The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-11
GOSSIP OF TIE RUNNERS.
THE METRoPoLTrAN TO BE n UN AT
MORRIS PARK TOMORROW.

The Smallest Field In Year. 20 Contest for
che Prize-Ths Starters VIII Probable
ne Henry OF Navarro, Sir walter.
Counter Tenor. B-i~a-. ~. Maxim, .,d
Rubicon-Amerious Big D~i.npso,p,.
ment-viotor wild aud His Fortunate
Owner-weishts for the New fork stes-
piechn-o stsher-Entries for A~aueduo,.
The preliminary season Of a week at Aoue
duct Park has served az a sort of an appetizer for
the followers of the turf, and unless all signs
fail there Will be a large assemblage at Morris
Park tomorrow, when the Westminster Racing
Association will begin its spring meeting. The
Metropolitan Handicap and the Juvenile Stake IS
will be the features, and while tho two
year-olds that have 30 far been shown are q
common lot, and the field for the Metropoli-
tan Is certain not to exceed half a dozen,
there will be no lack of enthusiasm. IL may
happen, as is often tho case, that both races
may smack OF the sensational for some OF the
dark division among the two-year-olds may
be phenomenons, and there is tho prospect OF a
lighting finish among the older division for
honors in the handicap.
In former years the field for the Metropolitan.
which has always been decided In June. has
been quite large. and there have been many
memorable battles for the prize. II IL rather
early to ask the tip-toppers to come to the post.
although only three days prior to the usual time
for the running OF the Brooklyn Handicap at
Gravesend. Looking over the list of en-
tries for the Metropolitan. II will be seen
that Clifford, unquestionably second In
rank to Henry of Navarre; Bright Phpbus.
and Gay Hampton were declared n March
4, leaving twelve eligible to start. OF this
dozen. Halma has gone to the infrmary to be
treated for a bowed tendon and may not run
again; The Commoner, Nanki Pooh, and
Brandywine are not ready. and we must look
for the field to come from the eight which re.
main. Mr.. Belmont will scarcely start both
Henry of Navarro and Dorian. and everything
points to the former as the bearer OF the colors
made famous by a long array of great race
horses. Henry of Navarro is the top weight at
120 pounds, and he has shown that in
climbing the hill and coming down again
he IL at his best. His shoulders are
properly placed. and he can negotiate
any kind of q course. Next to Navarro. Sir
Walter and Counter Tenor command the atten-
ton of the racing public. They are both GER
tain to start. and there ore many who believe
that either of this pair will trouble the favorite
not q little. 1t Is the first time that Sir Wal
ter has had any such impost as 112 pounds,
and he should kick with Joy when he
comes upon the course with this weight on his
stout little back. so accustomed has he been to
carrying 12O pounds or more. With Taral in
the saddle Sir Walter will 60 well. The bill will
not stop him,'and the distance is perhaps more
to his liking than a mile and a quarter would be.
Opinions diffe- as to Counter Tenor. Many
can deny his speed. This horse, now a strappinG
four-year-old In the hands OF William Lake
tsnn s see ala at s any e Time Ds'i isst " season.. q La hi%set!
makes play for a big event that his candidate is
mot fhara ar fharanh nnfa n Aha Hntah In h
race for the Brooklyn Handicap last year Coun-
ter Tenor pS ran : are remsrta6le race for a three
At the head Of the stretch in that, race
Hean was i ridden ~s s. e 5ohas goa Iam as ANY who ho %ss
Ht that sse s eres. II Siu. T Ysny,t pG9T health son O., f ana
setto started TO run out the boy could not con
troll him. Lamle straightened Counter Tenor
Hornpipo Won a. with Tazzsro d sec second and
Sir Walter third: Counter Tenor was fourth.
s TSi%sri he ma. y' ss lo AG:as0 fSI !. aa aan q good II ra sas
HIS H. work yes Yesterday aay. was a good g enough no e hs to please use
for him: He breezed a mile and z fur
i sfpeI 1T It. 1iosi ana d, the mot %in saee Of g l sSs s sresih
the Metropolitan; He wsnta mile and a quarter
ter Tenor at the end. This horse ran but one
race las. year. his ailing leg giving way IN the
rome and Sir Walter. Belmar. the good. consis-
tent performer from the Prenkness Stable.
many who look for the gray colt to run we'll.
simmsw was engaged early in the winter by Mr..
key viii probably come on from the West to
ride this one race. There were few three-year-
S Sns . fhsDfhS half 3 bro Sser'1 g A hs,mas !f imp sS%aiG as
autumn wore on and at Morris Park ne was
o %ssi Of PEE tRs aavi rsoes from re me co nn n fReno1 ne h SSn
ever. when Simms clearly Outgeneraled Rein
and stole the race on the post ~
nf the other candidaCea- ~. Maxim md RuOi-
speedy horse, looks outclassed even with Dog.
gett up and only LOT pounds in the saddle. He
has never shown anything like the class neces-
sary to win such an event as the Metropolitan.
for then the Messrs, Fleischmann would have a
worthy representatiye for this, the first Of the
q liberal but unfortunate buyer, but success is
bound to come TO any man with his courage and
three.yssr-oid. and II looks go for Anything he
would have been one Of the cracks of the present
But not forgetting Rubicon. No horse in the
Metropolitan can outrun the son of Rayon dor
question which has aeitated a large division Of
the talent on more than one occasion. A more
in trainers may have worked a change for the
better, Henry Harris II a model Of patience.
Donald, Who only arrived home from a tour
abroad on Saturday last. No horse could look
better tn than !, k u6n;S do does: He is ready for the
ones IL he gave the, leaders some trouble at the
finish. Nor would there no any expression OF
amazement II no was beaten a hundred yards.
Rubicon is capable OF. any kind OF a perform
ance. He runs when he likes. and sulks when
he 10 In the humor to be- surly.
Reference to the list OF candidates for the Ju-
venile shows that there are few OF the nomina-
tions with any public record. Successful,
Prompt and HI Daddy raced at Bennings. but
did not show anything beyond the common run
OF two-year-olds. The Blemton crack, Don de
Orc. is said to be a. good colt. David Gideon's
Eakins will scarcely be. seen, as most of the
stab has bean under the weather, and Joyner
will scarcely yegin the campaign before Sleeps
head Bay. This leaves Arthur Whites Kinni-
kinic. Matt Byrnes's Salvador, the Keene hlly
Flying Squadron, and the pick OF the Fleisch-
mann. Madden, and McCafferty tables TO 60 To
the post. The Brookdals pair. Elkins and BIAS
tion. have been more or less under the weather
all spring. and Trainer Rowe will scarcely send
either to the post Tomorrow.
Every man who is in sympathy with the
Jockey Club and wants to see racing prosper
should endeayor to be at Morris Park to-mor-
row. But for the enterprise of tho gentlemen
who are behind 1.-THE Westchester Racing AS
ISOLATION, racing In the eastern part of this
continent would be practically dead to-day.