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I I I J j c | i * , 1 1 J i I : i : i ; j ; I ; i ! - : e t l i, - 1 i. I ii i i DARK MISSION WINS BY NOSE l Ride of R. Watson Big Factor in Success of Keeling Racer at Fort Erie Course. FORT ERIE, Ont, July 16.— In one of the best finishes of the day, M. Keelings Dark Mission was winner of the best race at the * Fort Erie course of the Niagara Racing Association today when he took the measure | of a shifty band in the Touraine Hotel | Purse, a claiming affair that was the fifth offering on another featureless program. , Opposed by seven others of rather good grade, Dark Mission, one of the better con- sidered starters, achieved his victory in a testing drive and his margin was just a nose when he defeated W. Zakoors No Doubt. Third was accounted for by D. Gar-ritys Poets Dream, a lightly considered entrant, with fourth landed by Mrs. J. Ba-dame recent acquisition, Bushman. R. Watson was astride Dark Mission and he rode a good race throughout. Keeping his mount in closest pursuit of No Doubt while the Zakoor speedster was leading the way, Watson held his mount together, waiting until well around the final turn before calling on him. Drawing abreast of the pacemaker on the stretch turn, just as Poets Dream entered into the fight, Dark Mission, on the outside, responded with a belated effort. In the final drive the Keeling performer, under a strong drive, gallantly swept to his victory and got his nose in front in the last few strides to receive the verdict. No Doubt j ■tack it out to be a length before Poets Dream, with Bushman another length and . a half in the rear. Jockey R. Watson was given a generous round of applause as he returned to the j i scales. Conditions were ideal for the sport. I A cool breeze swept through the stands to make the day pleasant. The cheapest sort of platers, the product j of Canadian breeding farms, measured j j strides in the six furlongs of the introductory dash, and there was a surprise when Gaffing, from the Mayfair Stable, turned in a front-running score for his maiden vie- tory to take the major end of the prize. i Ridden by Snyder and drawing clear of his 1 , company when he left the starting point in motion, the three-year-old was never threat-I , ened, to reach the finish showing the way by three lengths. Masonville, carrying the bulk of the support and at prohibitive odds, landed in second position, beating Mestallup , and the nine others. Another upset occurred with the running of the second race, a test of five furlongs foT two-year-olds and of the better grade. In this, a field of six met over the short i j 1 distance with Bandalore, of the Rosedale Stable proving the winner. Under a tenacious drive with Remillard in the saddle, i the son of Masked Marvel II. led the heavily 1 supported McLaughlin Catsweep over the line to score by a head. Third was earned I I by Hymarque of the Elmtree Stable with l Pharenough in fourth position, to lead home ! Bandman, the only other starter to finish. l The absentee at the end was Mrs. R. E. I Websters Fitz U. which lost his rider, T. Vercher, immediately after the start came. Vercher was unhurt and walked back to the jockeys quarters.
