The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
A SUPERB HORSE RACE.
HANDSPRING AND HASTINGS bat
TLE At MORRIS Farm.

u,nd-prinE 'rook n by y Head Auer
hrui-Ing struggle for Three Furlong--
Royal Rose Villas the GaIety Stakes
The struggle between Handspring and Has
tinPs for the Witbers Stakes at Morris parl
yesterday afternoon would have stirred Tn,
blood OF n stole aud ron yerted the most rabit
opponent to racing to the most glorious OF
all outdoor sports. There may have beer
closer contests AT the actual finish when Hand.
spring won by n head, but, for n real downright
battle between highly bred and courageous thor.
uughbreds. the fight between tho champions of
the Dryer and Belmont stables will 20 dow
int0 history, the pair OF equine gamccocks con.
testih. every inch OF three fuIlOngs with the
most logged pertinaCity. Ten thousand persons
cheercd them on, AMI when the SINNERS num-
Ocr was huhx aloft and 1t was known that the
chestnut colt had won, loser and winner alike
smiled and said exultingly In tho sam breath
lhats tho best horse race ever saw; |
wouldn't have missed II ioi u thousand dollars
When Domino beat Henry Of Navarro a head
Two years ago, Garrison was blamed for not
making his run soon enough with the red
champion, and the colts actually fought but u
furlonH or less. The nearest approach to yes
terday's trial that the writer Gun recall was the
ncver-tO-be forgotten match for $50. 900 n
Sheepshcad bay, when those great racers were
two-year-Olds. 1t was u dead heat, and n drive
OF more than a quarter Of II mile, with each
colt staggering under the terrific strain.
yesterday broke clear and cool, and az the
morning waned II brought eladness to the
hearts OF those who had for months looked for
ward to the time when Handspring and Hast
ings would meet in the Withers. 1t was hoped
that the other ton. nutcher, Requital, the con-
queror Of both Hastings and Handspring in the
Futurity last year, would be able to run, too.
but n cold, followed bY an attack of the pink
eye, threw him out of training for some time,
and even all the skill of James Rowe could
not round him t. in time for such a struggle as
he would have to participate in yesterday had
he faced the starter. such men AS Mr.. Rowe
make haste slowly. and he was one Of the most
Interested spectators OF yesterdays race.
There will be al opportunity for Reqlital to
measure strides with yesterdays gladiators in
the Belmont Stakes on June =. the closing day
OF the Morris parkmeeting.
Morris Park has never he'd a more fa-hion-
able assembly than came out to scc Yesterdays
race. There were hundreds OF pretty women In
the club house and other Hundreds of the most
charming specimens of femininity in the grand
stand. Probably fifty Of the club house contin-
gent raid IA visit to the grassy paddock, gather
Ing their dainty skirts about them rs they
wa,ktd about among the crowd Of men.
good points of n horse than nine.tenths OF the
men; and Mrs. James l.. kernochan could GER
tatnly have taught nineteen-twentioths of tho
sterner sex all that pertains to racing. hunting.
or any ether Ne'n. IN Y9tch the hHr,r pi1ysa
h"r e quite a. mucn as her athletic and hand
some husband. was one OF the closest observers
ct Hastings when John Hy.and uncovered the
1t wH~ remarked in these columns wien
Hastings won over Belaemcre at five fnrlongs
that MIR. Belmont great three-y ear-uld had
grown and de- i"ped very much last year, bat
fsaI hr I'' 4 N!I ua,,in tny s qgai' nn% d. ri a.. irsss I or
terday afternoon, shorn Of the ugly hood which
he weGrs IN Ia. race; The ,ransfnrmati@n was
- nm "a hls 4- lruI mn In ~ rnp md thu. han 80 :
appearance the thinkers conveyed. and the colt
70 anne beautiful, b%ear,l!al. hnt of wholly diff
are more ON the Grcyh"un! model. Iii,
was me massive, sturdy beauty which
His short. strong back, round muscular
quarter, fine clear;cu; head. with il, symmetri-
strong. rather short. but admirably fashioned
neck; deep chest, aud %sloping ]sh9ul!er left
linnd pring marched ab"u, pnly IL hundred
feet away. ana there MaG n good opportunity to
Of the greyhound the Dwyer cham inn looked
and moved Ike The racing machine he really is.
cuiar. but showing grace, and speed il
every line, he challenged the, attention and
the trainers ard followers of both OF the great
colts showed that a"mclh,ng extraordinary WAS
Frank McCnhe have sem champions of HE turf
To the Iust before YESTERDAY. tut never had
rcarra ''1 he, M4'" .atis !! With RrnSrir. r..
lying implicitly upon the judgment of
These experts IN lntlr CHOSEN pfnlesSlDn, Inc
pI"nr at the day had allied themselves and
thu 't;toI upon thu race was the heaviest
opened u slight fayorIt", but there was so much
Hastings money ihtt tn" thrct-ycar-Old quick
~ ,old Even ny; the l"IsG." OF The tisId, Tnicn
entirely ignored. Hastings warmed up with
John li,v!and,s trnttinE, horse as a companion,
while Long Reach Ea!ioprh complacently be.
hind Handspring. content that the great three
ycar-old could run fast enough Tor both Of
them.
All ewes were upon the rivals when they ap-
peared for the actual contest. They trotLed to
the stand, wheeled and broke away at "A canter,
prancing sideways until we'll around the turn
and away from the ~plauditS OF the throng; The
sight of the colts renewed speculation, and note
books were in hand On every side.
The s ,ftr machine wa not nset to de-,
or the -taEe, governing that point.
and Mr.. Flynn despatched the tive horses With
was a wild shout when the iag feil. Abuse
the Morris representatives, slot To the
The public had eyes only for the rivals, and
whilc Abuse was carrying the Morris scarlet 70
have been daaIing over The sands OF Stnara 20
far AZ the OnlUukcrs We re- concerned. Abuse was,
nevertheless. straining every muscle to shake
swept along in ii. wake. Hastings wms in see.
Ond position, u length ana n half away. with
HandHl rings delicate head rising and falling at
Hastings can take the pole" shouted AN
enthusiast. wilma bet on the hiemton colt. hut
tie close observers saw that simms Was alert
very thing, and when Hastings moved up
10 Abuse on tho upper lurn II WAS seen
hmgging the rail. Abuse lad now shot his
bolt, and the thousands held their breath as
the trio swung for the turn home. 1t was three
furlongs 10 the goal, and when fully squared
away for the run home Abuse faded away as u
Violet would In the glow or a furnace. aud tho
were Mt each others throats at last.
For ten second. there was dead silence as
the chestnut and the hay sued on, their
long. 1.-the bodies stretched to the utmOat
and their flying feet seeming to spurn tho
earth so lightly did they touch il. Hand
spring Was on the inside. Head and head
they came on. Then Griffin moved uneasiiy
in his saddle ard the grand stand quivered
with the shout which rose as the lad In the
jacket raised his whip on high.
- Switch" the lash descended, and IIastings's
eyes blazed from the depth OF his blinkers.
The cot seemed to resent the blow. II reused
all the devil that was latent in him, and,
Sc Zing the bit between his teeth, he rushed
once more upon his foe, Once more the lash bit
the cleaning sides of the son of Spendthrift,
and with r~eslstiesS power he oyeThauled Hand