The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-01
Headed the Procession ii the Great
at Graveserd,
at 0raVeserld.
ENORMOUS CROWDS SAW TIE BIG RACE. I.llIlI
Handspring, Though Prime Favorite, Never
to Wn-Good Time Made Considering the Sa
dtion of the Ground.
New York, May 81 1897

New York, May 81, 1897 I
1t was n light weight this time in tho
mud, and how the crowd chcercd when
Howard Mnrn galloped home, almost
alone, In the Brooklyn handicap at
Gravesend this afternoon. The crowd
was like that on the day the long shot
Diablo walked off with the stake for
there was scarcely an inch Of space in
the grand stand or on the lawn that
was not occupied when the race was
being run, and hundreds OF people had
sWarmed across the track ankle dcep
In mud, TO get a good position in the
inficld. There was little hope or n large
assemblnge In the early morning hours.
Tor q heavy fog hung over the land, and
driHzlinS rain was falling at intervals.
1t was the usual luck of the Brooklyn
Jockey Club, rs 1t has rarely had a
really good day and track for its big
race. Toward noon, however, the rain
ceased, the sun began to dissipate the
fog, and by the time people were begin
ming to think Of starting for the race
track 1t was u beautiful spring day. BY
the time the buglc sounded for the
horses TO go to the post there were fully
10000 people present All the entries
looked absolutely fiji and able to run for
their lives, and Handspring seemed king
or them all, as he pranced at the head
or the string. He was undoubtedly the
favorItc g&
There was some surprise Mt the np-
penrnnce OF Howard Mann, but he had
been sent instead OF The Winner. ns
he wns a good mud h0rse They were
| ut the post but Il few minutes, and made
but one false break. At half past four
the starter caught them lii line, the bar
ricr was raised, the red flag swishcd
through The air and the eleven thor
oughbreds were off on their journey, at
the end OF which $4,000 was hung UP for
fltn 1n dave
quick, was first away and for an instant
Howard Mann showed In front The
Swain, however, soon took tile lead
away from him and half q length In
front set II good pace down the stretch.
In the first few jumps Sims brought
Handspring up into third place and
then held him there, q length behind 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 completed In twenty
five seconds. with The Swain still in
front half a length; Howard Mann in
second place by length; Handspring
third. Bemar fourth, Loki fifth, and
the others close up. The two furlongs
around the two turns was run In twelve
and a half seconds, good time for the
going. 4
AS they Strengthened out for the long
run up the back stretch, Slmms con-
cluded that 1t was time to get little
nearer to tho flying leaders, and Began
to urge Handspring a bit. The net re-.
suit was to bring him UP within q short
head Of 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 30A seconds, excellent
time, considering the mud, and, with the
exception Of Volley, still 1oundering in
the rear, the general appearance. Of
things was unchanged. It took thirteen
seconds TO go the next furlong, and in
that short space OF time there were
many changes. Volley took up consid-
erably 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 almost since the start.
They passed the three-quarter mark
In lI5h, having put rapid furlong
behind them. and with little change In
position. although the distances were d
little different. Then came crack IN
the atmosphere. and before The Swain
or Handspring knew what had happened
Howard Mann was a length in frontsof
the field. Lol1i, too, had come up with
a rush, and was in second place., head
in front OF Handspring, with Belmar
in fourth place, but alreadys beginning
to feel his weight and the rapid pace Of
llic icSANC!G. toIs w dltSl WAS ILL illlu plAC9
and the others trailing.
Then came the run around the upper
turn, q place where Volley likes to try
how fast he can run OH the outside OF
a field, and he was at 1t again, for he
ate up space In an astonishing manner,
and looked q S IL he might show his burst
Of speed to the end. One horse was
certainly out Of It, for with every jump
The Swain was losing ground, absolute
ly unable to keep UP. The time for the
seven furlongs was Lee, markably
fast. and Howard Mann even then look
ed unbeatable. Martin was sitting on
him like a statue, saving the colt all he
could for the final rush Of those be-
hind They were at the head Of the
stretch, with mile behind them in the
fast time OF 1:42A. and Howard Mann
had not faltered. Now they were fairly
Strengthened out for home and the
judges were In sight. Martin hitched q
little uneasily on Howard Mann as he
WAS getting near to the goal, and at the
last furlong pole he began driving a lit
,lc although he was two lengths to the
good. {s s. c5fa \. sy + i taf3
lIut he could hear shouts OF Lake
Shore" and Yolley''f from the crowd,
and he did not care to take any chances,