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FRENCH CHAMPION . EPINARD MEETS DEFEAT - ! X - LOSES FIRST INTERNATIONAL RACE Wise Counsellor Triumphs Over the Invader Before One of the Largest Crowds That Ever Witnessed a Race in This Country Prince of Wales Among the Spectators. BELMONT PARK, N. T., September 1. "Wise Counsellor, owned by F. A. Burton of Chicago, was conqueror of Pierre Wertheimers French champion Epinard In the first of the three International races at Belmont Park yesterday. It was a glorious victory and the invader, though beaten, was a remarkably close second and battled like a real champion. Third wasthe portion of August Belmonts Ladkin. The race was worth 9,000 to the winner. x Never wasthcre such an Immense throng on an American race course. Estimates irt figures are always dangerous, but it is safe to take the largest previous racing crowd and add one-third more and an idea may be had of the monster gathering. Long before the horses were called to the post for the first race the immense stands were filled and the crowd milled about on the lawns in the blazing heat. The paddock was filled as never before, while thousands watched the sport from the infield. It was shortly before the running of the second race that the Prince of "Wales arrived and was the victim of a horde of photographers. After that contest he visited the paddock in the hope of looking over some of the Nursery Handicap eligibles, but it was well nigh impossible for he was at once surrounded by an admiring crowd that gave him no chance to see the horses. The royal visiter took the curious crowding with rare good nature, but it was plain that he was glad to escape again to the box of Joseph E. "Widener, whose guest he was for the afternoon. Just before the horses were called to the post for the running of the International 5 Special the Prince was escorted to the stewards stand, where he viewed the running o the race. Epinard led the parade to the post and he was loudly acclaimed as he walked along under the glistening blue and white silks of Mr. Wertheimer. An even-tempered gentleman, the cheers of the crowd in no way disturbed him. He was followed by the prancing Zev from the Rancocas Stable. Next came Richard T. Wilsons "Wilderness and he was followed by J. S. Cosdens Snob II., G. A. Cochrans Goshawk, the Audley Farms Miss Star, August Belmonts Ladkin, F. A. Burtons Wise Counsellor and Edward R. Bradleys Baffling brought up the rear. START A GOOD OXE. Epinard had the inside post position and both Wiso Counsellor and Miss Star out-started him, while Baffling had a slight advantage, but it was a good start and there was no crowding. The pace from the start was fast and Baffling was first to show out of the bunch. Miss Star was right after him and Zev was just showing the way to Epinard. Haynes still had the Frenchman down on the rail and was saving ground in that position. Wise Counsellor was right after them and further out from the rail. The first quarter was run in twenty-three seconds and the field was in close order with the exception of Wilderness, which, after beginning badly, was always far out of the early running. Rounding out of the backstretch, Zev moved up on the outside and Ladkin also improved his pace. As they circled up it made the Epinard position on the rail appear particularly perilous, but he held his place and It was not until right at the stretch turn that he seemed to be slightly blocked. It was there that Baffling began to weaken and Zev was giving up his best Ladkin was hanging on and Wise Counsellor was moving rapidly on the outside of the leaders. His long easy stride was deceptive and then it was that the pocket in which Haynes found himself with Epinard was a real handicap. FIGHTS TO THE LAST. Inside the final eighth Epinard came clear of the pocket but by that time Wise Counsellor was alongside the Frenchman and ho was racing strongly. The two fought along closely lapped and Epinard held him stride for stride but gradually condition told its tale and the seasoned colt, Wise Counsellor, drew away ever so slightly. When Haynes1 realized he was beaten he did not punish Epinard and he was beaten three parts of a length, though it could have been closer had Haynes punished Epinard right at the end. Three lengths back of Epinard Ladkin saved third place by a length from Snob II., the Cosden colt finishing strongly. Zev followed a length and a half farther back with Wilderness next beating Baffling. Miss Star was at the heels of the Bradley colt and Goshawk brought up the rear. It was a great finish between the first two and the victory was a tremendously popular one with the crowd. Both Keogh and Haynes were wildly cheered as they returned to the scales. The race would intimate that Epinard proably needed just this one contest to thoroughly fit him and that there was somo excuse in the running when he was pocketed at the head of the stretch. In any event Epinard made a tremendous hit in this, his first race and he will not want for loyal friends in the engagements that are to come.
