view raw text
Jam Gains Popular Score at Belmont In International Steeplechase Handicap McH McHugh ugh ughs s Novice Fencer Has Eight Lengths to Spare on Flaming Comet and Palaja PalajaBy By BOB HORWOOD HORWOODStaff Staff Correspondent CorrespondentBELMONT BELMONT PARK Elmont L I N Y May 1 James F McHughs Jam who had been seasoned at the hunts meetings in Virginia scored a popular victory in the 55th running of the International Steeple ¬ chase Handicap today charging to the fin ¬ ish of the about two miles eight lengths before Brookmeade Stables Flaming Comet G H Pete Bostwicks Palaja was a length farther back and eight lengths before Rigan McKinneys Hot who set the pace for a mile and a half Earl Phelps rode Jam a fiveyearold gelded son of Impound Cherry Orchard by Display who paid 780 as the public choice He ran and jumped the distance in 347 over a soft track trackJam Jam is a comparative novice over fences but won a chase at Warrenton in April and lost Phelps in another at Middleburg a week later Last year he was one of the better hurdle racers winning the Belmont National Hurdle here George Francis who presented the cup to McHugh that after ¬ noon performed the same ceremony in the winners circle today todayA A crowd of 23605 viewed the sport in sunny breezy weather Jam was the first winning favorite of the afternoon and broke Mrs Esther duPont Weirs monopoly on the jumping races The Mast who car ¬ ried that sportswomans colors fell with Pat Smithwick at the water jump Horse and rider were unhurt Oak Spring Stables Sergt Peace who fell with Scotty Riles at the eleventh fence broke his neck on the spot Riles was taken away in the ambu ¬ lance but escaped with a shaking up upThe The International was a pleasant chase to watch apart from the mishaps to Sergt Peace and The Mast Hot did the expected in setting the pace despite being away from the races since November 1950 with Flying Wing and Irish Monkey in closest pursuit for the first tour of the course while Phelps allowed Jam time to settle into stride The Mast was in seventh place but going strongly when he fell at the fourth fence skidding as he landed Flying Wing began to drop back a little farther on and Sergt Peace moved briefly into second place followed by Irish Monkey and Extra Points as Hot continued to set the pace paceGoing Going down the far side the second time Jam began to improve his position steadily on the outside while Palaja was also gain ¬ ing and Hampton Roads was running ob ¬ scurely in the rear ranks Sergt Peace be ¬ gan to fall back and Flaming Comet gained rapidly Jam moved on Hot at the far turn headed him momentarily but Hot came again for a few strides while Flam ¬ ing Comet moved into second place Com ¬ ing to the nexttolast fence Jam took a clear lead while Flaming Comet passed Hot and Palaja moved up on the pace ¬ maker At the same time Sergt Peace fell heavily and stayed down downJam Jam drew away under mild urging through the stretch while Flaming Comet was doing his best to save second money from Palaja Hot tired badly in the final quarter mile while Hampton Roads made a belated charge through the stretch that carried him into fifth place and suggested that he will be a stout factor in future steeplechase stakes stakesAnother Another favorite scored and Ted Atkinson completed a triple when E Barry Ryans Gun Moll scampered to an easy triumph in the Elpis Purse that followed the Interna ¬ tional The War Admiral filly took the track at the start of the six furlongs and coasted to the wire three and a half lengths before George D Wideners Mohduma C Mahlon Klines Brechin was a half length farther back at the finish and a length and a half before Joe W Browns Wonderful You who was unable to keep up in the early stages Gun Moll was slightly favored over Mrs Whitney Stones Blue Flash who unseated Dave Gorman before the start then fin ¬ ished last The winner returned 8 and was teletimedin 112
