view raw text
TRIUMPHS IN FAMOUS RACE ♦ Petee-Wrack Adds Metropolitan Handicap to Victories. • Attractive Program and Delightful Weather Responsible for Largest Crowd of Meeting at Belmont Park. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 25.— Petee-Wrack, the sterling four-year-old son of Wrack and Marguerite, which races for J. R. Macomber, the Boston sportsman, carried off the historic old Metropolitan Handicap this afternoon at Belmont Park. At the end of the one mile he was showing the way to Edward R. Bradleys Buddy Bauer, which, in turn, just nosed out Walter M. Jeffords Bateau for third place. This renewal had a value of ,600 to the winner and Steve ODonnell had the mount. With delightful racing weather and a notable program of races as an attraction, the largest crowd of the meeting was out for the sport furnished by the Westchester Racing Association. The track, though not at its best, was rated as fast. After Dail and Algernon had been scratched from the Metropolitan field and Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilts Byrd added, there were eight went to the post. There was no time lost at the barrier and, as the barrier went up, Osmond went into command with Byrd racing close up and Buddy Bauer not far back, while ODonnell, after beginning slowly with Petee-Wrack, soon had him in third place and rating along close to the inner rail and within striking distance of the leaders. There was little change in these positions until near the stretch turn. Begorra had made a move leaving the back stretch and loomed up on the outside for an instant, but soon dropped back again. Osmand and Byrd were still well lapped as they turned into the stretch and as they made the turn ODonnell had his chance with Petee-Wrack. They had gone just wide enough to afford an opening next to the rail. ODonnell was quick to avail himself of the chance and sent the son of Wrack up, while at the same time Buddy Bauer was moving up on the outside and Bateau was also coming into the picture. HEAVY IMPORT TELLS. The heavy impost and the mile was telling on Osmand and in the final eighth he tired badly, to drop back well beaten. Petee-Wrack was through the opening and was going along with plenty in reserve. Then a bitter duel was staged for second place between Buddy Bauer and Bateau, the horse only winning the decision by a nose, with the tired Byrd a length and a half further back. There was general disappointment when Jolly Roger, the Greentree Stable champion, did not appear in the Appleton Memorial Steeplechase, but that coveted prize went o the stable when the four-year-old Fairfield, showing a wonderful improvement, led home Bayard Warrens Canterbury, with E. R. Bradleys Beelzebub just nosing out E. M. Byers Taras Hall for third. The result of this two-mile race over jumps was a stunning one when Thomas Hitchcocks Bangle failed to take any part of the money and Joseph E. Wideners Fairmount was eased up in last place. Bangle had unseated A. C. Bostwick at the second jump. Then at the ninth Rooney unseated Jeffcott and Beauparc fell two jumps from the finish with G. H. "Pete" Bostwick. Of course these accidents all helped along towards Fairfields victory, but he was an altogether different horse than the Fairfield that had performed only a few days before. Fairmount, also such a bold, safe jumper, was bungling at his fences, and on three different occasions he all but unseated Barrett Haynes, who rode in place of "Dolly" Byers, who is nursing a broken collarbone. The field was sent away at the first attempt and Beelzebub at once set the pace, with Taras Hall and Canterbury close at hand and Haynes had Fairmount close after them. At the second jump Bangle made a mistake and the elder Mr. Bostwick was unseated. GOES WIDE WITH FAIRMOUNT. Swinging into the front field, there was a general closing up on the leaders and Haynes came a bit wide with Fairmount. Beelzebub and Canterbury were still leading the pack but Fairfield was close at hand. Then at the front field Liverpool, Fairmount took off a full stride too soon and dived over the fence. He all but shot Haynes over his head, but the veteran rider made a wonderful recovery. At this time Pete Bostwick was rating Beauparc along smoothly and close enough to the leaders to have an excellent chance. At the lower end of the course Lambert went to the front with Fairfield and once there never was headed. Canterbury was racing along close after him and Taras Hall was also close at hand while Haynes was moving up again on the outside with Fair-mount. At the upper end of the field, while Fairfield, Canterbury and Taras Hall were close together showing the way, Mr. Bostwick made a move with Beauparc. In the run home Haynes made one more effort with Fairmount but when the old fellow made another mistake at the last jump he was eased up with Fairfield going on to win by a length and a half from Canterbury, while Beelzebub, coming again, just nosed out Taras Hall for third. Fortunately, no rider that went down was hurt but Beauparc was so seriously injured that ha was taken from the field in an ambulance. The race had a net value of ,200 to the winner, as well as the trophy. Sweep Out, the swift running daughter of Sweep On and Dug Out, won her seventh consecutive purse when she led home a good band of sprinters in a three-quarter mile race over the main course. She ran the route in 1 :11% to win with something to spare from Lace from the Mendham Stable with T. M. Cassidys Indian Scout saving third from Beacon Hill. Sweep Out had never been opposed by such good ones before and many were of the opinion that she was in over her head, but she raced away into an early lead and, making every post a winning one, still had a half length to spare at the end. Fator sent Lace along a couple of lengths back of the winner and timed his run nicely, but the daughter of Sweep On hung gamely to her task to be first past the line. The final battle of the fillies took them out five lengths before as fast a colt as Indian Scout, while Beacon Hill, after a slow beginning, closed considerable ground to be fourth. The fifth race was a four and a half furlongs dash for juveniles, and the Whitney silks were first and second when Prometheus led home Frumper, while Zeal, from the Rancocas Stable, was a distant third. Zeal was the one to set most of the pace, but in the final eighth both of the Whitney colts raced past him to come on home with plenty to spare. There was an unfortunate accident in this that could be charged to the Australian barrier that is used at that starting point. The inside of the barrier did not release promptly and Desert Light, which had that position at the post, was caught and as a result W. Garner was unseated, but not hurt. At the end of the program there was a mile race for rather useful platers that saw Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilts Croyden an easy winner and it atoned in part for the accident to Desert Light. In this Croyden forced the pace under a slight restraint and after racing Sturdy into submission, drew away easily. At the end Live Oak finished resolutely to take second place and Ruby Keller i saved third.
