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TAKES ELLICOT HANDICAP ■ Hillardo the Winner After Close and Exciting Finish. » Jean Crest Beaten by Inches After Being Virtually Left at Post — Fletcher Best of Province-Breds. ♦ FORT ERIE, Ont.. June 25.— The EUicott Handicap, the best race of the day, proved a stirring contest, when Hillardo, Jean Crest and Van Loo figured in a close finish at the end of the three-quarters, they being well lapped on each other as the end was reached, and it is doubtful as to whether the winner would have earned the major division of the purse had Jean Crest not been practically left. She made up a world of ground to finish a head back of the winner, while Van IjOO also closed a big gap and was taking two strides to the others one. Hillardo, away in motion, moved into the lead directly after the start, and Munden permitted him to go along at a rapid clip to kill Doc Gaiety off. With the latter done away with, Jean Crest came from last place to get into third position before the half mile ground was reached. Rounding the turn, she moved to the winner with good speed, but her early efforts told on her. and she tired in the hard drive. Van Loo was two lengths before Solidity. Fairbank, that races for J. C. Fletcher, proved best of the five province-breds that vied for honors in the second race, which was decided over the route of a mile and a sixteenth under claiming conditions. The winner was ridden by L. Schaefer and. after laying off the pace set by Thornton for three-quarters, moved to the leaders with ■ good burst of speed rounding the far turn. disposed of Royal Pearl, which had wrested the lead from Thornton and was winner by a length, while Royal Pearl saved second place by five lengths. Compromise, installed a prohibitive choice in the third race, and acknowledged to have the race at her mercy, was forced to withstand a hard drive to garner the purse from six other three-year-olds that went post-ward. Moore had the leg up on Compromise and, from a good start, kept her going from the rise of the barrier, while Lord York went into the lead rounding the first turn. Moore rode Compromise with great energy, as he was in close quarters next the inner rail, with Lisab a head back on the outside. Compromise, under the whip, disposed of Lisab rounding the turn for home but was forced to do her best to hold Marial Barton safe. Charlcie gained some ground the final half mile, and she took the minor end of the purse. Gabaldon proved the best of the eleven maiden two-year-olds that faced the starter for the five-eighths of the first race, when he scored by a neck from Sparkling Water, with Lillian L. getting the show portion. Gabaldon raced into a prominent position with the rise of the barrier, shook off Lillian L. after a brief brush and held on with good courage under punishment to withstand the bid of Sparkling Water, which closed steadily through the final eighth next the inside rail and was gradually cutting the winners margin down. Ankle Hoot showed a flash of early speed but dropped out of contention and was unplaced. Continued on twentieth page. TAKES ELLICOT HANDICAP Continued from first page Off Spring and Ed Pendleton hooked up in one of the closest duels seen during the present meeting, when they came down to the finish in so close alignment in th? sixth race that it was unknown until the official placing was displayed as to which had earned the verdict, while the crowd stodd breathless waiting for the placing judge to flash the numbers. When they were finally posted, the former was given the decision. The race itself proved to be a thrilling battle from the outset, with the above two furnishing the excitement from the rise of the barrier, racing along as a team the entire journey, first one and then the other gaining a slight advantage. Knight of Merci II. showing sudden improvement over his previous race when he was disgracefully beaten, took a good band of sprinters into camp in the fourth race, a three-quarters sprint with eight starters. D. Sharkey, who has been seen in the saddle on only a few occasions, had the mount on the winner and, keeping him within striking distance of the pace from the outset, moved to Kings Court, the early leader, with a rsh at the turn out of the back stretch, assurried command and raced in hand the remainder of the way, although his winning margin was but a neck. Foreland raced well throughout the contest and finished with good speed to get second place, with Hanky Kice a fast travelling third.
