view raw text
BLUE LARKSPUR IN SPARKUNG RACE t w TRIUMPHS IN WITHERS — — * Bradley Colt Scores Notable Sue* cess in Famous Race. « Conquers Best of Eastern Stars* Including Jack High — Juvenile to Black Majesty. NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 30.— Blue Larkspur, E. B. Bradleys magnificent son ol Black Servant and Blossom Time, atoned for his defeat in the Kentucky Derby magnificently at Belmont Park today when in a wonderfully game finish he was home winner of the historic old Withers Stakes over Clendinin Ryans Chestnut Oak, with George D. Wideners Jack High, one of the gro:iest rivals of the Bradley colt last year, finishing a close third. The race had a net value of 8,250 to tho winner and it was a remarkably fast run mile when 1 :36 was hung up as the time. In the Juvenile Stakes, a companion piece in a big day of sport, W. R. Coes i.Iack Majesty scored over the best band of juveniles yet shown. The day was one that was remarkable for thrilling finishes and never has the Westchester Racing Association staged such a day; of sport. Seldom in the history of beautiful Belmont Park has there been such a monster crowd within its gates. The weather for the holiday was almost oppressively hot and it afforded an opportunity for the showing of gorgeous costumes and the enclosure was never more brilliant with color. Though the first race was not called to the post until 2:15 oclock there was an immense throng on hand shortly after the noon hour and it was well after sundown before the last of the holiday-makers were on their way back to New York. The Turf and Field Club was the seen© of many luncheon parties both before and after the races and every road leading to the course was congested by those who motored. | HOW RACE WAS RUK. From a good start in the Withers Stakes Blue Larkspur was first to show, but it was not for long, when Fields sent Chestnut Oak into command and Jack High also raced past the son of Black Servant. The Nut was in third place and following him came Be-gorra, a W. R. Coe starter. Fields, not content with merely leading, sent Chestnut Oak along until he was two lengths before Jack High, while the Widener colt enjoyed a like lead over Blue Larkspur, which was being crowded out a bit by The Nut, and forced to race well out from the rail. Near the stretch turn McAtee shook up Jack High in an effort to catch Chestnut Oak and as the son of John P. Grier responded to the call, he increased his lead over Blue Larkspur until the Bradley colt was many lengths further back and not making up any ground, but Mack Garner had not yet called on him for his best. When Chestnut Oak swung clear of Jack High, he was being hailed as the winner, as McAtee was at work on his mount in an effort to catch the leader, while Blue Larkspur was so far back that he did not appear to have a winning chance. It was inside the final eighth that Mack Garner went to work in earnest on the son of Black Servant and, finishing with marvelous gameness, he gradually drew up on the leaders. He raced through them and at the end got up to beat Chestnut Oak by a nose, while the son of Apprehension had beat Jack High a half length for second place. After the finish there was a long delay while the stewards deliberated on a claim ot foul that had been lodged. There seemed to be no reason for a claim and it was not allowed. TERRIFIC PACE. The terrific early pace naturally gave Blue Larkspur his chance, for Chestnut Oak had run the first quarter in :22%, the half in :45%, and the three-quarters in 1 :10. It was George Fields, rider of Chestnut Oak, who lodged the claim of foul against Garner on Blue Larkspur. His charge was that Garner had put him on the fence and injured his leg fifty yards from the finish. Fields had the injured leg to offer in evidence, but Garner explained that it had happened after the finish as Blue Larkspur swerved over when he was pulling him up. This was confirmed by a patrol judge and all who watched the finish carefully, know that Chestnut Oak was not put on the fence before the line was crossed. Andy Blakely sent out the winner of the first race, a one mile condition affair, when he saddled Willis Sharpe Kilmers Sun Hatter. He easily led home Earl Sandes Safety Pin. which, in turn, beat Mrs. Sydney Smiths St. Henell for second place. Continued on twenty-fourth page. BLUE LARKSPUR WINS Continued from first page. Indigo and St. Henell were the ones to set most of the pace, while Legere rated Sun Hatter along back of them, saving ground next to the rail. Crystal Domino, one of the H. T. Archibald starters, went along with the leaders and for a time Holiday was right up in the front division. Before the stretch was reached Indigo proved himself a real Stefan the Great by tiring under the strain of pacemaking and as he began to drop back he made a good job of it and was soon completely out of the running. In the meantime Legere, holding to his rail position with Sun Hatter, slipped through on the inside and was soon showing the way and at the end was three lengths clear. Safety Pin had steadily worked her way up and, like Sun Hatter, saved ground to beat home St. Henell, which was beginning to tire after the use that had been made of him forcing the pace with Indigo. Sweet Verbena was coming with a rush at the end and she was only a length back of St. Heneil. Taras Hall was first over the last jump, but he landed in a bit of a tangle and both Bold Knight and Volunteer were close after him. Then in the run home Volunteer, on the outside of the three, proved to have most left and while he crossed Bold Knight slightly in the run home he was safely over the line three parts of a length before Taras Hall, with Bold Knight just half a length away and Warfain was a distant fourth. After the finish, there was a tedious delay while the stewards debated a claim of foul that had been lodged, but the order of the finish was not disturbed.