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FILLYS GREAT RACE « Results in Triumph for Marshall Field in Metropolitan Handicap. , , Nimba Gets Up in Final Strides to Defeat Chance Shot and Scapa Flow — Track Muddy. » NEW YORK. N. Y., May 2G.— Marshall Fields Nimba, the queenly daughter of War Cloud — Martha Snow, making her first appearance of the year, and in a great race was winner of the famous old Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park before a big crowd. It was a thrilling finish when she slipped through next to the inner rail to defeat Joseph H. Wideners Chance Shot, with Walter If .Jeffords Scapa Flow outstaying Averill Harrimans Chance Play for third place. The race had a value of ,575 to the winner. The companion piece to the Metropolitan Handicap was the Charles L. Appleton Memorial Steeplechase Handicap and it resulted in a stirring finish when Thomas Hitchcocks Bangle just defeated Joseph E. Wideners Fairmount by a nose, with Jolly Roger, from the Greentree Stable, a close third. A heavy morning rain completely changed the track condition and one of the best programs of the meeting was run over a course that was deep in sloppy mud. The change of track condition made possible an excellent trial of Joseph E. Wideners no scratch rule. Under the conditions of that track regulation it is always possible to withdraw any entry when the track condition changes as it did from Friday night to Saturday morning. Naturally there were a number of withdrawals, but the program was not damaged to any extent, as has so frequently been the case under the old rule, when there was no prohibition against scratching. It was also a day of wonderful sport despite the sloppy condition of the track. There was some delay at the post for the Metropolitan Handicap, for which Chance Play was chiefly to blame, but the start was an excellent one. Chance Play was first to show, and Osmand, the stablemate to Chance Continued on twenty-fourth page. FILLYS GREAT RACE Continued from first page. Shot, took up his detail of forcing the pace for the son of Fair Play. Scapa Flow was also in the first flight ai-l the three of them, closely lapped, soon drew away to a lead of half a dozen lengths. Groucher was heading the others, while Sande was waiting with Chance Shot to take every advantage of the fast pace. Nimba was also far back, with Sarazen last of the seven that started. Osmand was hard at it with Chance Play and Scapa Flow and going exceedingly well until near the long turn into the stretch, where he was pinched off between the pair of them, and Garner took back, dropping completely out of the running. By this time Sande was moving up with Chance Shot and he was making up ground in gallant fashion. Both Chance Play and Scapa Flow were beginning to tire from the early exertion, and it was apparent that Chance Shot would catch both of them. Nimba had also profited by the pacemaking and, while Sande elected to go to the outside for the stretch run, Thurber cut the corner with the filly, saving several lengths. Scapa Flow was not entirely through and he br.ttled along gamely, but an eighth out Chance Shot had him beaten and his head was in front. There it looked all over a Widener victory, but the gap on the inner rail had been forgotten by all but Thurber and Nimba was rushing through there with all the courage that made her a great filly last year. , Sande sensed the danger and he drove Chance Shot out furiously but it was of no avail ; the filly was on through and at the end was winner and going away with a length and a half to spare. The tired Scapa Flow was four lengths further back, with Chance Play finishing fourth. Groucher, which had cut scant figure in the running, fifth, Sarazen sixth and Osmand was eased up in last place. While George Odom sent a rarely fit filly to the post in Nimba, it is extremely doubtful if she would have beaten Chance Shot had it not been for the ground lost by the Widener colt and saved by the filly on the stretch turn. A thrilling finish came out of the running of the Charles L. Appleton Memorial Steeplechase Handicap over the short course today, when Thomas Hitchcocks lightly weighted Bangle just nosed out Joseph E. Wideners Fairmount, with the Greentree Stables Jolly Roger at the heels of the pair. The only other to finish was Signal, stablemate to Bangle. Skedaddle, the E. M. Byers starter, went down with J. Tierce at the third jump and Bayard AVarrcns Canterbury unseated A. Williams at the eighth jump. Both riders escaped injury. The race was worth ,200 to the winner with the additional trophy that is presented by the Greentree Stable. It was a rare renewal of the rich prize and as the race was run Fairmount was best and, but for two unnatural mistakes for the sterling son of Fair Play — Sun Flower, he would have been the winner. With Jolly Roger, he was takeing up 1C2 pounds and, under that burden, they both gave the winner twenty-eight pounds, for Bangle only carried 134 pounds. J. Callahan returned from Woodbine Park, where he rode R. T. Wilsons Sunfire to victory in the Toronto Cup Handicap.
