Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-24
Then Clayton Made Bid on the Commoner
and Griffin's Lash Descended-The
Response Was instantaneous
$4,000 Saw It.

Sheepshead Bay, June 23.-Henry of
| Navarro demonstrated once more his
right to the title of king of the turf by
winning the thirteenth suburban handi-
| cap at Sheepshead Bay today. His vic
tory was well earned, and as in many of
MS previous contests he beat some of the
best horses In training. The mighty Cliff
ford was among the vanqushed today
| So were The Commoner, Sir Walter
Hornpipe, Belmar and Nanki Pooh. Cliff
| ford was first favorite over Henry of Ma
varre. This was largely through the fact
| that Taral had the mount on him. Cliff
ford was favorte for the Brooklyn handi-
cap, and was beaten by Sir Walter in a
| very close finish. Tarars superior jockey
ship, everyone said, defeated Clifford.
1t had something to do with Sir Walters
victory ON that occasion, but Clifford re-
fused to run kindly. He did not do his
best until too late. Clayton who rode
him, got the blame for Cllfford's failure
to make his run until too late. Taral
was engaged to ride him in todays great
race, and everyone said that Clifford
would do better with a stronger jockey
than Clayton on his back. Clifford did
not do as well for Taral as he did for
Clayton. He was never once dangerous
or prominent.
The Commoner, with Clayton up, was
the contending horse at the finish. He
1t was that forced his former stable COM
panion, Henry of Navarro, to a cruel
drive to hold his own. Clifford had all his
work cut out to finish ahead of Belmar,
Hornpipe, Sir Walter and Nanki Pooh,
who were all in hopeless difficulties a
couple of furlongs from home.
The start for the great race was prompt
and good. Belmar was the first to break
the event in He quickly yielded the post
of honor to Hornpipe. At the upper turn
Hornpipe took a commanding lead. He
was Joined by The Commoner. AS they
swung into the back strstch The Com
moner headed Hornpipe. This pair had q
good streak of daylight by themselves
and Henry of Navarro, who was the
most forward of the others. There was
| but little change in this order till they
reached the old club house turn, Henry
of Navarro then Joined the leaders. The
othsrs also moved up. They swung into
the home stretch with The Commoner In
command, tapped to the throat latch by
Henry of Navarro, who had Hornpipe
and Clifford at his withers The weight
and pace had begun to tell upon Sir Wall
ter and he, dropped back to keep Nanki
Pooh company. When they Strengthened
out for home Hamilton went to work like
fiend on Hornpipe. The son of Mr..
Pickwick and Round Dance responded
with such speed that the cry "HornpipG
wins" rang through the stand.
Griffin, however, still had a tight hold
on Henry of Navarro. Hornpipe got half
a length ahead of him, but he evidently
did not fear him. He sat motionless and
kept his grip on Henry's head until the
sixteenth post had been passed. Clayton
then made bold bid for victory on The
Commoner Hornpipe had given up the
struggle and Henry appeared to have
but Clifford to beat. The latter was run
ming sluggishly on the outer side, and
urge him as Taral would he failed
to get enuogh speed out of him to
force Henry of Navarro to a drive. The
Commoner put new element or danger
into the race so far as Henry was con-
cerned. His challenge was so persistent
and well timed that he had headed Henry
before Griffin realized that In The Com
moner he had foeman worthy of his
steel. He settled down to ride Henry of
Navarro The latter fairly flew away
from the goadng of Griffin's steel clad
heels. Only once did the lash descend
upon Henry's beaviDg fianks That was
enough. He knew that he was required
to do his best, and with the same daunt-
less courage that has marked his entire
career he put his best energies forth and
won by a length. The Commoner, the
good thing from the west, that had been
so carefully bottled up, had to be con-
tent with place honors. These he Sc
cured from Clifford by half length.
The victory of Henry of Navarro was
received with cheers. The day was a
good one for the professional The wealth.
er was ideal for racing. This brought
out one of the largest crowds that ever
saw a suburban at Sheepshead Bay, the
Goodwood of America. A careful esti-
mate placed the attendance at 10000 per-
sons. Summary:
First race, five furlongs-Preston. 1o4
(Clayton), 10 to /, won; Gotham second,
Tremargo third. Time, 1:01.
Second race. 3-year- olds one mile-The
Dragon, 104 (Sloan), 10 to 5, won; Peep-O-
Day second, Chugnut third. Time,
1.41 2-5.
Third race, double event, $4,000, for
2-year- -olds, five and a half furlongs-Or-
nament 1875 (clayton) 10 to !, won; Oc-
tagon, 10 fGriffin) to l, second; Scot
tish Chieftain, 11S cTaraD, 10 to l, third.
Time, 1:0S 2-5.
Fourth race, the Suburban handicap
for 3-year-olds and upward one mile and
a quarter-Henry of Navarro, 129 (Grif-
fin), 2 to 1, won; The Commoner. lib
(Clayton), 20 to 1, second; Clifford, 1928
(TaraD, 4 to 5, third. Time, 2:07. Belmar,
Hornpipe. Sir Walter and Nanki Pooh
also ran.
Fifth race, for maiden 2-year-olds, half
a mile-Full Speed, 11S OoggetD, 5 to q,
won Romp second, Thomas Cat third.
Time 0:49.
Sixth race, maiden 2-year-olds, half
mile-Pleurse, lis (Hirsch), IL to /, won;
Hi Daddy second. Collateral third. Time,
0:49.
Seventh race, one mile and half over
six hurdles-Red Cloud, 151 CTallman), 8
to l. won; Golden Gate second, Windshipl
third. Time. 2:54.
Officially in the Race.
Gel TI1n -Tha