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ROlfCff DIAMOND TRIUMPHSI i o T r Wins Belmont Class C Handicap . Under Coucci s Guidance. Wears Down Alberto in Final Strides to Earn Close JDecision Grojg ."Wins Opener. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 24 C. V. Whitneys Rough Diamond accounted for the Helianthus, a Class C Handicap, at one mile. Ridden by Cpucci, the son of Mad Hatter and Frumpery finished gamely in the stretch after losing considerable ground, and in the final strides wore down Willis Sharpe Kil-mer3 Alberta, while a good third was Maddest, from the Wheatley Stable, nosing out Sang Froid, owned by the Howe Stable, for the minor end of the purse. Nine started, and the winner was backed Into pronounced favoritism. Racing was conducted in view of a large gathering, minus, however, the clubhouse and turf field followers, who journeyed over to Roslyn to participate in the United Hunts sports. The track, was fast, and a decided improvement in weather conditions prevailed. 1 .There was al short delay at the post, and when George Cassidy dispatched the field in good alignment, Alberta was the quickest to settle in her stride. She was pressed by Sang Froidr while Watersplash, Old Story and Braving Danger were close up. Rough Diamond was outrun, but Coucci placed him under restraint within striking distance, awaiting the call to move into serious contention. Near the far turn, Sang Froid wrested the leadership from the Kilmer mare, but he was unable to draw away. Near the stretch turn Coucci, in attempting to go through on the inside, found that avenue blocked and then went to the outside of Sang Froid, Alberta and Old Story, which were spread fanwise across the track. Rosen-garten, on Maddest, followed Coucci up on the outside, both losing considerable ground. Sang Froid found the contention in the stretch too much and dropped back, and then Alberta took up the cudgels to stall off the fast-finishing Whitney starter, but was unequal to the task. Maddest was a fast going third, nosing out Sang Froid in the last few strides. Grog started the afternoon off in an auspicious fashion for favorite players by domi-inating the running of the Sun Beam Purse from flag fall to finish. At the end Grog had a safe advantage over Pretty Busy, while Double Finesse was a distant but fast-finishing third. The start was a poor one and Grog swerved to the inside, while Jair swerved to the outside and caught Retired in a pocket, that knocked this miss off her stride. However, she recovered quickly and moved into contention back of the pace that was set by Grog. Double Finesse was placed under pressure on the inside, but in the final quarter the Brookmeade starter was sent to the outside, but failed to overhaul his opponents. A field of aged maiden jumpers started in the Expectation Steeplechase and, when the final fence had been negotiated Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Cireno, Mrs. Frank Goulds Gold Sweeper and Thomas Hitchcocks Caniento swept to the wire abreast in a finish that aroused the interest of the crowd. Lei, which was one of the starters in the dash, furnished all the interest and excitement when he bolted rounding the clubhouse turn, the final turn of the field, and jockey" Ireland could not keep him in, and he jumped the fence onto the . main track. He landed heavily on his back, while Ireland fell clear, but scrambled back to his feet in a hurry. Lei lay stretched out for a long time, and track attendants and others summoned the horse ambulance. The crowd watching the accident failed to evince any interest in the race, and it was not until the final furlong or after taking the final fence after Gold Sweeper and Cireno alternated in the lead that their interest was aroused. Then came Caniento to the outside and, in a bang-up thrilling finish, the trio crossed the finish line lapped on each other.
