Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
The Futurity Stakes to Be Run
This Afternoon.
FINEST FIELD EVER seen IN THEEVEN4
Trainers Inclined to Pin Their
Faith to Handspring.
BETTORS PREFER HASTINGS

SHEEPSHEAD BAY RACE TRACK, Au-
gust 24.-The Coney Island Jockey Club
track at Sheepshead Bay was never in
better condition than today. The annual
fail meeting cf the club IS one of the fea-
lures of the racing year. and with all its
triumphs of the past, this year promises to
exceed them ALL
Today is the day of the great Futurity
race, when twenty-cne two-year-olds will
struggle for the richest stake in this coun-
try, and the other races during the Gay
are full of promise.
The candidates for the Futurity appeared
on the track this morning with their stable
companions but their work was done, and
they were only taking gentle exercise to
keep their muscles timber and their limbs
In perfect condition for the great struggle
in the afternoon.
Handspring the FavOrite of the
Trainers.
Handspring is the choice of the majority
of the trainers at the track, in spite of :he
fact that the betting men were in favor Of
Hastings. The former pin their faith upon
the Dwyer crack because he has shown
such consistent form since he began his
winning career. His string of victories at
the Sheepshead Bay spring meeting was
the chief reason for his following, and his
single defeat by Hastings was not taken
into consideration as much as was ex-
pected.
Hastings has won his three races, de-
feating Handspring in one. and the conf
dence in the stable that he will win is
great
The other Blemton entries. Merry Prince
and Refugee, are doubtful. which will
doubtless bring about change of jockeys
on some of the others at the last minute.
Requital and Hazlet are the best of the
Gideon string, and the former is greatly
thought of. He will have large fol-
lowing when he goes to the post and in the
betting he will not be far behind the others.
Axiom Is by no means an 1mpossibllity,
and If Handspring could be carried of
his feet by Hastings in the first quarter
Axiom may be there or thereabouts
OF the others which are entered it is
thought that sentiment is the sole object
of the starting, with possibility OF a Wia
by accidents to the leaders.
Best Field Ever Sent Out.
The field is the best ever sent out for
the great race and the day being perfect
one for racing 1t Is thought that the at
tendance will be far greater than at any
other time during the history of the race.
At 10 o'clock the trainers had all left the
track and their charges were resting quiet
ly In the stables, with six hours wait for
the contest of the year. s,-.t
John Hyland. trainer of ReQuital. and
HaZlet and former trainer OF Hastings,
had a group of spectators around him lis
tening to his remarks. There is no doubt
that he has a great liking for Hastings,
and while he hopes to win with Requital,
If he Is beaten it would suit him better to
have Hastings do it. He spoke of the race
in which Hastings defeated Handspring
as one of the fastest races he ever saw as
dozen watches caught Hastings at the
half-mile in 46 IA seconds. If Hastings
can. do that again today it Is a question
hny of bnr n N q
him. Hyland declares that Requital has
races with but one exception, and that
was when he got away twenty lengths be-
hind Handspring and not in his stride, yet
finished we'll up. With that race out of
the question Requital has an excellent
chance.
Talk About Nimrod.
There was much talk about the western
cclt Nimrod later in the day, and 1t was
argued that he must have good chance
for the owner to come SO far and pay so
much to send him to the post Silver II
had a good many followers among the
rail birds, who declared that he will make
them all to win. In fact, it is not
hard matter to find during the morning a
number of supporters for every horse in
the race. 1t was conceded on all sades that
never in the history Of the stake had the
race been more open. and a possibility for
a dozen horses, even though the favorites
were only two in number, with good odds
above the others. fair estimate, formed
from conversation with leading trainers at
~ IL