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- . Weighing In By EVAN SHIPMAN AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 27. Those were hardy souls who braved the torrid weather to watch yesterdays racing program on Long Island, and if they figured that there would be a fresh breeze off the bay, we can only say that they had miscalculated-. There was an occasional flutter of the flag on the infield pole, but the breath of wind, resembled the draft of an oven. All the same, those of us who were reconciled to not being able to do a thing in the world about the weather enjoyed ourselves, after a fashion. In a torpid sort of way, we were conscious of excellent sport going on before our eyes, and several of the races, such as the rich Forget Hurdle Handicap and the Rippey Handicap, were worth attention in their own right, and should also have a bearing on important events in the immediate offing. Despite its lesser value, most interest, of course, centered around the six-furlong Rippey, this dash marking the reentry of Greentrees Tom Fool who is still considered by many horsemen as the best of this seasons three-year-olds. Tom Fool, to the natural disappointment of those who had established the , colt an even money choice, did not win the Rippey, as you no doubt know by now. Nevertheless, Greentrees attractive son of Menow certainly showedan excellent effort, and nobody who saw the race will hold it against Trim that he did not quite get up to reach Mrs. Ben Whit-akers speedy Hitex. As a matter of fact, the latter had all the best of the " racing: luck, Willie Boland finding: a convenient opening: along: the rail while Ted Atkinson, aboard the favorite, made his move out and around horses on the final bend, losing: much ground in the process. It seemed as if Atkinson wanted to make extra sure that Tom Fool would encounter no trouble, but the understandable precautions- would not have defeated him had not Hitex been in the form of his life. At the furlong- pole, Tom Fool was passing his rivals as if it were all over but the shouting. He reached Hitex and seemed to be about to go on by. Boland, howeyer, roused his mount sharply, Hitex responded, and Tom Fool hung, just the least little bit. A little bit, but enough to cost him the race. The time for the six furlongs l:10---was only a tick off the track mark, so you can accept it as proved that Tom Fool has regained his form, and accept it as likely that that form will carry him a long way. With only four hurdle horses starting in the Forget, there is no need to emphasize the inroads made in the fencing ranks by the recent disastrous fire at Belmont Park. Rare indeed are the 10,000 stakes for this division, and trainers you may .be sure are overlooking no opportunity to race for that kind of money. But even with a sadly reduced field the Forget loomed on paper as an interesting contest, every one of the four appearing to hold a chance. The French Byng, reputed to have been a good performer on the flat over there, was the favorite, but there was strong support also for Mrs. George Bostwicks Hyvania and for Mrs. E. duPont Weirs Irish-bred Clive of India. Listening to paddock conversation, we got the impression that the connections of all three horses were confident, and that the odds-on price at which Byng went to the post represented a public rather than a professional estimate. When it came to racing, it was soon evident that Hyvania was overrated at least for that occasion and that the Forget was to be a duel all he way between Clive of India and Byng; this pair racing in that order and the others well back. With a little more than a half mile left to travel in the Forget, Pat Smith-wick. made a surprise move with Clive of India hat may have been decisive. He suddenly opened up a long lead on Byng, and then sat down to live on his advantage, while Frank Adams attempted to close the gap. This the French horse accomplished at the torn into the long stretch, and from there in the pair were never far apart, Byng on the inside which may or may not have been wise and Clive of India on the outside. Over the final hurdle, they were together, and here the Irish horse may have bothered Byng somewhat, although certainly not enough to have warranted an objection, or even, in our opinion, to have affected the result. Say rather that the four pounds Byng was conceding Clive of India was just enough to tilt the decision toward the latter. They are both at or close to peak "form now and, on the basis of this race, almost impossible to separate. Our guess is that, next time, the handicapper will place Clive of India and Byng on a par, and may we be on hand to see them tangle One of the most foresighted of our asso-Continued oh Page Forty-Five I WEIGHING IN I By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Four ciations in its rich program for fillies and mares, Aqueduct will offer as its feature tomorrow the 5,000 Vagrancy Handicap, a mile and a sixteenth stake that derives its name- from Belair Studs great mare. The Vagrancy in June and the nine-furlong Beldame in September, the latter race for twice the value of the Vagrancy, are Aqueducts admirable .gestures to this interesting division. Tomorrows stake is a comparatively new race in Aqueducts book, the inaugural having been taken by Harry LaMontagnes giant Conniver in 48. The race was then discontinued for several seasons. Its restoration was a happy idea. The Beldame was one of the first races to help raise the earning capacity of our mares. Its inaugural dates back to 05, or at least, a race named the Beldame was contested at Aqueduct that season, but the conditions were entirely different, and the value was smalL Jhe association conceived, the Beldame as we know it only in 39, and we well remember that, at that time, the 0,000 accruing to the winner, George Bostwicks lightly weighted Nellie Bly, created, a stir. From the start the race appealed to public and horsemen alike,, and now the Vagrancy appears established as a worthy sister attraction. There will be no mare in tomorrows field the equal of the amazon who gave the stake its name, but this should still provide the week-end crowd with a good contest.
