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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of Sept. 2, 1904 Racing at Coney Island, Harlem, Highland Park, Detroit, and Fair: Grounds at St. Louis. There was much sadness and comment over First Masons defeat of Delhi at Sheepshead Bay last Tuesday. First Masons victory over Delhi was as much of a surprise to his owner, C. E. Rowe, as. it was to the public in general. Rowe only bought the horse, which is a four-year-old son of First Mate Manola Mason, a few weeks ago and yesterday was his first start since coming East. In St. Louis the horse ran some excellent races, winning the last three times out and running a mile on one occasion in 1 :39 and a fraction, with 112 pounds, over a fast track. But when Rowo got him First Mason was thin and drawn. He got plenty of feed and. after a rest he was put to work. Before he went to the post Rowe said: "I am just running him to see what he can do. If ready, he will do well, no doubt, but I do not believe that he has a chance to defeat Delhi. I have put a small sentimental bet on him, because I do not want him to run unbacked." First Mason has besn regarded as one of the best handicap horses in the West and those who have seen him run were not slow in playing him for place at even money. There were straight bets too, but not enough to keep his price from going up. Lyne, whd had the mount, took particular pains to ride him to the best of his ability, for he was very anxious to beat the Keene colt for personal reasons. After the race he said, as he came to the scales: "I set such a fast pace that I made Delhi quit like a yellow dog at the end of three-quarters of a mile." When Delhi got back to the paddock the sharps bsgan exchanging opinions. Some of them were inclined to believe that the Keene colt had gone off in his training, while others were uncharitable enongs. to say that he was always overrated. It was recalled that in his last race at Saratoga, at a mile and five-sixteenths, he was all out, to beat Stalwart. "This is simply another case of underrating western form," said a leading horseman.
