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Connors , Corner By "CHUCK" CONNORS Sysonby Turf Star of 1904-05 Won 50 Grand Race at Saratoga" Belmont Cards Stake in His Name SARATOGA, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 21. The Sysonby, the race in which Tom Fool and Native Dancer are expected to to meet meet durinc during the the Bel- to to meet meet durinc during the the Bel- Belmont Park season, has aroused no -end of comment. However, the campaigner for whom the, race was named is practically unknown to modern day racegoers. Sysonby was bred and owned by James R. Keene and trained by James Rowe, Sr. He was foaled in 1902 and launched launched his his racing racing launched launched his his racing racing career at Brighton Beach in July, 1904, winning a maiden race at five and one-half furlongs. Following that lie won the Brighton Junior Stakes, Flash, Saratoga Special and the Junior Champion Stakes and finished third in the Futurity. In his three-year-old year, he dead-heated with Race King his first time out in the Metropolitan, and then went on to win the Tidal, Commonwealth, Lawrence Realization. Iroquois, Brighton Derby, Great Republic Stakes, Century Stakes and Annual Champion Stakes. That was his farewell to the racing scene, for he was, according o reports in circulation, stricken with a social disease contracted through a cut from a groom and died. His skeleton is mounted and displayed in the Museum of History in New York. While the value of the Sysonby at Belmont Park was boosted to 50 grand and that little sum attracted 31 nominations for the race, few, are aware that way back in 1905 Saratoga- Springs staged a fifty thousand dollar race. That is hard to believe, but the records are in the book and whom do you think was returned the winner? None other than Sysonby himself. The race was known as the Great Republic Stakes and carried the fifty grand lag, and for winning, by three lengths, James R. Keene, the old Wall Street plunger, picked up a tidy 541,465. As the boys say, there is nothing new under the racing scene, for the track that many headed for oblivion was a leader in the the purse values 48 years ago. In the Great Republic, there were some formidable starters, Oiseau finished second, Broomstick was third, while Dandelion and Prince Hamburg, finishing in that order, rounded out the field. That is a little of the background on the colt for whom Belmont Park officials named a race and one that could turn out to be a hummer or a bust. While James R. Keene is credited with breeding the colt, the veterans say that he was imported in utero from England. He was by Melton from Optime and was a bay in color. - Mr. and Mrs. George Francis, he is a director of Belmont Park, came over from their Adirondack lodge for the week end and a. look-see at the Saratoga Handicap. Nick Adrene, the Havana, Cuba, sportsman, arrived Thursday for the final days of the meeting. . .Benny Was-ser, the oldster who retired from racing ranks for the -more prosaic business, Florida fruits, relays word from Hot Springs, Ark., that he is headed west for the opening of Lou Smiths Las Vegas track... Sam Fator, son of the famed jockey of several decades ago, was granted his trainers license and will take over the horses that Bert Blume had for him. His mother was a visitor Thursday on her annual vacation and was one of the rooters for Woodys Boots, winner of the final race, and one of the racers young Fator takes over. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Chappell, the Miami-ans, pulled out Thursday for a tour of the eastern Canadian country, embracing Montreal and Quebec. During their absence Danna Jean, the youngest daughter, will remain over and direct the running of his racing menage... At private terms Friday Sol Rutchick, acting for Col. E. P. Bixer, sold the horse Marmion to C. Bruce Campbell, of Maryland. The new acquisition was shipped to Atlantic City for racing. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Heinz arrived from New York for their annual vacation Mrs. Eugene Constantin, the Dallas, Texas patroness, returned to the racing scene Thursday. She was on the ailing list for several days with what the doctors diagnosed as arthritis of the spine. . . Continued on Page Fifty-One Connors Corner By C. J. CONNORS Continued from Poge Six Joe McCarthy, the veteran Saratogian, made his first appearance of the season Thursday. The veteran has a vivid recollection of many of the events run prior to and after the turn of the century. . . Mrs. Milton Erlanger flew in from California to witness the effort of her Darcy in the second race. Alas and Alack. Second portion of the purse was the best her representative could do... , George Strate returned from California where he completed one of the saddest duties of his life, the burial of his wife. Cyrus S. Jullien and Eddie Kilroe, of the Queens County forces, arrived Friday for the week-end racing. . .William C. Langley, of the racing commission, was on hand Friday for a few days visit. . .Peter Blong, one of the veterans of the racing wars, on the clubhouse lawn, showed up Thursday for a brief visit and a look-see.. .Dr. C. Heatherington, the well known California veterinarian, was an arrival Thursday. . . Van Eben, the Schenectady, N. Y., industrialist, made his second visit to the local scene in 30 years residence in that city. He was accompanied by Ralph Cordner and John Bussy and were the guests of Dick McAvoy. The secret can now be told Van Eben held a ticket on the first winner Thursday. Trainer James Fitzsimmons reported that everything was in tip -top shape at Aqueduct and that the first draft of horses would leave on Monday Jockey Jack Westrope reported that he will return to the riding ranks in a day or so. He bruised his toe when he scraped the rail galloping a two-year-old. . .William Woodward, master of Belair Stud, was a frequent stable visitor during his sojourn here and following the running of the Diana Handicap in which his Sa-bette was victress, watched her cool out. George Dagenio, of Montreal, a CBS-TV camera man, arrived Thursday to take pictures of the Beverwyck Steeplechase for distribution throughout the Canadian provinces. He was rooting for Sun Shower, owned by the Canadian hotel man, Vernon Cardy to be returned the winner. . .Jockey Benny Green will go to Atlantic Ci.ty later in the week for engagements at that track ...Trainer Dolly Byers reported that lie will remain here until the last minute before shipping to Belmont Park. . .The work of installing the sprinkler system at Belmont Park is progressing on schedule according to advices from that center. The work of grading and screening Jamaica is completed, according to word from that track.
