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KENT MILLER— His veteran jumper, Elkridge, won yesterdays Meadow Brook Steeplechase for his initial success of the season. * * Elkridge Adds Meadow Brook To List of Stakes Victories Miller Colorbearer Closes t With Fine Courage to Whip Trough Hill by Two Lengths BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9. — Kent Millers eternally youthful Elkridge won the 34th running of the 0,000 added Meadow Brook Steeplechase Handicap today with a brilliant run that carried him to the finish two lengths before Mrs. S. C. Clark, Jr.s Trough Hill, who apparently had the race won until the last few strides. Henry S. Horkheimers Rank finished third, beaten another eight lengths, after setting the pace for more than two miles, while Auburn Farms Homogenize was a well beaten fourth. Dimitri Djordjadzes Point Bleu and Graham Grants Luan Casca were next at the end of the "about" two miles and a half, with Rigan McKinneys Navigate, the only other starter, losing jockey C. H. Williams at the third fence. Pat Smithwick rode Elkridge smoothly. Elkridge paid 6.90, neglected in the wagering though he had finished second to Trough Hill in last weeks Corinthian Steeplechase. The 11-year-old, who was making his 98th start over the obstacles, earned ,000 by his victory and brought his total gleanings to an impressive 78,-055, a record for steeplechasers in the United States. The son of Mate— Best by Test, by Black Toney, finished second in the Meadow Brook in 1942 and 1945 and finished third behind Adaptable and Can-ford last year. Boland Astride Triple Apprentice "Bounding Bill" Boland starred in the saddle with the first "triple" of his career, following triumphs on Ala-mahd in the opener and Safe Arrival in the sixth, with another score on Irridescent in. the seventh race. This was the lads tenth winner since he first entered the winners circle here astride Safe Arrival on May 13. A crowd of 19,474 turned out in ideal weather. Favorite players, who have been profiting handsomely in recent days, met with reverses, however, notably when John Barry Ryans Pipette stopped badly after apparently having the Pandora Purse that followed the Meadow Brook at her mercy. Isidor Biebers Quibble, who was claimed from her last race for 0,000, closed with a rush under Gordon Glisson to beat the odds-on choice by a little more than a length. Mrs. Tilyou Christophers Mesl finished a length and a half behind the favorite and a neck before Howell E. Jacksons Tocada. Quibble returned .80 and was clocked in 1:12%. The main track" appeared a trifle dead today, with all of the times almost a second slower than the same class of horses have been running. Rank, as expected, went to the front at the start of the Meadow Brook, after having caused a false start. He was followed by Navigate until that son of Battleship made a bad landing at the third fence, spilling Williams. After that, Navigate continued to race with the field, . bothering Trough Hill at the fifth fence and annoying Bernard Ansteatt, who rode Rank, at several fences before he ran off the course the second time around. , Rank led Elkridge by some 10 lengths for one turn of the field, with Trough Hill Continued on Page Two Elkridge Leads Trough Hill By Two Lengths at Belmont Continued from Page One a close third, followed by Luan Casca, Homogenize. and Point Bleu. Going down the far side the second time, Trough Hill drew away from Elkridge and moved up to challenge Rank for the lead. The pacemaker made a bobble at the 13th fence and gave up the lead a little farther along, while Elkridge continued at a steady clip, moving into second place at the next-to-last fence. Trough Hill rounded the final turn several lengths in the van and cleared the last fence five lengths before Elkridge, but Tommy Field appeared over-confident and Smithwick sat down to ride hard. Elkridge responded courageously, dashing past the nodding leader in a few strides to score going away. In most of his races, Elkridge has been sent to the front in the early stages and often tired. Smithwick, who was riding the veteran for the first time, was well-rewarded for his patience. Young Smithwick won last years Meadow Brook on Adaptable, who broke down here last week. Point Bleu, the French ace, came back extremely sore, appearing scarcely able to walk. He seemed "ouchy" going to the post and the hard track didnt help him. King Ranchs Safe Arrival, under a chilly ride by Boland, restored the favorite players equanimity in the Dublin Purse, sixth event. Boland was in a pocket with the favorite soon after the start, but sat patiently waiting until a narrow opening developed along the rail near the three-eighths pole and drove the Eight Thirty colt through to take command and score by more than two lengths over Mrs. Rea Warners Make-Up Man, who finished fast on the outside. T. P. Morgans Thwarted was a neck farther back and a head before Mrs. C. O. Iselins Lex. Safe Arrival paid. .20 and stepped the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43%.
