The evening times., 1896-05-11
Speculation as t0sths Winner Of
the Metropolitan.
BELMAR Is A. READY HORSE
Henry of Navarro Likely to Carry
the Belmont COlOrs-Sir Walter
VIII Do Well With Tnral Up-Coun-
ter Tenor in Fine Condition-Laz-
zarOne Strong and Looking Well.

ii "
OF the turf, and unless all signs fan there
will be large assembly at Morris Park
tomorrow, when the Westchester Racing
Association will begin its spring meeting.
The Metropolitan handicap and the Ju-
venile stakes Will be the stake features,
aud, while the two-year-olds that have so
far shown are a common lot, and the field
for the Metropolitan is certain not 10 eX-
Ceed half a dozen competitors, there VIII
be no lack OF enthusiasm.
1t may happen, as is OFTEN the case, that
both races may smack Of the SENSATIONAL
for some of the dark division among the
two-year-olds may be phenoIneuons, and
there is a prospect OF II fighting finish
among the older division for nonorS i'll thS
handicap.
In former years the field for the Metro
politan, whicn has always been decided in
June, has been quite large, and there have
been many memorable battles for the prize.
II is rather early to ask the tip-toppcrs tn
come to the post, although only three days
prior to the usual time set for the run
ming OF the Brooklyn handicap at Graves
end.
METROPOLITAN ENTRIES.
Looking over the list OF entries for the
Me ropulItan, IL viii be seen that Clifford,
unquestiouably second in rank t. Henry OF
Navarro, Bright Phoebus aud Gay Hampton
we.e declared on March /, leaving twelve
eligible to start. Uf this dozen Halma
has gone To the lnfirinary to be treated
for "A bowed tendon, and may not run again.
The Commoncr, Nanki P,Ck, Brandy wine
are not ready, and we must lock for the
field To come from the seven which re-
main Mr. BELMONT Will scarcely start both
Henry OF Navarro aud Doran, and every
thing points 10 the former as the bearer
OF the ColCrs made famous by Il long array
OF great race horses.
Henry of Navarro iS the top weight at %
pounds and he has shown that In climbing
the hin and coming down again he is at his
best His shoulders are properly placed
and re can negotiate any KIND OF a course.
Next to Navarro, Sir Walter and Counter
Tenor command the attention of the RI eng
public They are both certain to start,
and there are many who believe that
either of this pair VIII trouble the fayorite
not a little.
II is the first time that Sir Walter has
had any such impost as ll2 pounds On his
back and he should Kick with JOY when he
comes upon the course with this impost
upon his stout little back. 50 accustomed
has he been to carrying l2O pounds or more.
With Taral in the saddle. Sir Walter will
go veil The hill will not stop him and the
distance is perhaps more TO his hkiug than
a mile and a quarter would be
COUNTER TENOR Is PRIME
Opinions differ as 10 Counter Tenor.
Many critics have pronounced Tim COWS
ard. but none can deny bis speed This
horse, now strdpplng fcur-yedr-oli. IN
the hands of William Lakeland. should give
a better account of himself than lie did at
any time last season. Lakeland can wait
as long q : anybody and he seldom makes
play Tor big event that his candidate is
not there or Whereabouts a t the fiulsh.
In the race for the Brooklyn Handicap
last wear Counter Tenor ran remarkable
race for a three-ycar- old.
All will recall the victory Of HOrnpipe,
but few of them know that at the head
OF the stretch Counter Tenor was as good
as any horse in the race. He was ridden
by John Lamle. who was at that time in
very poor health and when the great big,
long stridjng son of Falsetto started to
run out the boy could not control him.
Lamle straightened Counter Tenor out as
quickly as possible, but the race was lost
and Hornpipe won, with LazZarone second
and Sir Walter third. Counter Tenor was
fourth.
On Tuesday, with Anthony Hamilton in
the saddle. he may be looked for To run
a good race His work was good enough
to please his owner. Col. Ruppert, and if
he is beaten Lakeland will have no excuse
for him.
HORNPIPE NOT READY.
Hornpipe the winner OF the Brooklyn
handicap last year, is scarcely intended
for the Metropolitan, but Will. If he stands
the prepa ration, probably go for the BROOK
lyn again. He went mile and quarter
in 2:l6, and was by no means as fresh
as Counter Tenor at the end. This horse
ran but one race last year, his ailng leg
tI.n oh rhA
final furlong with Lazzarone and Sir
Walter.
Belmar, the good, consistent performer
from the Preakness stables, Will not lack
friends, as at 100 pounds there are many
who look for the gray colt to run well.
SINS was engaged early IN the winter
by Mr.. Galway 10 ride The four year-old,
and the Jockey will probably come ON from;
the West to ride this one race.
There We're few three-year-olds capable
of beating BeImar last summer, but the half
brother TO AdelDert improved as autumn
wore on and at Morris Park he was we'll
nigh invinciple i'll the handicap. de won
one OF these races from Counter Tenor, how
ever, when Sims clearly outgenerailed Reiff
and stole the race on the post or the other
candidates, Rubcon and st. Maxim, not a
great deal can be said.
st. Maxim looks outClasSed even with Dog
He has never shown anything like the class
necessary to win such an event as the
Metropolitan. and it is pity that Halma
did not stand up, for then the Messrs.
Fleischmaun would have a worthy repre-
sentative for this, the first of the big events
of S96.
Halnia was undoubtedly great three
ycar-old, and if looks go for anything he
would have been one of the cracks OF the
present season, had he notygone wrong.
But not forgetting Rubieon. No horse in
the Metropolitan can outrun the son of
Rayon Dor if he will but try, but will he
try? That is the question which has agi-
tated large division OF the talent on more
than one occasion. more arrant rogue
never wore blinkers. The change in train
ers may have worked a change for the
better.
Henry Harris is a model 4 patience, and
perhaps Rubicon will run well for Mr..
Mcdonald, who only arrived home from a
tour abroad on Saturday last. No horse
could look better than Rubicon does.
He is ready for the race, and he would not
surprise the knowing ones if he gave the
leaders some trouble at the finish, nor
would there be any expression of amaze
ment if he were beaten a hundred yards.
Rubicon is capable of any kind of per-
fOrmance. He runs when he likes, and
sulks when he is in the humor to be
surly.
JUVENILE CANDIDATES.
Reference to the list Of candidates for
the Juvenile shows that there are few
Of the nominations with any public record.
Successful, Prompt and Hi Daddy raced at
Benning, but did not show anything be-
yond the common run Of two year-olds.
The Blemton crack, Don De Ore, is said 10