The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-13
THE METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
Fifteen Thousand People at Morris
Park to See the Contest.

New York, 12-The opening dav at
Norris Park was a complete success.
for fully $4,000 people saw some fine
contests and a spectacular finish in
the Metropolitan handicap which sent
them away in good humor. The track
was in the best possible condition and
the buildings were fresh and BRIGHT
in the spring sun light. There was a
large attendance of the fashionable
element.
Betting was not interfered with At
five o'clock the six candidates for the
honor Of the first great race of the
year made their appearance at the
gates of the paddock and paraded a
short distance up the stretch.
The withdrawal Of Henry of Navarro
| had established Sir Walter at once as
the favorite, chiefly on account Of
his jockey, Taral, and the fact that he
was on his own track, while Counter
Tenor and Dorian were about equal
| favorites the former having been well
| backed, as Lakeland his trainer, was
| confident Of victory.
After two slight breaks they were
| sent off to a good start, with Horn
| Pipe quickest on his feet and but a
| head in front Of Sir Walter, he a head
in front of Dorian, forming the front
! division, while a length away were
! Rubicon, st. Maxim and Counter Tenor
\ Decks apart. They reached the end of
the first quarter in the same order as
! the start Then came the climb up
! the hill which has caused many good
! horse to falter, and to-day was no ex-
! ception to the rule, Horn Pipe fell
back and Taral urged Sir Walter to
the front.
Along the top Of the hill, the half
| dozen rushed with quickening strides,
down the hill to the three-quarter
| pole they went with Sir Walter a
| length in the lead Of Horn Pipie, who
| was sliding back and was only head
| i'm front of Rubicon, both urged to
| their utmost. Dorian was a half length
| behind, then came Counter Tenor and
St. Maxim, who had changed places
and were getting ready for the final
rush
! They were well down the hill at the
| mile post and Hamilton had taken
| Counter Tenor on to the outside, up
into third place and was working in
| earnest. He came on in a dive and
| won by a half length in one Of the
| finest finishes seen in years. St.
| Maxim, the despised outsider, was in
second place, neck in front Of the
game. Sir Walter and the others were
| trailing. How the crowd cheered.
From the roar that arose, it seemed
as though the favorite had won, but
he was in third place, where he has
been so often in the big races.
The high priced Hastings at almost
prohibitive odds, had to be fiOgged to
win the first race.
SUMMARIES;
First-Five furlongs: Hastings
won: Peakness second; Gotham third.
Time, 80.
| Second-One mile, selling: Ledman,
won; Brisk, second; Copyright, third.
Time, 1:41.
Third-Juyenile, five furlongs: Cas-
seopia, won; Bastion, second; Caldron,
third Time, 1900
Metropolitan Handicap
| One mile and an eighth, Counter Ten
or. 115 (Hamilton,) 31a to 1 and even,
won; St. Maxim, 1O7 (Doggett,) 10 to
/ and 3 to /, second; Sir Walter, 112
| (Tarall 6 to and to ?, third. Time,
1853. Dorian, Hornpipe and Rubicon
also ran.
sixth-One mile and sixteenth.
Hakes II, won; Sherlock, second. Time,
1:47H
Fifth-HaIf mile, Challenger, won;
a i