Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-05-09
RACING SEASON OPENED.
Yesterday Was a Gala Day for the
HOrSemen at Morris Park.
Voter Won the Metropolitan After
a Hard Contest August Belmont
Won the Juvenile Stakes The
Days Programme at the Nation
al Turnfest--Among the Boxers.
Miscellaneous Sporting Matters.

New York May S.-This was gala
dav at Morris Park, On the occasion Oh
the opening of the regular racing sea-
son in the State of New York. The
splendid race course was never in better
condition. the buildings being spick and
span. the infelds and laws like velvet
and the track fast and moderately hard.
The grand stand was a blaze of color,
dame fashion having decided upon
gaudy red and purple for this spring
and her mandates having been faith
fully obeyed.
The interest was more or less per-
functOry in the first and second races,
but when August Belmont won the JuV-
emile stakes, there was a good deal OF
applause. The real interest, however,
was not shown until the Metropolitan
was run. 1t was half-past four when
the horses arrived at the post for the
big event. and after a slight delay they
started on their journey in excellent or
der. Hanwell was first 10 show in the
lead. but in an instant Voter flashed IN
front of him, and in the first quarter
had opened a gap of a couple OF lengths
it more nearly pulling Lamley out OF
the saddle. Hanwell was in second
place. with the favorite, Hastings, The
Winner next and the others struggling
along fairly close up, although the game
Sir Walter. hero of many handicap,
was bad last.
In the next quarter there was little
change in the position Of the flying
squadron. The leader maintained about
the same position, but Casseopia, the
fleet flly of the Morris string, had shot
up into second place, while Hanwell,
with his bolt shot, dropped slowly back.
The Winner was not doing so well, and
Sloan was climbing out on his neck,
lying low to avoid any windage and the
colt was beginning to feel the impetus,
for at the thTee-quarters mark, when all
were Strengthened cut. he was close TO
Hastings, on whom Taral had not made
a move. Ii was a few seconds more
when they were at the seven furlong
post and the boys VINO were waiting
for Voter to come back to them found
there was a lot of run left in him, and
he was half a length away with the
home line in sight
Then Taral was hard at work on Has
tfngs. but the weight was telling and
the colt could not gain an inch, in fact.
he was slipping back. Casseopia was
doing remarkably well and looking as
if she might land second money but
Sloan was still in the race and working
like a demon on The Winner \ jump
or two and Casseopia was passed and he
had but Voter in front OF him. For a
fraction of a second he was on level
terms with Voter, but Lamley got TO
work at once and urged his mount to
the utmost There was a gain of foot
for the blue and white spots and then
the pair hung together. neither able TO
gain an inch and then passed the judges
eyes like a team. Voter a short mead in
front of The Winner. and how The
crowd yelled. Everybody must have
backed Voter if the noise made could
be taken as an indication. 1t was a
great victory and no less a triumph
for Sloan. for he rode The Winner to
perfection.
The Metropolitan handicap. one mile,
Voter. 80. Namley). s TO ! and to l
place. won by head; The Winner, ll5,
(Sloan). 4 to and s to place, second
by three lengths: Casseopia. 80 Pow
ers). 10 to 1 and to 1, third. Time,
1:4012.
Hastings. Semper Ego. Ben Eder,
HanweH. Roundsman, Gotham and Sir
Walter also ran, and finished as
named.