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HANDICAP FINISH THRILLS + Polydor Gets Up in Final Strides to Win Speed Handicap. • ~. Ziegler Star Makes Up Immense Amount of Ground in Final Eighth of Belmont Park Feature. ♦ XEW YORK. N. Y.. June 5.— William Ziegler, Jr.s, swift running sprinter Polydor added another to his score at Belmont Park today when he was winner of the Speed Handicap over five and a half furlongs on the Widener Course. The race was worth $:;,650 to the winner and he just got up to beat W. R. Coes Old Dutch by a matter of inches, with Byrd, from the Fair Stable, a distant third before the Sagamore Stables Night Life, the only other starter. The heavy rain of Monday night left the track muddy and, as a result, there were a number of scratches. The weather was disagreeably cold for this season of the year and it had an effect on the attendance, though the crowd was surprisingly large considering conditions. There were several scratches by reason of the muddy track that prevailed, but it did not prevent the sport from being thrilling, with many close finishes during the afternoon. No time was lost at the post for the Speed Handicap and as the barrier was released Old Dutch rushed to the front, as he did so often last year. Later he quit just as he had done so often last year. Garner had Polydor chasing after the son of Polymelian, but it seemed like a hopeless chase. The Ziegler colt was racing outside of Old Dutch and in the last quarter crossed to the inside behind Old Dutch. He was still fully four lengths back of the flying leader in the last eighth, but Garner-had not given up and he was driving Polydor to the limit. OLD DUTCH TIRES BADLY. It did not seem possible that Old Dutch could tire soon enough to lose, but through that last eighth he shortened strides to such an extent that, stride by stride, Polydor was wearing him down until at the end they crossed the finish closely lapped, but Polydor had his nose in front. Byrd was five lengths back of the first two and a length before Xight Life, which had raced last all the way. Strolling Player, the imported brother to Call Boy, that races for the Salubria Stable, earned a right to start in the American Derby at Arlington Park when he was winner of the third race of the day. Under the conditions he was taking up 117 pounds, three pounds over the scale, and giving away weight to such good ones as Mowlee, Sanford and Sun Forward. Away well, Strolling Player went out with Mowlee and, when the son of Lucullite made it a bit stiff, Fields eased back and permitted the Rancocas sprinter to go into a lead of four lengths. Xearing the stretch turn and just as the others seemed to be catching him, the outlander began to run again and he soon was at the heels of Mowlee. Racing along resolutely he readily put the son of Lucullite away, but he was bearing out somewhat, while Sun Forward had saved ground and was charging along on the inside. Fields went to the whip and the manner in which Strolling Player came away from the other pronounced him a good colt. He was still a half-length to the good at the end. Mowlee was four lengths further away and Sanford last of the four that raced. FOREIGNER LEARNING RAPIDLY. This Strolling Player seems to be coming to himself. It has taken him a long time to learn American courses and American methods, but this race was one to suggest that he is learning rapidly. It was an excellent performance when the weight arrangement is taken into consideration. There was a close finish came out of the four and a half furlongs dash for two-year-olds that was the first offering, when A. M. Chichester, Jr.s Miss Widworthy just nosed out the Kershaw Stables Clatter and Fla-mante, from the Arden Farms Stable, was third. This finish was so close that many in the grandstand were of the opinion that the judges had erred in not placing Clatter first. This, however, has happened on other occasions with close finishes over the Widener course. Clatter raced along forwardly on the outer rail while Miss Widworthy and Mae Quince, the John E. Madden starter, were close after the leaders and there was little to choose among the three. Then Mae Quince tired badly and Miss Widworthy and Clatter went on to fight it out. Clatter held to her outside position and was going in better style at the end, but the decision went to Miss Widworthy. The steeplechase of the day was a short course journey for the maidens and there came another victory for the Thomas Hitchcock .Bilks when Devil Kin was winner handily from V. Smyths Herod Antipas. H. W. Maxwells Flittula saved third from Cherub, a Flying Horse Farm starter. Three in the field of thirteen failed to finish when Flight Time, Flying Ambush and Harry Heilman all unseated their riders. Fortunately the jockeys escaped injury. The fifth was a five-eighths mile dash for juveniles and Max Hirsch uncovered a good one in Crystal Broom, a chestnut son of Golden Broom — Crystal Isles. He was beaten by Harry Payne Whitneys Zoom, but his was a first class performance when he readily led home the others and it is natural to expect that he will improve on that showing. Zoom, Keokuk and Crystal Broom were the ones to force the pace, but at the end Zoom, with his superior education, drew away slightly and at the end he was winner by a length. Crystal Broom hung on well and was four lengths clear of Glen Oak, which only beat Bud Fishers Air Chief by a head for third place. At the end of the program there was a mile and a sixteenth race for the platers, with seven starters. This resulted in an easy score for E. M. Dyers Social Mug when, after racing Blabber into submission, he came away to easily lead home Comet, while Blabber saved third. . *
