The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-13
COUNTER TENOR WINS.
Fifteen Thousand People Witness
the Metropolitan Handicap,
A CLOSE AND EXCITING FINISH.

Sc. Maxim, Despised Outsider, only Half
Length Behind the Winner, While Sir
Walter the Favorite in the Betting, Fin
ishes Close Third.
New YORK, May 13-The opening day
at Morris Park was complete success,
for fully $1,000 people saw some fine con-
tests and a spectacular finish in the Metro
politan handicap, which sent them away
in good humor. There were number of
policemen in plain clothes scattered about
the track, to the annoyance of the man
agement, but although they made many
threats, they did nothing to interfere with
betting men, The event of the day was
fourth on the card, and it was not until
quarter to o'clock when the six candi-
dates 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 Dor
ian were about equal favorites the former
having been well backed. They reached
the post in good time, and after one or two
slight breaks and general break away
they were sent off to a good start, with
| Hornpipe head in front of Sir Walter,
and he head in front of Dorian, while a
length away were Rubicon, st. Maxim
and Counter Tonor, neoks apart.
They reached the end of the first quarter
in the same order as at the start. Then
came the climb up the hill which has
caused many good horse to falter and
yesterday was no exception to the rule AS
they swept around the turn Taral urged
his mount a little, and Sir Walter took the
lead away from the Brooklyn handicap
winner of last year, both taking little
longer lead ON the rest Of the field, which
maintained about the same positions as at
the fall of the flag Sir Walter being a
neck in front of Hornpipe, he length be-
fore Dorian, who was head in front of
Rubicon, while st. Maxim and Counter
Tenor, "a neck apart, were holding the rear
of the flying thorOughbreds.
Along the top of the hill the half dozen
rushed with quickened strides and as they
turned to come down the hill there was a
rapid change in the position, and the
weakest began to falter. A dozen strides
down the hill and they were at the three
quarter pole, with Sir Walter length in
the lead of Hornpipe who then was only
a head in front of Rublcon, both urged to
their utmost to keep whore they were.
Dorian was a full length behind, then
came Counter Tenor and st. Maxim, who
had changed places and were getting
ready for the final rush. They We're well
down the hill at the mile post, and Ham
ilton had taken Counter Tenor up into
third place Rubicon was, however, a
length and half in front of him, and Sir
Walter a neck further away and only a
= furlong to go ST. Maxim was a length
behind the Rupport crack, while Dorian
4 was absolutely out of it.
Taral and Clayton dug the leaders with
\ their spurs and banged the whips agains
their quivering sides, but it was of no use
They were worn out and could not re
spond. The field rush came and when il
was all over Counter Tenor swept past tn,
judges winner by n half length, in one o
the finest finishes seen in years St Maxim
the despsed outsider, was in second place
neck in front of Sir Walter, and the
Others were trailing, How the GROVE
cheered From the roar that arose i
seemed as though the favorite won, but h
was in third place where he has been 81
often in the big races. Best time l,53