Twenty Grand by a Wide Margin: Easily Accounts for Belmont Stakes Winning by Ten Lengths, Daily Racing Form, 1931-06-15

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TWENTY GRAND BY A WIDE MARGIN 9 ■■ ♦ Easily Accounts for Belmont Stakes Winning by Ten Lengths ♦ Jamestown Ignominiously Fails and Finishes Third, With Sun Meadow Outlasting the Widener Colt for Second Portion of Rich Prize ♦ NEW YORK, N. Y., June 13.— Twenty Grand, the magnificent son of St. Germans and Bonus, carried the Greentree Stable silks to their most notable victory when he galloped off with the historical old Belmont Stakes at one mile and a half today at Belmont Park. To the riotous cheers of the greatest crowd ever assembled at the big Nassau County course this year he galloped home ten lengths before Mrs. K. E. Hitts Sun Meadow, which had just nosed out George D. Wideners Jamestown for second place. The race had a net value of 8,770 to the winner. And after the finish Mrs. Payne Whitney, the fair owner of the Greentree Stable, led colt proudly back to the scales as a passage was found for him in the vast throng that ® 3 continued continued to to cheer cheer as as he he came came back. back. ® 3 continued continued to to cheer cheer as as he he came came back. back. It was a race to leave no doubt of the high quality of Twenty Grand as a stayer and as the race was run no excuse could be found for Jamestown. He was perfectly ridden by Linus "Pony" McAtee, but was simply no match for the son of St. Germans over such a long gruelling distance. It was the final day of the Belmont Park meeting and its greatest day. The National Stallion Stakes, a companion feature to the Belmont Stakes, saw the Coe silks first and second with Osculator and Polonaise, and the setting of these two great races was a most interesting one. NO DELAY AT POST. No time was lost at the post for the Belmont Stakes, and as the three left on the same stride, Sun Meadow was just a bit more alert than the other two and he showed his head in front, while Twenty Grand, as usual, was unable to get his feet fairly under him and was "climbing" a bit. McAtee soon headed Sun Meadow with Jamestown, and he had the son of St. James under a restraining pull as he went to the front, running the first quarter in :23%. Sun Meadow galloped after him, also under restraint, and Twenty Grand was a couple of lengths farther away, but Kurtsinger was sitting still and permitting the colt to run along in his own fashion. There was little pace for the first half mile, which was run in :49, Twenty Grand was still last of the three, but by that time he was swinging along smoothly and it was apparent that he could close on the other two at the first asking. It was rounding out of the back stretch that Kurtsinger made his move. McAtee had saved something for just that move. Just as he shook up Jamestown, the horse quickened his pace as did Sun Meadow, and in consequence the three raced along lapped as they approached the stretch turn, with Twenty Grand covering much more ground by being on the outside. He went stride for stride with the other two until they tired, and then drew out to come into the stretch with a safe lead. EASILY WDJENS GAP. Still racing strongly, he drew out until he had an advantage of three lengths. He was widening the winning gap with every stride and at the end Kurtsinger had him in hand to be the winner by ten lengths. In the meantime Sun Meadow and Jamestown were battling along for second place and the son of Sun Briar proved the gamer when he earned the place decision by a nose. It was not expected that the winner of the Belmont Stakes would score by such a wide margin and the result was a real surprise, but it showed conclusively that as brilliant a colt as Jamestown has proven himself on other occasions, he is not a stayer, while the son of St. Germans is probably the best stayer that has been seen in this country for many a day. Both his Kentucky Derby and his Belmont Stakes prove conclusively that it was only by reason of his many misfortunes in the running of the Preakness that he was beaten in that big prize. There came a great triumph for the W. R. Coe silks in the running of the National Stallion Stakes when his silks were first and second, with Osculator winning and the filly Polonaise second. William Ziegler, Jr.s Phantom Legion was a close third, with C. V. Whitneys Fall Apple closing a big gap to be a fast closing fourth. The race ■ — — — i — — _ Continued on twenty-second page. TWENTY GRAND EASILY Continued from first page. had a net value to the winner of 5,820. Fall Apple was a bit unfortunate and his bad fortune began at the start when he swerved out slightly as Makalu in the adjoining stall also swerved a bit. Another that was unfortunate was Semaphore, the hope of the Greentree Stable. He was a bit slow to be away and was in close quarters for most of the running. The crowd came early and the first train from the Pennsylvania Station, which pulled out shortly after noon, carried a standing load. The paddock was thronged with these early arrivals, while others were content to find accommodations in the immense stands and wait patiently for the appearance of the thoroughbreds, which was not to be until 2:45 oclock, the time being set back fifteen minutes for the occasion. The Turf and Field Club was the scene of many brilliant luncheons and the delightful weather made possible the utilizing of the broad velvety lawns for the diners. It was one of the most brilliant gatherings ever assembled at beautiful Belmont Park and a list of those present would be a social, political and financial register of the country. Long before 2 oclock the immense stands were almost filled to capacity and, while those of the turf and field enclosures were later arrivals, as were the boxholders, there was a tremendous crowd on hand long before the horses were called out for the opening number. Then right through the day until the Belmont was called to the post there came others, until with all its magnificent proportions the big Nassau County course was needed to comfortably take care of the multitude. There have been larger crowds at the monster Nassau County course, but they have been few indeed and never was there a more brilliant assembly attend an afternoon of racing. Estimates of crowds are futile where there is no way of making an actual count, but conservative estimate placed todays crowd at 50,000. A. W. Wentzels Mareve, a daughter of Messenger and Comixa, proved best of the maiden fillies that were brought together in the five furlongs of the opening dash. She led home E. R. Bradleys Bonny Maureen by a comfortable margin, while the Bradley filly saved second place from the Rosedale Stables Devout by half a length and Mrs. R. T. Wilsons Boocap was a close fourth. The steeplechase was over the short course with six starters and three amateur riders opposing three professionals. This resulted in victory for Mrs. Grace Dennys French jumper Le Bey, ridden by the professional Bellhouse, with amateurs second and third, when R. B. Young rode Mrs. K. E. Hitts Icicle into second place, with G. H. "Pete" Bostwick piloting his own Road Agent into third place before Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Abdul II. Back of him came Stephen San-fords Ivory II. and Argonaut, from the Rolling Plains Stable. Le Bey was good enough to force the pace throughout and Bellhouse had him under a nice steadying restraint as he galloped along in front. Three fences from the finish he made a slight bobble, but recovered quickly and lost little ground.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800