The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-01
GOOD DAY FOR MUD HORSES
JOCKEY MARTIN SHOWED WHAT HE
COULD DO ON BAD TRACK.
Handspring and BeImar, the Favor.
ties of Bettors Last Week, Not in
the Race Mt the Close.

home, almost alone. in the BROOKLYN handi-
cap 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 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 posi-
ton in the intield. There was little hope OF
a large assemblage in the early morning
hours for a heavy fog hung over the land
and driZzling rain was falling at intervals.
1t was the usual luck of The Brooklyn
Jockey Club, as it 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 beginning to think of starting
for the race track it wasea beautiful spring
day Then the trains began to arrive at
the track and by 2 o clock there was pretty
fair evidence of a large crowd. All through
the first and second races the people
swarmed into the grounds, and by the time
the bugle sounded for the horses to go to
the post there were fully $1,000 persons
present.
All the entries looked absolutely fit and
able to run for their lives, and Handspring
seemed the king of them all as he pranced
doubtedly the favorite There was some
surprise at the appearance 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 430 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
journey, 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 showed in front The
Swain, however, soon took the lead away
from him and half a length in front set a
good pace down the stretch for the first
time In the first few jumps S.rnms brought
Handspring UP into third place and then
held him there 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 eacn jump and the first quar-
ter was completed in twenty-five seconds.
with the Swain still in front by half a
length, Howard Mann in second place bv
a length, Handspring third, Belmar fourth.
Lok hIth and the others close up Then
tSlnS ttl q nasty turn near the paddock, and
me the poys steadled their mounts for the ef-
Tort TO hold their places in spite of the
croWdlng and pushing. The turn was nayi
gated in safety without anv maferial
change in the order, with the exception OF
Nolley, VINO did not seem able to untrack
MINI I1,,,l7ell rha ana was houndering In the deep
Inuu Ihe 1urlong arcpnd the two turns
going. e- 'AA0
ON THE BACK STRETCH.
AS they Strengthened out for the long
run up the back stretch, Simms concluded
that it was time to get little nearer TO
the flying leaders, and began to urge Hand.
spring bit, the net result was to brin4,
him up within a short head of Howard
Mann, but still Swain was in the lead.
with no sign of distress. The half-mile pole
was passed in that order in 5Oh seconds
excellent time considering the mud. and
| with the exception of Volley, still founder
ing In the rear, the general appearance or
thngs was unchanged. 1t took thirteen
sS.4 sSco!us 10 go the next furlong, and in that
snort space OF time there were many
| changes. Volley woke up considerably and
| lett Ben Eder and Jefferson TO look after
| the rear ranks, while Lakeshore and King
! Arthur began to move up as we'll the Lead
| ers still running as they had been almost
since the start. AS they neared the three
| quarter pole 1t could be seen that Smms
| was doing a good deal of urging on Hand
| spring; under the influence of which the big
| son or Hanover was cutting down the gap
| which separated him from the leaders, and
| II looked as if he might make them all rum
They passed the three-quarter mark in
| l;l512, having put a rapid furlong behind
| them, and with little change in position
although the distances were little differ
| ent.
| Then came a crack in the atmosphere and
| before Swain or Handspring knew what
! had happened Howard Mann was length
| In front of the field. Loki, too, had come
| up with rush and was in the second place,
| q head in front Of Handspring with Bel
mar in fourth place, but already beginning
| to feel his weight and the rapid pace OF
| the leaders. Sir Walter was in fifth place
| and the others trailing. Then came the run
| space in an astonishing manner. With every
! jump the Swain was losing ground. The
time for the seven furlongs was 1:29, re-
! markably fast, and Howard Mann even
! then looked unbeatable. Loki was a couple
| of lengths behind, while Handspring seemed
| to have a lot of rein to spare for the final
! dash through the stretch. Volley was still
| coming fast on the outside and cutting his
| rivals down one by one as he flew along,
| and Scherrer was giving Lakeshore a bit OF
| gaff. They were at the head of the stretch,
| with mile behind them, in the fast time
| Of 1:424, and Howard Mann had not fall
Now they were fairly Strengthened out for
! home, and the judges were in sight. Mar
! tin hitched little uneasiy on Howard
! Mann as he was getting near TO the goal,
| and at the last furlong pole, he began driv-
! ing little. although he was two lengths to
| the good But he could hear shouts or
! "Iakeshore' and "Volley" from the crowd,
| and he did not care TO take any chances,
! and did not dare 10 look back, so ne kept
| his mount in motion. determined not 10 lose
! when he had but short distance TO go.
| 1t was but a few seconds more, however,
! and as the timers watches stopped at 2:09A,
! he sent Howard Mann past the post four
| lengths in front Of Lakeshore, VINO was
| three lengths in front Of Volley, who had
| run about a sixteenth Of a mile further
| than any other horse In the race. l4okt
| had dropped back to fourth place and JEFF
| ferson and the Swain competed for last
| place one remarkable thing was Tarals
| absence from the race, as IL Is many years
since he has been without a mount in tina
big handicap. Summary:
Brooklyn handicap, mile and a quarter:
! Howard Mann, LOG (Marunl, to / and
| even won; Lakeshore 106 (Scherrer(, 10 TO
| ! and 4 to l. second; Voley, So Lamley(. 10
| 10 and 6 to T. third. Time, 209A. LokI,
| Handspring Sir Walter. King Arthur II,
| BeImar. Ben Eder, Jefferson and the Swain
also ran.
PREVIOUS HANDICAPS.
A great race Is the Brooklyn handicap.
IT has been run eleven times over the
Gravesend track. and. except I'm a couple
of instances. has furnished contests of the
Embarrassing" type, wherein the finish was
in doubt until the Judges ordered the of