The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-01
HOWARD MANN WINS
BROOKLYN HANDICAP
Exciting Events on the Track at
Gravesend.
RACE WITNESSED BY THOUSANDS
They Fill the Grand stand and Swarm
About the Tracks.-The Mud Ankle
Deep on the Track-- Hand spring
Undoubtedly the Favorite Before
the Race.

galloped home, almost alone, in the
Brooklyn handicap at Gravesend this
afternoon. The crowd was like that
on the day the long shot Diabio walked
off with the stake, for there was barely
an inch of space in the grand stand
and on the lawn that was not occu-
pied when the race was being run and
hundreds of people had swarmed across
the track ankle deep In mud to get a
good position in the infield. Toward
noon the rain ceased. the sun began
to dissipate the fog, and by the time
people were beginning to think of
starting for the race track it was
a beautiful spring day. All the en-
tries looked absolutely fit and able to
run for their lives and Handspring
seemed the king of them all as he
pranced at the head of the string. He
was undoubtedly the favorite.
There was much surprise at the ap-
pearance of Howard Mann, but he had
been sent instead of The Winner, as
he was a good mud horse. They were
at the post but few minutes, and
made but one false break. At half past
four the starter caught them in line,
the barrier was raised, the red flag
swished through the air and the eleven
thoroughbreds were off on their jour
ney at the end of which $4,000 was
hung up for the leaders. "Skeets''
Marten, always quick, was first away,
and for an instant Howard Mann show
ed in front. The Swain, however,
soon took the lead away from him
and half length in front set a good
pace down the stretch for the first
time. In the first few jumps Simms
brought Handspring up into third place
and then held him there length be-
hind the Swain, and with heads only
separating him from Belmar, Loki
and Sir Walter. AS the runners came
to the judges stand for the first time
they seemed to gather speed with each
jump and the first quarter was COM
pleted in % seconds, with the Swain
still in front by half length, Howard
Mann in second place by a length,
Handspring third, Belmar fourth, Loki
fifth, and the others close UP.
THE HASTY TURN.
Then came a hasty turn near the
paddock, and the boys steadied their
mounts for the effort to hold their
places in spite of the crowding ana
| pushing. The turn was naviGated IN
safety without any material change in
the order, with the exception of Volley,
who did not seem able to untrack him
| self and was fioundering in the deep
mud. The furlong around the two
| turns was run in 1914 seconds, good
time for the going. AS they straight
ened out for the long run up the back
| 9 nd haf q
time to get little nearer to the flying
| leaders, and began to urge Handspring
bit. The net result was to bring
him UP within a short head oe Howard
Mann, but still the Swain was in the
lead, with no sign of distress. The half
mile pole was passed in that order in
| 50A seconds, excellent time, consider
ing the mud and with the exception of
Volley, still floundering in the rear,
the general appearance of things was
unchanged. 1t took 13 seconds to go to
thenext furlong and in that short space
of time there were many changes. Vol
ley woke up considerably and left Ben
Eder and Jefferson to look after the
rear ranks, while Lake Shore and King
Arthur began to move up as well, the
leaders still running as they had been
|
the three-quarter pole 1t could be seen
that Simms was doing a good deal OF
urging on Handspring, under the in
fuence Of which the big son of Hanover
was cutting down the gap which sepa-
rated him from the leaders, and II
looked as if he might make them all
run. They passed the three-quarter
mark in 1,151a, having put a rapid fur
long behind them. and with little
change in position although the dis
tances were little different.
Then came a crack in the atmosphere
and before the Swain or Handspring
knew what had happened Howard
Mann was a length in front of the
! field.
Loki, too, had come up with a rush
and was in the second place, a head il
front of Handspring, with Belmar II
fourth place. but already beginning t.
feel his weight and the rapid pace o.
tho leaders. They were at the head o
the stretch with a mile behind them, II
the fast time Of LAP IA and Howard
Mann had not faltered.
| rrIIIr