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j , SPECTACULAR FINISH AT EMPIRE 017 • Five Horses Cross Winning Line Almost on Even Terms in Opening Day Feature, With Bright Haven Triumphant by a Head » YONKERS, N. Y., July 5.— A spectacular finish marked the running of the Inwood Handicap, the main attraction of the inaugural days sport at Empire City. Five of the six starters in the feature, over the short six furlongs, finished so closely aligned that the decision was in doubt until the official placing was announced. Bright Haven, from the Sage Stable, won by a head, while Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Flying Hour was hardly inches before W. Grahams Open Range, and closely lapped on him were both the Wheat ley Stables Slapdash and the Greentree Stables Black Buddy. The only other starter was Frank Hayes Cant Remember, and he was soundly beaten. It really was a new and delightful Empire City that welcomed the opening day crowd. James Butler, the younger, had accomplished wonders in converting the racing grounds into a thing of beauty by brightening it up with paint, the color scheme being cream with green trim. Flowers adorned the grounds and the grandstand had been put in better condition than at any time before, while the betting enclosure is the most convenient of any of the New York tracks. The entire space under the grandstand was given over to the layers and their customers, and there was not the same congestion that has been experienced on Long Island. This ring is airy with perfect ventilation, and provision is made for adequate lighting, should it be needed, though there was really no need for lights, even though the day was cloudy with a threat of rain. Little time was lost at the post for the Inwood, but the start was a bit straggling, with Slapdash away slowly, while Open Range was a couple of lengths back of the filly and away so badly as to have scant chance. His race was a good one, and only the start prevented his being the winner. Sullivan slipped right along with Flying Continued on twenty-second page. STIRRING FINISH AT EMPIRE Continued from first age. Hour, which was away in full flight, but she could not shake off Bright Haven, which raced stride for stride with her. Black Buddy held the pair, while Kurt-singer, after being off slowly with Slapdash, ran her into some trouble, and Open Range, despite his tardy start, soon had her headed. With Flying Hour and Bright Haven still closely locked, the stretch was reached, and there Black Buddy was showing some signs of tiring to drop back slightly. Kurtsinger was holding to the inside with Slapdash, and she had saved some ground, while Open Range was beginning to make up ground rapidly on the outside. The position to which Open Range was forced cost him considerable ground, but he continued to gain, and inside the final furlong he seemed to have a winning chance. The five came to the finish battling furiously, and at the end it was Bright Haven that showed his head in front. To many it seemed that Open Range beat Flying Hour for second place, but the filly was awarded that portion and Slapdash, another head away, had beaten Black Buddy by only a head. The finish was a high compliment to the handicapper, but the start was a bad one and had its effect on the result. J. H. Louchheims Speedmore was winner of the second best offering when he scored with something to spare in the Winsted Purse, which was confined to three-year-olds. Only four started and the Louchheim colt was good enough to make every post a winning one to beat Morton L. Schwartz Identify, while the Wheat! ey Stables Carry Over gained some ground to take third from tht Maemere Farm Stables Bahadur. Max Hirsch sent the first winner of the meeting to the post when he saddled Mrs. Parker Comings Easy Flight in the five i furlong dash for plater juveniles. He was I i I i I i I good enough to dominate all the running to score over Mrs. E. Burkes Polytude, with J. P. Jones Air Line beating Veronica C. for third. The second was over the short six furlongs course, for the cheapest sort, and it proved rather easy for Curlette, which raced for Mrs. Nelson I. Asiel. She scored over Frank Kearns Miss Snow, with L. E. Barnes Lampoon, beating Mad Eagle for third. But the winner was not confirmed on Ver victory until the stewards had listened to a claim of foul made by Battista, who had the mount on Miss Snow. He charged that Litzenberger, on the winner, had interfered with his mount. There had been some crowding three furlongs from the finish, but after listening to the complaint and hearing a report from the patrol judge, there could be found no reason to disturb the order of the finish.
