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VICTORIOUS BY INCHES Renaissance Outstays Tug o War in Thrilling Stretch Duel. Muddy Track Prevails for Sport at Aqueduct -Threatening Weather Affects the Days Attendance. NEW YORK, N. T., June 14. In one of the best finishes of the season John J. Robinsons Renaissance was winner of the Union Claiming Stakes at Aqueduct today. In a sinew-straining stretch duel with Samuel D. Riddles Tug o War and under a perfect ride by little Coucci, the son of Master Charlie dropped his nose down in front. The prize had a net value of ,575 to the winner. Half a dozen lengths back of the fighting pair came William Woodwards Pardee to save third from Marciana. Recent rains left the course muddy and the threatening weather had its effect on the attendance, but the sport that was offered proved interesting and the finish in the feature of the afternoon was the big spot. After four had been withdrawn from the Union Claiming Stakes, five were left to race. Little time was lost at the post and Coucci was alert with Renaissance when he got the Robinson colt off in front. He sent him along at a speed that soon carried him three lengths clear, but Pardee was racing after him strongly and then came Marciana, with Tug o War and Panax in the rear. Renaissance had Pardee beaten when the stretch was reached, but in the meantime Tug o War had moved into contention and, racing past the others, was soon pressing the Robinson colt closely. An eighth out it seemed inevitable that Tug o War would be the winner, but Coucci rode hard on Renaissance and, for a lad of his poundage, gave a marvelously strong exhibition of riding. Stride for stride the two swept along to the finish and Renaissance was plainly tiring, but it had cost the son of Man o War an effort to catch him and it was anybodys race to the final stride and Renaissance still had his nose in front to be the winner by only a matter of inches. Pardee held Marciana safe to save third, but he was six lengths back, while Panax had never been a contender and finished last of the lot. G. H. "Pete" Bostwick rode Thomas Hitchcocks Silverskin to a handy victory in the short course Stone Wall Steeplechase., .lack Anthony, from the Greentree Stable, saved second place, with Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Spar, ridden by the amateur, Rigan McKin-ney, easily beating Mrs. T. W. Durants St. Francis for third. The only other starter was J. O. Burgwins Hacky H. and, after he had blundered over four fences, he bolted into the wing of the fifth. Fortunately, Pinkney, who had the mount, was unhurt. Mr. Bostwick went Tight out to show the way with Silverskin from the drop of the flag and never surrendered his lead. For most of the journey he was half a dozen lengths clear, but at the upper end of the field he showed signs of tiring and he had Continued on twenty-first page. VICTORIOUS RY1NCHEE Continued from-first page. to be roused. .Then in the front field, when both Spar and Jack Anthony were pressing him closely, Spar made a bad landing two jumps from -the finish and it cost him considerable ground. At the end the winner had four lengths to spare. Spar chased after the winner all the way arid going to the lower etid .of -the field the second turn of the course moved up fast. Mr. Bostwick was alert "to the "menace of the challenge and he shook up Silverskin to hold his lead. Then a careless jump by the winner gave Spar another chance and at the-upper end of the course he was alongside, forcing a drive oh the winner. In the meantime Jack Anthony was going steadily back of the leaders and .as Spar made his mistake two jumps from the finish the Greentree jumper looked a possible winner, but McGovern was of little help in the drive and second was his only portion. St. Francis jumped well for a turn of the course, but tired and will doubtless improve with racing. Hacky H. showed no aptitude for jumping and will have to improve greatly if he ever amounts to anything through the field. A big band of plater juveniles were .brought together in the opening five furlong dash and it saw H. C. Phipps Balios the winner over Miney Myerson, with the Glen Riddle Farms All Ablaze saving third from Chatterfol. The first two at the finish dominated the race and there have been disqualifications for less than Mills was guilty of in the running. He continually bore in with Balios, while racing closely lapped on Miney Myerson and had him close to the inner rail at the finish. .The winning margin was three-quarters of a length. All Ablaze, favored in the soft footing, held the others safe, but he was three lengths back of the first two as they fought their way over the line. The Bramble Handicap was much, of a farce when-, with only three starters,. Paramour ran out all the way,-though he seemed to be best of the-trio. This fell to Caplin, from the Log Cabin Stud Stable, and Honey Grove saved second place. Paramour, which unseated Garner at the start in his last previous appearance, was equipped with blinkers in this race and whether.it was the change in the equipment or merely the temper of the horse, he was next to the outside rail all the, way. He appeared to be best and after running out on the first turn, Gilbert straightened him for a time and he took command. Then before the stretch was reached ,he went out again and his chances were gone. Honey. Grove made up some ground in the stretch, but, Caplin was safely the winner by a length, while Paramour, by reason of his erratic course, was twenty lengths back. The fifth was a five furlong dash for juvenile fillies and only six went to the post. This fell to E. R; Bradleys Boy Crazy when she scored over J. A. Coburns Eva B which saved second place in a close finish With the Greentree Stables Lazy Daisy. Fusina was a distant fourth. Boy Crazy acted so badly at the post that she was -not- only taken outside the stalls, but she was plaeed on the outside rail of the course.- This proved little handicap when she left the post fast to dominate the race. Trainer C. W. Damon was fined 0 for disregarding the blinker rule. His horse, Elcidio, ran in the fifth race June 13 without blinkers, a change from his previous race. .
