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HONORS TO BILL FARNSWORTH Cassidy Sprinter Leads Throughout in Mercury Handicap at Belmont. Mid Victorian Shows Improved Form to Annex Place Award Talked About Proves Best In Fifth. BELMONT PARK, L. I., N. Y., Oct. 2. Mrs. Marian Cassidys swift-running sprinter Bill Farnsworth was winner of the best offering at Belmont Park today when he scored in the six furlongs of the Mercury Handicap. This was a dash over the main course, and it was Mrs. Silas B. Masons Mid Victorian that raced to the place, well before J. B. Partridges Prince Abbot, which outfinished William Grahams Kievex, the only other starter. With nothing but overnight events to attract the patronage and a good day for the second game of the world series, it was natural that the appeal of baseball was greater than that of racing and there was some falling off in attendance. But it was interesting sport and a crowd of good proportions remained faithful. The four in the Mercury left on the same stride and Bill Farnsworth, always alert at the break, at once took the lead. He was able to hold command throughout, though in the stretch he had to be sharply roused by Stout to offset the challenge of Mid Victorian. Until well into the stretch the winner was in hand, but as the filly charged on him Stout swung his whip several times to rouse the son of Crack Brigade. When he felt the sting of the lash Bill Farnsworth jumped away and it was evident he was simply loafing when he wa3 roused, for his winning margin was two lengths. Mid Victorian had shown improved form when she closely followed all the pace and made a determined challenge a furlong out, only to hang when driven by Kurtsinger. Kievex,. after leaving the p6st rapidly, dropped back, and Prince Abbot was badly outrun, though at the end he proved gamer than Kievex, to take third by a length, but he was six lengths back of Mrs. Masons filly. GOOD CONTEST. Gold Cross was an easy winner over the cheap maiden juveniles which met in the six furlongs opener over the Widener course. In the front division from the break, he drew out in the final furlong when shaken up and had plenty left, as he won by three lengths. There was an exciting contest for the place between Kay Kamens Snap Judgment and Cherry Chic, from the King Ranch, to have them finish in that order and well I before Sealine, the Hal Price Headley starter. The start was a good one and the placed horses were always well up in the contention, though through the final stages Snap Judgment was showing a disposition to bear in, but he did not cause any interference. For an instant Cherry Chic threatened seriously, but she weakened under pressure. The steeplechase of the day over the short course brought together rather an ordinary band and it went to Lewis R. Stuyvesants Wrackonite, when he defeated H. E. Talbot. Jr.s Bonnie Lad and many lengths away the Greentree Stables Budget Boy was third before F. Ambrose Clarks Sunny Thoughts, favorite, which might have been third under a more vigorous ride. Thomas Hitchcocks Congaree ran an exceedingly dull race, while Swamp Fox, the other starter, unseated E. Christian at the front field liverpool. Budget Boy was the one to take command at the drop of the flag, but Bonnie Lad went right with him and the pair dominated the running until well into the back stretch, where Duffy made his move with Wrackonite. Budget Boy tired badly, but Bonnie Lad furnished an argument to the final jump, where Wrackonite outfooted him to the line to win by six lengths. ANOTHER UNDER PRESSURE. Jockey Irving Anderson placed Anotherone under pressure in the stretch run after guiding the Joseph Wormser colorbearer up on the outside of the leaders in the third race. The son of Whichone, which was bearing out near the finish, had a length the best of his opponents at the end. The battle for the second and third portions of the purse was a thrilling one and the camera was called on to decide the awards. Toby Tyler was awarded second place over Introductory, which headed his stablemate. Melody Maid, both carrying the W. H. La Boyteaux colors, with Invermark, from the Wheatley Stable, on the inner rail, lapped on the trio. The event was over six furlongs and brought together a field of ten, of which Invermark was the lukewarm choice. There came a close finish in the six and a half furlongs of the fifth race, which was for the better class juvenile platers and over the Widener course, when Warren Wrights Talked About barely lasted to win over P. M. Pikes Swift Lad. It was a finish that required a photograph to make the decision. Well back of the battling pair, third went to Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Avenal. which led home Buttermilk for that part of the purse. Talked About was always in the front division and a quarter of a mile from the end he drew into a long lead, but in the final sixteenth was weakening as Workman brought Swift Lad along with a great rush on the inside that was just short of victory. The final duel took the pair out three lengths before Avenal. Buttermilk met with some interference in the running, when bumped by Flyanetta, and it was an excuse for her showing.
