early running, closed an immense gap to finish fourth. Continued on sixteenth page. SOCRATESJN FRONT Continued from first page. There was little to the race, for Master Hand d.ved away into a good lead at the post and there was no time that he was not master of the situation. Obert was of no great help to JJavid Harum, while Top Sergeant did not run to his regular form under the riding of CL Ralls, who had him far back and securely pocketed most of the way. Two horses were claimed out of the race when W. J. Both took Ever Bold from Mrs. J. A. Coburn and John Richardson lost Top Sergeant to G. C. Winfrey. The Hylas Steeplechase, under claiming conditions, brought out a field of eleven starters and resulted in a victory for Vox Populi II., from the Desoris Stable. Peccant was second and third money fell to Regalia. The others were well strung out and Decisive, after refusing at the last jump, was last. McNair went out with Vox Populi II. early in the race and then at the lower end of the field stole away into a long lead. Ireland was showing the way to Regalia and the others were in fairly close order, with Peccant one of the rear division. Hunt was saving ground with him, but as a result he was "climbing" on the heels of horses and had scant racing room. Through the second Williams shook up Regalia in an effort to catch Vox Populi II., and closed up some ground. In the meantime Peccant was making his way through, but Hunt had waited too long to have a winning chance. In the last half mile he clos?d an immense gap and was catching Vox Populi II. with every stride, but the move was altogether too late. Under a better timed ride he could hardly have lost.
