The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-05
BROOKLYN HANDICAP
Thousands of Men and Women See the
Great Race at GraYesend Track.
CLIFFORD fAVORITE; SIR WALTER WON.
Long Money Was Placed ON clifford
But Gallant Little Sir walter
Takes II In For His Hackers
Very Large Crowd Enjoy An
Unusually Pine Race.

Gravesend Race Track. June 4.-The
firsu of the Blue Ribbon lacss of the
turf season of 1896 was won by the On. ok
stables game horse. Sir Walter, who
defeated the favorke. Clifford, by q
short head, aftsr des;perat. and ex-
citing finish. Notwithstanding that Sir
Waiter was not the popular favortte and
that most of the public money was Law
lshed on Clifford and st. Maxim, there
were not one of the 20, 600 pc! sons pres
.nt who refrained from cheering the
gallant son OF Midlothian and Las Gala
when Taral brought him under the wire
a short head in front of the favorite.
The widest excitement prevailed when
thS fortunate jockey was put into the
iioral chair and lifted on TIL. should4r s
of the attendants.
Charming, weather favored the OPEN
ing of tha spring meeting of the Brook
lNn Jockey Club. The soft breeze which
blew across the track was just sufficient
10 temper the heat of the sun and 1t
was an ideal ''handicap day"
There was an immens. number of
ladies' among the' spectators, and their
Dright summer attire added to 1.-THE pic
turesQueneSs of the seine The ira ok
was In perfect condition. Immediately
after the third race was over there was
general rush ito she paddock where
the horses OF the equine bel.ltle were on
view. The largs st crowd, of course cir
cled around Clifford, and his admirers
Wsre loud In their praise of the favo. ne
me metropolitan winner, Counter Tenor.
also mad his circle OF admirers while
Nankipooh, Hornpipe and Sir
walker were net without adj
herenis. When 'th,e numbers went up
thera was IL general rush no the stand
10 secure points of vantage In good time
Hornpipe was the first to appear. The
red. white and blue of Col Rupert was
show a =
ed che stand. Lake Shore cams next.
followed by the favorl.e Nankipooh
was NTH In the parade. Sir Walter sixth
st. Maxim seventh and keenan, last. Az
Ter tiEs some delay of forty minutes at
the post, caused by the righteousness of
Counter Tenor. The flag dropped. Lake
Shora Immediately rushed to the front
and passing the stand the order was:
Lake Shore. Sir Walter, Hornp!pe ST.
Maxim. Nankipooh, Clifford, keenan, and
Counter Tenor. AS they rounded the
bend into the back stretch Clayton
moved up with Clifford AT the half
Lake Shore was q head In front of Sir
walter, who was two lengths in front
OF Hornpipe, with ST. Maxim fourth
Nankipooh fifth, Clifford sixth and Kee
nan and Counter Tenor bringing up the
rear.
AT the tve-furlong pole Taral took Sir
Walter in front of Lake Shore. while
pipe, and the favorite was half a length
behind Nankipooh, who was running
nDth. Rounding the far turn Sir Wal
Ter raced away from his horses, and
there was immediate scurry after the
son of Midlothian, st. Maxim leading the
bunch. Clayton brought the favorite
away at n fast clip. and passing ST
Maxim. at whom Simms was hard at
work set sail for the purple and gold
jacket length In front Taral saw the
mighty son OF Bramble coming fast. and
went to work with catgut and steel
Clifford was overhauling Sir Walter at
every stride. and Taral was working des-
perately. There was the widest excite
ment at the last few strides. Clifford
was almost level with the Knight but
Clayton's effort should have been made
sooner. Taral kept his horses nose in
front. and despite Clifford's gallant
struggle Sir Walter passed under the
wire a short head in front of the ia
vorite.
a length and a half behind st. Maxim
ridden out was third, five lengths in
'front.' of Ilornpipe; Nankipooh was fiftb
Keenan, sixth, Lake Shore seventh and
Counter Tenor last