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SPECTACULAR CONTEST ♦ - Featured Toboggan Handicap a Thriller for Belmonts Opening. . — ♦ Singing Wood Winner, With Sation, Whopper and Clang Finishing in Order Named. ♦ NEW YORK. N. Y., May 11.— In one of the most sensational finishes of its long history, John Hay Whitneys Singing Wood was the winner of the historic old Toboggan Handicap at Belmont Park, the opening feature of the Westchester Association meeting at Belmont Park today. The placing judges called on the camera eye to decide the result, and the machine placing gave second place to George D. Wideners Sation, with Hal Price Headleys Whopper beating John F. Clark, Jr.s western sprinter Clang for third. The race had a net value of ,875 to the winner. The opening of the new meeting was a brilliant one, and an immense throng was out, with delightful weather for the occasion, and the track was at its best. I An unusual delay occurred at the post in the Toboggan, for which Clocks, Clang and Identify were chiefly to blame. Then, the start was a bad one when Sation and Whopper collided as they left and both suffered, with Sation being knocked sideways before he was in stride. Clang was first to show out of the field, and while Clocks broke second he almost at once dropped out of the contention, and then Singing Wood on the outsid- and free from interference, was racing closely after the invader from the West. Postage Due also joined in that early contention to shortly take command. In the meantime Whopper had recovered from his early collision and he swept into fourth place. Workman had found room for Sation on the rail, and the top weight was racing magnificently when he found room, Continued on thirtieth page. SPECTACULAR CONTEST Continued from first page. but he was far back of the contention for the first quarter of the dash. Inside the last furlong there was a general closing up, and for an instant Whopper showed his head in front, but Singing Wood was right a this throat latch and racing strongly. Sation was still running over horses until he had reached third place. For an instant it seemed that the son of Galetian would win despite his handicap at the break, but Singing Wood was running his best and never faltering was going away at the end to be an apparent winner by a length. Sation, with rare courage had taken second place by a nose from Whopper in the closing strides, while Clang, coming again at the end, was caught in close quarters and had to be content with fourth. He was three lengths before Postage Due, which did not appear to have any excuse, and the others finished in strung out order. After the running George Odom announced that Marshall Fields Tintagel would be retired for the year. The son of Sir Gal-lahad III. was slightly hurt in the running and was never able to reach a contending position. As the race was run Sation will lose none of his prestige, for his unfortunate bumping at the start easily accounted for his defeat. Whopper recovered much more quickly from the collision and in no sense | suffered as did the Widener gelding. The loud speaker description of the race over the straight course was not an entire success, but it is possible that aid to the public in such races will improve and be more appreciated. The first race of the day and meeting brought victory to the Glen Riddle silks when Warrior Queen, a daughter of American Flag and Annette K., under a vigorous ride by "Sonny" Workman, was winner over H. W. Maxwells Dizzy Dame, and Hal Price Headleys Apogee was third. From a good start, Dizzy Dame and Warrior Queen, racing well on the outside of the big field, dominated most of the running with the Maxwell filly showing the way. At the same time Apogee, which left from the inside stall, was going along well next to the inner rail. It was in the final furlong that Workman shook up Warrior Queen and when called on she readily disposed of Dizzy Dame and she drew away easily to be past the line the winner by two lengths. Apogee responded to urging in the final furlong but she could not run down the tiring Dizzy Dame to be beaten a neck for second place. George H. "Pete" Bostwicks Masked Knight, ridden by the amateur, J. V. P. Davis, was winner of the Jimmy Lane Steeplechase, over the short course and under selling conditions. He led home F. Ambrose Clarks Louis DOr and Stephen Sanfords Benedictine was third over Thomas Hitchcocks Santi Quaranti, winner of two races at Pimlico, and favorite of the company. Santi Quaranti, which was ridden by Rigan McKinney, another amateur, was away slowly but was in a contending position when he struck the front field Liverpool, and dropped back badly to never again come seriously into the contention.
