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I I I I j i , j | , i [ | j . | j COLD, DRIZZLING RAIN Makes Conditions Unfavorable at Belmont Park Friday. 1 Catalan Scores Well-Earned Victory in Hyde Park Handicap — Big and Cumbersome Fields. i NEW YORK. N. Y.. May 29— Conditions were decidedly unfavorable for the racing at Belmont Park Friday afternoon. Most of the day there was a cold, drizzling rain and, while it did not slow up the going to any j extent, the weather made it an uncomfortable day for. the patrons. Fields in most of the races were cumbersome, but the racing was fairly interesting, with the best offering the I Hyde Park Handicap over the mile distance. This resulted in a well-earned victory for Catalan from the Bedford Farm Stable, with William Ziegler, Jr.s Needle Gun saving second place from Harry Payne Whitneys Swinging. The Log Cabin Studs Optimist and Richard T. Wilsons Campfire Tales were the only other starters. From a good start Ivan Parke rushed Swinging away at a sprinting pace. Optimist and Needle Gun went with her until the pace became a bit too stiff when they took back. while Catalan was being rated by Ambrose back of the three, with Campfire Tales badly outrun from the start Before the stretch was reached Optimist had dropped out of thi contention, but Catalan was moving up and Needle Gun was still hanging on in resolute fashion. On the turn into the straight Parke went to the whip, but the early pace had told its tale and Swinging did not respond to tile call. Catalan had swung around the filly and was racing strongly, while Needle Gun on the inside was also showing good speed. Right at the end Catalan drew out to win going away, while Needle Gun easily beat the tired Swinging for the place. Optimist was an in- different fourth and Campfire Tales was lengths back of his company. BIG PULL IX WEIGHTS. It must be said on behalf of both Swinging and Needle Gun that, under 120 and 122 pounds respectively, they had much the worst of the handicap, for Catalan, a four-year-old. was receiving seventeen pounds on the seal ! from the filly and fourteen pounds fro.n Needle Gun. Fifteen platers, to race a mile, was the first offering and it brought about a victory for Kentucky when Polk Iffoons Federalist was winner from W. J. P.oths Alex Wood. liffe. with J. A. Cobums Young April along in time to take third. Maiben rushed Trapdale away from the post in the lead and through the early running he was showing the way. but three-eighths was just about his limit and it was there that Alex Woodliffe took up the running and he was still going well at the turn for home, but in the last eighth Federalist closed with a rush that saw him winner, while Young April also closed something ot a gap to be third. After his early exhibition of speed Trap-dale quit badly to finish far back. Master Crump was another that faded away after showing a becoming early speed. Seventeen two-year-olds met in a claiming dash of four and a half furlongs through the straight in the second race and A. B. Gordons 1ecora, a daughter of Prince Pal, was winner by a clos • margin over W. J. Bo.hs Light View with Flicker finishing third. The start was a good one and there was little choice between half a dozen of the leaders when they reached the stands. There the eventual winner was showing thu way, but the others were close at hand and at that stage of the running, Light View came with a rush on the outside that looked like victory but Iecora stuck it out resolutely to be first home by a nose. It was another big field that went to the post in the three-quarters of the third race for three year olds. In this T. W. OBriens Forecaster, by a rush through the final eighth, was up in time to score from Frank E. Browns Watts with J. L, Hollands Continued on alxtorntli pare. COLD, DRIZZLING RAIN Continued from first page. Gnome Girl beating Zuker for third. There was a considerable delay at the post but the start was a good one and Zuker soon found his way into command. He could not hold that position long anil was soon badly shuffled back on the inside. Fran-conia, the Jcseph E. Widener starter was ano.her in the front division and Watts always raced forwardly. At the head of the stretch Watts looked all over a winner, when he moved up resolutely. Then Rrunnor found an opening on the inside with Zuker and for just an instant he threatened to come through. Rut in the meantime both Forecaster and Gnome Girl were closing rapidly on the outside. Forecaster proved to have more left than the others and was going away at the end, while Watts stuck it out to save second place. The fifth was only a four and a half furlongs dash through the straight for two-year-old maidens, but it resulted in the best finish of the day when Walter M. Jeffords Mars, the Greentree Stables Alley Oop and Josph E. Wideners Federal fought it out, though at the end Mars was going away. Federal was the one to set the early pace, but at the stands he was joined by both Mars and Alley Oop, the three passing the clubhouse enclosure closely locked and all fighting. In the closing strides the son of Man o War proved gamest and right at the end he had the other two thoroughly beaten
