The Washington critic., 1888-05-16
THE BARD's vIoroRY.
He Defeats Hanover in Sea of Mu,
in the Prhsenoa of In .nOn PnnnIp.

lie Defeats Hanover in Sea of Mud
in the Presence Of 10000 People.
Fifteen thousand people witnessed yes
terday, the great racing event of the season
the Brooklyn Handicap, at Gravesend
Park, ON the result of which million Of
dollars changed hands. The race was
run through three inches of Long Island
mud, but IL was one of the most exciting
contests ever seen on the American turf
There was mud everywhere, mud on the
track and on the grounds, but the crowd
would have stood snow storm TO see the
race.
The first races were comparatively tame.
The crowd had staked its money upon
the great handicap. When the bell an
nounced that the hour had arrived for the
jockeys to bring out the fleet horses that
were to compete for the stake and the sum
of nearly seven thousand dollars, the
heavy-looking clouds floated off to the
ocean and the sun came out TO cheer up
the horses and their riders. The race was
run beneath n clear sky, but the mud
seemed all the thicker and heavier.
An Exciting Race.
The horses were sent up to the start and
the crowd went wild with excitement. Six
times did they break away before the cry.
Twice again did they break away before
the flag fell upon an excellent start. Exile
was first to show in front, with Grover
Cleveland next, Favor third, Hanover
fourth and the rest punched close behind.
Half way down the near stretch, Favor
had the lead by half head over Hanover
who was half u length in front of Saxony.
Hanover was head in front at the stand,
with Saxony second, two lengths in front
OF Favor, The Bard and Royal Arch in
bunch, and Fenelon last. At the quarter
post, Hanovcf was head in front ofSax-
ny,who was three-guarters ofa length be-
fore Favor, who led The Bard two lengths
Going up the baekstretch, Favor took the
post of honor, and led Hanover at the
half post Saxony was two lengths be-
hind and was Tapped by The Bard, who
in turn had Exile at his saddle girth
There was close race between Hanover
and SaXony on the upper turn, and Sax
ony was first in at the head of the home
stretch, with The Bard half q length be-
hind Hanover. The finish was punish
ing one. Both Hanover and The Bard
were lashed and spurred to their utmost.
There was a yell that echoed through
the Catskills. The Quakers threw mp
their umbrellas and howed as The Bard
gained an inch.
"The Bard Wins"
An excited Philadelphian shouted for
joy, and then paid spectator one dollar
for the privilege of standing on the mans
shoulders. The fence was so lined that
no one but those in front could see the
track. Mud almost obscrred the Jockeys
colors, but, rs the horses neared the
judges stand, the red, white and blue
was seen to be ahead. Hanover strained
every muscle to push up. Thousands of
dollars stood IN the balance. Another
second turned the tide. The Bard, with
one gigantic final impulse, went to the
front, and moment later landed him
winner by length in 2:13. Hanover
second, was four lengths in front of Exile
third.
1t was contest such as every spectator
could enjoy 1t was exciting almost to
cruelty, for the jockeys lashed their colts
through the mud, and when they dis
mounted every rider carried the same
color. They were mud-covered, and the
horses looked as If they were all chestnut
color. When Hayward dismounted he
was presented with a gigantic horseshoe
and greeted with great applause from the
grand stand and howls from the fences
The Bard first entered the turf in June,
1885. He was then beaten, and subse-
quently suffered half dozen defeats. His
first victory was at Monmouth Park, June
30, He won the Capital Stakes at Wash
lngton the same year. Last year his first
race was won on the course of the Brook
lyn Jockey Club. He won other victories,
but last August was taken sick, and it
was feared that his career was over. His
success yesterday, however, proves that
he may still expectto hold his own as the
king of the turf.