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] . j j J | . j J 1 t 1 1 : : i i , , BELMONT PARK RACING « . Rain Leads to Scratching Main Feature to a Two-Horse Race. ♦ ■ Bontaud Defeats Maclean in a Hair -Raising Finish — Olynthus Takes Another Race. 1 NEW YORK, N. Y., May 28.— What was meant for the best race at Belmont Park today dwindled to a two-horse duel when only Frank K. Browns Hephaistos and Henry Watersons Brainstorm appeared at the post in the mile and a sixteenth of the Babylon Handicap. Hephaistos proved easily the better of the pair and after being saved in the early racing easily ran past Brainstorm before the stretch was reached to come on and win with speed to spare. The heavy rain of Tuesday night accounted for many scratches and it was the excuse for the pruning down of the handicap feature. Those that declined to start were Harry Payne Whitneys Transmute and Klondyke. E. F. Cooneys Dunlin, H. Altermans Homestretch and the Belair Stud Stables Aga Khan. Tnere was a decided rise in the temperature, although rain threatened all afternoon. The crowd was of goodly proportions and in spite of the scratches the racing was thoroughly interesting. One of the best finishes of the meeting came in the third race, a three-quarters sprint, when Frank J. Farrels Bontaud, showing more gameness than usual, lasted long enough to beat W. J. Howards Maclean by a nose, while William Martins Brice saved third money. START HELPS BONTAUD. The start had something to do with the result, for Bontaud, after acting badly at the barrier, left running fast, while Maclean was in close pursuit of the others and had scant chance to stride freely in the early running. Starbeck raced out with Bontaud and Brice was third, with Suncar fourth and Maclean next to last of the field. Fator finally took Maclean to the outside to find racing room and the horse moved up rapidly when he found that room. At th3 head of the stretch he came on the outsida of Bontaud and the Farrell gelding swerved slightly, forcing him wide. In the meantime, Brice dashed up on the inside and for an instant he threatened. It seemed in the final eighth that Maclean would surely beat Bontaud, but considerable had been taken out of him making up the lost ground and when Bontaud showed unexpected gameness the Meelick colt barely failed to catch him, though he beat Brice almost three lengths for second place. Maclean ran an excellent race and with equal luck surelj would have been the winner. Fourteen platers went to the post in the opening six and a half furlongs dash and John W. Wards Washington proved easily best. He quickly raced into a good lead and was at no time threatened. Anne raced sec-end most of the way, but she could never cut down the lead of the Ward gelding and at the end he was still a dozen lengths to the good. Anne was four lengths ahead of Pat Casey and he had raced prominently all the way. J. Salmons Golden Armor had small chance in the race when he began slowly. SKY SCRAPER II. WINS STEEPLECHASE. The steeplechase of the day was framed for maidens and it brought about a good contest when Balph Beaver Strassburgers Sky Scraper II. won from Hugh Garths Sea Serpent with W. V. Dwyers St. Lawrence saving third money from Robert L. Gerrys Rock Bass. Back of them came Graylette, Smiling Meadow and Blue Pearl. The Sage went down at the Liverpool, while Al Fresco fell at the seventh jump and Boatman unshipped W. McNair at the eighth. From a good start, Rock Bass made the early pace, but Sea Serpent was close at hand and St. Lawrence was in third place before Sky Scraper II. The others were more or less strung out with Blue Pearl bringing up the rear. When going to the waterjump. Sea Serpent passed Bock Bass and right there the latter began to drop back. At the lower end of the field there was some closing up on Sea Serpent, but he held to his lead and when Al Fresco went down he was being rushed along in an effort to race with the leader. Boatman was also close up when he made his mistake. i St. Lawrence and Sky Scraper II. were the only ones left to offer anything like a contest to Sea Serpent. Sky Scraper II. made his first real challenge after entering the last field and slipping through on the inside beat Sea Serpent to the last jump to come on and win by four lengths. Sea Serpent was fifteen lengths before St. Lawrence and the others were badly strung out. There was an accident came with the running of the fifth race when right after the start Jaunebar was bumped and Catrone, who had the mount, was unseated. After this l ontiuuetJ oil sixteenth page. BELMONTPARK RACING Continued from first page. accident the old gelding rusned around the others and finished a couple of lengths in front. Olynthus, racing for J. Zoeller, was the winner. He raced forwardly from the start and at the end had a good lead over Anniversary and Maryland Belle was third. In this same race W. R. Martin, a gentleman rider of long experience from Lancaster, Penna., had the mount on War Victor, which ran poorly and finished a distant last. J. S. Cosdcns Rejected was the winner of the last race, which was at four and a half furlongs out of the chute. W. J. Salmons Chrysalis raced to second place, while W. R. Coes Dugout was third. The winner was ridden by C. Lang and raced well to win by a safe margin.
