The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-17
THE STORY OF A RACE
HOW SIR WALTER WON THE BROOK
lYN HANDICAP.
An Idol Broken by Great Jockey with
the Smallest Horse In the Fieid-A MIL
lion Dollars Lost and Won by scant
! Foot.

Foot.
A million dollars was won and lost when
that game little bay Sir Walter showed his
cavernous nostrils first over the mayS, a
winner by q scant foot.
A million dollars-enough almost TO in
sure the freedom Of Cuba or 60 bail king.
Fifteen thousand Of those persons who wen
and lost il were at the Gravesend track
when the great race was decided They
surged and jostled and trampled upon each
other in their cagcrness TO get their money
down or TO catch 1eeting gliinpses of the
pinks and scarlets, the blues and greens
and yellows that flashed from paddock to
post and from post TO finish with the regu-
lnrity Of spectacular spinning top.
There were half dozen breaks and as
many cries of They're off r' and it seemed
as though they would never get together
when the flag went down to "A good start,
with keenan, and Clifford in front and
Counter Tenor last. The light weighted
Lake Shore made play for the lead, and
running down the stretch he showed
neck before Sir Walter, Wig was only
neck before Keenan, Horrpipe and So
Maxim. Counter Tenor was last and
Clifford next to last, but the entire field
was punched so prettily that the thousands
could not help expressing admiration. The
eight horses flew around the turn, scatter
Ing the sand In clouds Rounding the
turn Lake Shore and Sir Walter were head
and head q length before ST. Maxim, whose
head was high In the air and could scarcely
be restrained by Simms, so strong was his
desire to go on and give Sir Walter battle
thus early in the fight. Hornpipe, Nanli
Pooh and Clifford were running Tapped at
ST. Maxim's quarters, while keenan, and
Counter Tenor were q gigantic team OF
whippers in. It was at this point that
Clayton's riding was criticised by some.
Instead of moving up as the backstrotch
was entered and getting within striking
distance Of Sir Walter and St Maxim, the
dangerous element, as told In The Sun OF
yesterday, Lonny waited until later 10
throw down the gage of battle. Clayton
said after the race that No asked Clifford
to run at this point, and that the horse
was unable to gain on the leaders.
Sir Walter was sailing-that's the word,
80 perfect and birdlike is the little bay
horses action--and Lake Shore found the
measured stride of the white faced cham
pion too much for him before the half mile
pole was passed. st. Maxim passed the
rapidly firing son Of Farandole, and when
but half mile remained TO be run il did
not look as though Clifford would be better
than third at the finish. Sir Walter was
leading by length, with ST. Maxim Sec
ond, Lake Shore third, Nanld Pooh fourth,
Hornpipe fifth and Clifford sixth. Coun-
ter Tenor and keenan, had changed places
Clayton was now riding Clifford with all
the strength at his command, and a groan
went up from the throng when 1t was OBJ
served that the bay horse Was not closing
one inch of the gap between himself and
the leaders.
Now began the race in deadly earnest
and In the so seconds which ensued some
men lived lifetime. Taral knew that he
was riding fast horse which had pull
In the weights and he was making every
ounce tell by forcing the pace. Sitting
down in the saddle and leaning far over
the beautiful neck of Sir Walter, bending
until the ribbons which knotted the horses
name 6uttered on his cheek, the jockey felt
tho wind rush through his jacket and set
the silk cracking and swapping like burn
ing twigs I'm the autumn Another HIGHT
weight, and n speedy one, too, st. Maxim,
thundered at his heels, and upon the back
Of this horse was a jockey quite the equal
Of himself In point of skill and generalship
Looking over his shoulder, Taral saw the
beadlike eyes of Simns glistening with the
excitcmert Of the race, and gripping his
knees tighter he waited the challenge which
he was sure would come.
At the head of the stretch Sir Walter was
still q length In front Of st. Maxim, who
in turn headed Hornpipe. Clifford was
fifth, having passed Lake Shore, and as
4 II IA
sprang down the straight like an arrow
from the bow, Taral expected the chal-
ienge, and he glanced momentarily over
his shoulder at Simms, who was as still as
a statue. 1t was not yet time to strike. AS
this pair eyed each other as gamecocks or
prizeflghters spar for an opening mighty
shout caused both to look around. Clifford
was bearing down upon them with the
speed OF an avalanche. Whips and spurs
leaped into play, and between the avenue
of white and drawn faces the horses flew.
st Maxim could not overhaul Sir Walter,
but Clifford was catching both with ra-
pidity that was maddening to the hackers Of
Sir Walter and the acme OF uncertainty for
the thousands who had bet their dollars on
the favorite. Would he get up in time to
win2
else is forestten as Clifford, strong and
true, bears down upon the speedy pair of
5-year- r-olds. Now Inc has caught st. Max
i'm and Ia at Sir Walters flank. Taral,
who has been rousing, lifting, wheedling
Sir Walter along, changes his tactics and
gives the game little fellow three sharp
blows of the whip, catches shorter hold
Of the rein, and staggering, reeling, lifts
him over the line as Cliiford's head shows
at Sir walters muzzle. When the pair
land after the wire is passed, Clifford is In
front by good neck. st. Maxim Is third,
ut Clif'ord's quarters, 20 that blanket
might cover the three at the finish.
Tho fractional time follows: o:26 0:3sH,
O:6lA, 1:04, 1;l7, 1;29l+, 1:42H, 2:os1S
In tho tumult Of cheering which groets
the victor the rest of the field which fin
ished In bunch, with Nanki Pooh fourth,
was overlooked. Seldom has moro vocifer-
Gus cheering greeted n winner on any OF
the metropolitan tracks Walter Rollin,
who trains Sir Walter and for whom tho
horse was named was nale hut hnpDy and