The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-04
Fine Weather for Brook
lyn Handicap.
Crack Horses Are in Splendid
Condition to Race.
Clifford Is the Fav0rite But He Will
Have No WalkOver.

NEW YORK, June s.-Better weat her
could not have been desired for the OPEN
ing day at the Gravesend race track for
the great Brooklyn Handicap which .is
one OF the most important races Of the
year in this neighborhood, its only rival
being the Suburban. which will be run
of on the opening day of the Coney
Island Jockey Club, the latter part OF
this month. The sky was clear and the
cool breeze which blew across the track
and the prospects for large attendance
were exceedingly good. All through.the
morning hours the track was filed with
horses at exercise; and the candidates for
the handicap were cantered slowly and
then breezed furlong through the
stretch TO keep them in gooc condition.
Then they We're sent back to their stables
to await the bugle call to the post. several
hours away. Every one of the candidates
for the $40, 600 stake was mt to run for his
life. The latest list of probable starters,
weights and jockeys is as follows:
Clifford, 125, A. Clayton; keenan,, 121,
Griffin; Counter Tenor, 120, HAMILTON; (;
Sir Walter, 113, Taral; Nanki Pooh, 112,
Doggett; Hornpipe, III, Sheedy; ct Max
.m, l06, Simms; Lake Shore, l03, j. Hill;
While some of the interest in the race
has departed, owing tc the absence of
Henry of Navarro, Clifford has many ad-
mirers who have stuck to him evey since
he was favorite I'm the Suburban a few
years ago, and was left standing at the
post by Howe. His splendid running at
Morris Park in his two races with Keenan,
have made him strong favorite, and IL
he does not win there will be much
disappointment. Few of the trainers at
Gravesend this morning, wero willing to
concede possibility OF his defeat.
In spite of his bad showing in the
Metropolitan handicap, Sir Walter had
many followers, although il was generally
conceded that Sir Walter had the chance
OF his life on the opening day at Morri
Park. st. Maxim was considered to have
| q chance in ew Of his race in the Metro
politan handicap and his subsequent vic
tory, while there was general opinion thas
Counter Tenor. the winner OF the Metro
politan would be handicapped too heavily
by bis five pounds PENALTY for his victory
there.
Keenan, was not considered dangerous.
owing TO his bed showing against Cliff
ford, and il he Is sent to the post, IL will
only be from the desire of August Bel
mont to see his colors in the race. Lake
Shore and Psladin are the extreme out
siders, rhe former having been run badly
at Morris Park, and the latter being the
Western horse, not the one recently dis
posed OF by the Morris stable. He has
not started this year. Nanki Pooh is an
unknown quantity, but the Boards are
clever people, and when 1t comes to fiu-
ish the Dickey- Legged colt may be heard
from. Hornpipe is a very dangerous
horse at the weights, for he - In good
condition, and trainer Lakeland made
no secret OF his hopes this morning. lie
declared that he was afraid of nothing in
| the race, and that the club-footed colt
would be there or thereabonts at the
finish.
At half-past one o'clock the grand
stand was we'll iilled end the trains were
arriving frequently at the track filed 10
| overfiowing. There was then every pros
| pect OF a greater attendance than on any
| prevs~-s racing day IN several years.
a II was not pleasant, however, for there
| was n serious difference between the
layers OF odds and the president OF the
| Brooklyn Jockey CLUB, their conference
| last night and this morning having been
| fruitless and the clash caused no little
comment, not only among the people
| most intimately interested, but among
the spectators, who were following the
| races with considerable Interest.