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GENTLE KNIGHT NARROWLY Beats Polydorus by a Neck in One of Thrilling Finishes of Day. Contest a Sparkling One, With Victory in Doubt Until Last Few Strides Large Crowd Despite Cool Weather. SALEM, N. H., May 23 In one of the closest finishes to date of the meeting at Rockingham Park, Gentle Knight beat the fast-finishing Polydorus in the three-quar-"ters claiming purse featuring an interesting off-day program of the New Hampshire Breeders Association. The Golden Rod Stable colorbearer was just a neck in advance of his stout rival at, the close of a gruelling stretch drive, and a length and a half off the pair F. A. Griffiths Cutie Face garnered the third award well before Wise Anne, fourth of the field of seven to complete the distance. The son of Sir Galahad III. and the Lawrence Realization winner, Nimba, raced t" distance in 1:12, paying 3 to 1 in the "tote." Another of the large week-day gatherings "was on hand to see the sport in the shadows of the White Mountains. The cool New England air made coats a necessity. The racing was spirited throughout the afternoon, with the customers showing improved aim in locating proper choices. The triumph of Gentle Knight in the Exeter marked one of the best in the career to date of that burly bay four-year-old and rendering his success convincing was his impost of 115 pounds. He was handled by Freddy Faust, one of the better apprentices on hand. The fillies Cutie Face, Crazy Jane and Wise Anne outran their rivals from the gate in the feature, the three moving away in the same stride and drawing out over a length in advance of the others in an unyielding battle for the slightest advantage. t Crazy Jane, down on the rail, appeared to have a bit the best of the argument going to the turn, but there Faust inaugurated his bid to the leaders astride Gentle Knight and he made no mistakes. He took Gentle Knight through on the inside of Wise Anne and Cutie Face, then when not finding sufficient room went just to the outside of Crazy Jane, assumirtg a clear command in the stretch. Crazy Jane quit all over as Polydorus rushed around two or three horses on the outside and charged after the leading Gentle Knight, straightening out for the run home. Faust, on the. winner, and Longden, on the Pike horse, were exerting themselves and their mounts to the utmost in the last furlong. Polydorus continued to gain but was unable to down the game Gentle Knight in the brush to the finish. Cutie Face, light weight of the field with ninety-eight pounds, hung on better than the rest of the group to take third from Wise Anne. Vee Eight placed second and third in his two earlier appearances at this meeting, took the winners share of a well earned purse in the opening dash, leading Prosecutor to the end by a neck. Over a length back Fire Reel nipped Tight Wad for third. The race was run in 1:07 and the successful Harrison standard bearer shared favoritism with Flag Bearer at about 9 to 5. Starogan, an even money favorite, vindicated the judgment of her many backers by scampering off to a length and a half victory in the five and a half furlongs of the second dash which was for ,000 platers and drew ten starters. The twelve-year-old Euclid was runner-up and Immune, fractious at the gate, finished third before De Valera. There was plenty of money for the last named. Watson had the mount on the successful Gratton filly, an own sister to West Star, a starter in the same race. She raced the distance in 1:07. Starogan was racing along in third place just of fDove of Peace and Love Lost. The latter quit early. Immune ran up as if to challenge Dove of Peace on the turn but Watson slipped through along the rail at the same time with Starogan and she went into a clear lead turning for home. Euclid finished fast in the last three-sixteenths to take second place from Immune, neither of which could seriously menace the peoples choice. Candy Maid, a three-year-old daughter of Westy Hogan and Candy Lady, racing for H. T. Archibald and making her first appearance since last fall at Bowie, where she was stopping at three-quarters, rather handily accounted for the third offering on the program at five and a half furlongs. The Texan Jess Johnson lu-.d the mount on the 4 to 1 shot and at the end she was a length and a half in front of Blackmail, with Little Argo a neck away and the favored Civil War was fourth. Blackmail seemed overlaid at 25 to 1 and ran like it, turning in an effort to indicate he is reaching a top race. Candy Maid had the sharpest speed and drew out to a three-lengths advantage over Civil War, Alwintour and Lovito in the run to the turn. There Lovito and Civil War had enough. Through the stretch Blackmail was running hard and heavy to be only a length and a half back at the end, nipping Little Argo, which also closed swiftly, for the place. Glyndon Belle scored her second straight at the meeting and further ensconced A. G. Vanderbilt, at the head of the owners list here when she raced to the judges a length and a half in advance of H. T. Archibalds Candimate in the fourth race. A half length farther back Bull Market was third. Glyndon Belle was a slight favorite over Wizard and Paradun. Winters was substituted on Wizard when Robertson became ill earlier in the afternoon and cancelled his remaining engagements. The winner raced the distance in 1:13 under her impost of 111 and Fallons urging, paying a mutuel of .50. Lou Smith, general manager of Rockingham Park, departed for Springfield, Mass., during the afternoon. The Massachusetts Racing Commission held a session at Springfield Thursday night. Mr. Smith went in the interest of the proposed Agawa Park to be located at the old airport, Bowles Field, a short distance from Springfield. J. H. Logan checked in Thursday morning with his lone colorbearer, Sleepy Joe. Axentea came out of the eighth race Wednesday in bad shape and will be laid up for a spell.
