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CLOSE FINISH IN FEATURE » Rapid Transit and Mud Inches Apart at End of Stake Race. Kilrain Stable Youngster Wins Victoria Stakes by a Nose — Triple Win for Seagram Stable Colors. • TORONTO, Ont., May 23.— The Victoria Stakes, which was provided as an attraction at Woodbine Park this afternoon, furnished a spectacular finish when the Kilrain Stables Rapid Transit defeated Mud by a nose. Eight lengths back of this pair and fighting it out for third place, were Glee Club and Carlos Maid, and they were noses apart in the order named as they flashed past the judges. The Victoria Stakes was a dash of five-eighths and the Ontario Jockey Club added a purse of ,000 to the stake. There were six starters, with Glee Club and Altimeter coupled as the Bud Fisher entry. Rapid Transit was favorite and Peternel had the mount. Mud was ridden by L. Schaefer. The former had the rail position, and when the start came was quickest away from the post. They had not gone far before Mud was on almost equal terms with the pacemaker, and they raced like a team on the far turn and entering the home stretch. Inside the eighth post, under strong urging. Rapid Transit drew away into a lead of half a length. Schaefer was driving Mud to the limit, and the last 100 yards Mud came again and was gradually wearing the leader down. It was a mighty tight fit between the pair at the end, and the finish was so close that the winner was in doubt until the official placing was hung up. It was a great relief to the backers of the favorite when the judges hung out Rapid Transits number. The winners portion of the stake was ,020. Shelby Burch, son of that past-master W. P. Burch, one of the leading trainers of his day, came up from Belmont Park to saddle Rapid Transit. Bud Fisher, the famous cartoonist, made the trip up from New York to witness the running of the stake race. Racing conditions were perfect and a large gathering turned out to witness the sport. Canadian-owned horses won the second, third and fifth races, when Winoya, Circulet and Young Kitty finished in front. The track was fast and the close finishes aroused much enthusiasm. The Breed rs Stakes was provided as an additional attraction and gave the Seagram mare an opportunity of adding to her laurels. Carrying 122 pounds and conceding much weight to the others, Young Kitty was winner from her stable companion, Ferry of Fate, by three-quarters of a length. Eight Continued on eighteenth page. CLOSE FINISH IN FEATURE Continued from first page. started, Dushka being •withdrawn. What play there was on the race was on the entry and they went to the post at 1-20. Young Kitty was rushed to the front when the start came and Bonnington was the one to furnish the contention. The latter was in close pursuit of the Seagram filly and Townrow made several efforts to get to the front. Young Kitty always held her safe, however, but in the run through the home stretch she was inclined to tire and was subjected to urging to retain the lead. Smith, in the meantime, held Ferry of Fate in hand. At the head of the stretch he took the latter wide and in the last fifty yards, when given her head. Ferry of Fate gained with a burst of speed that made it plainly evident that she could have beaten Young Kitty had her rider so wished. Hanna Deebe, finishing gairoly, got up in the last few jumps to beat the tiring Bonnington by a head for third place. The nei value of the stake to the winner was ,365. Col. K. R. Marshalls steeplechaser Winoya came back with another winning effort when he scored in easy fashion over his opponents in the Minot Steeplechase this afternoon. H. McAfee again had the mount and Winoya won by five lengths margin over Henry Datt-ner. Press Gang, a green fencer which J. A. Parsons is developing, was third and the SewicklflJF Stables Thorndale fourth. Winoya held command of the situation throughout. Taking the lead soon after the start the ultimate winner made all of his own pac3 and. fencing in bold, fearless fashion, was never in serious trouble. Thorndale made several attempts to get past the pacemaker but McAfee always had a little in re-nerve to stall off the latters challenges. At the thirteenth fence Fitzgerald all but fell from Thorndale when the latter made a bad landing and in the final stages the horse tired badly and Tress Gang ber.t him ouJ: two lengths and a half for third placs. There were six starters and five finished the course without- mishap. Flying Ambush came to grief at the third obstacle, where he bobbled and unseated his ridor. The Howick Plate, a dash of three-quarters, for maidens, furnished a stirring contest in which Walter J. Salmons Mere Play, coming from behind with a rush, managed to get up in the last stride to beat Sturdy out by the smallest of margins. Mere PLy was ridden by L. Schaefer and he put up a rousing finish. In the early running Ruff and Uptide raced in front and led until well around the far turn, where Sturdy took the lead and, entering the home stretch, drew away into a three lengths lead. The Bud Fisher racer looked a certain winner at this stage but, when Mere Play challenged. Sturdy tired and just failed to last. Mere Play, a forward contender from the start, displayed good courage under punishment. Pledge was third and the favorite, Rim, fourlh. The Seagram Stables Circulet, winner of the Goodwood Plate on the opening day of the meeting, came back with another good performance when she scored a runaway victory in the Mount Royal Plate. The conditions of this race were for two-year-olds, foaled in Canada. It was a dash of four and a half furlongs and Ci-culet. coupled with Irish Sphere, was a 1-2 favorite. Pichon had the mount and, with his usual alertness at the post, was off in front when the barrier was released. Circulet sprinted into an easy kad in the first eighth and then Pichon took her in hand and for the remainder of the journey she held the others safe. Rose Spot was racing in second place and Goeland was third. Harvey kept driving the latter, and every time he made a move the filly swerved to the inside behind Rose Spot. In the last sixteenth Harvey took Goeland to the outside of Rose Spot and, in a driving finish, got up to defeat the latter by a length for second place. The Seagram Stable scored its third victory of the afternoon when Star of Gold beat the well-played Longview in the sixth race. Outrun in the early stages. Star of Gold finished with a burst of speed in the final eighth That landed hi min front of Long-view in the last couple of jumps. Longview closed a big gap himself after being shuffled about in the run to the first turn, where Brown took back and, in the run down the back stretch, he was finally taken to the outside. He passed the others with a rush and was in front making the turn for home. When it came to a drive, Longview tired, while Star of Gold finished straight and true. The latter raced in improved form over his previous effort.
