The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-27
THE GREAT
The Filly L'Alouette Wins After . Hard
Struggle and q Most Exciting Race-Or.
Enament Wins the Fan Handicap.

The Filly L'Alouette Wins After . Hard
Struggle and q Most Exciting Race-Or.
Enament Wins the Fan Handicap.
New York, August 24.-The unexpect-
ed happened at Sheepshead Bay today
and the filly L'Alouette. of the Thomp-
son string, won the Futurity with
something to spare. Her hackers were
happy, for although her victory was a
surprise, she was coupled in the bet
ting with her stable mates Gibraltar
and The Huguenot, and as the stable
was the favOrite for the race, the
ring suffered. The other unexpected
thing was the running of Lydian, who
got the place. The rack was in any
thing but satisfactory condition, the
heavy rains of last night and this
morning having turned it into soft
mud, which had dried out sufficiently
to make the going heavy and sticky
when the race was run. When the first
race was called the gathering was
small and not more than $4,000 were
present and at 4:45 o'clock when the
bugle called the eighteen starters for
the richest stake of the year at the
post.
It was not long before they were on
their way up past the grand stand, the
Thompson trio showing the way, the
DAILY pair coming next, and the 9TH
ers in their order on the card. Then
there was a short talk to the jockeys
by the starter and they lined up for
the journey. Backing n filling, the
line swept away. An instant the red
flag was poised, and then it swished
through the air and the youngsters
were on their short journey. 1t was a
fine start for all but Previous, who was
left standing still in the first break, to
the great surprise of his owner and
most Of the older ace goers. Grand
Sachem and AmaZOnian were quickest
on their feet with Uriel and Cock
Robin close up. L'Alouette was next
and the others not far away. Nearly
every one of the youngsters was in his
stride and there was a little shifting
of positions as the lot swept down the
chute toward the main track. So close
together were they at the first furlong
hat a dozen were not more than heads
apart.
At the quarter pole the line Of the ad-
vancing racers was almost like that of
a cavalry charge. They rushed past
the post with Cock Robin, L'Alouette,
Gibraltar, Gala Day, Rowland, Uriel,
Plaudit and Lydian heads apart and
short ones at that, in the front rank,
while the others were almost Tapped
Upon them in the second column. It
was anybody's race then, with the ex-
ceptiOn of the we'll backed Previous,
who was still at the post, with Simms
looking alternately at the starter and
then at the flying field in front of him
in blank dismay.
Now they were at the three furlong
pole and were beginning to make for
the best place for the slight run into
the stretch. Cock Robin was then a
neck in front Of L'Alouette, she a
length in front of Gibraltar, he a
length in front of Gala Day with the
Willy McCafferty on his back. Uriel
was next and then came Lydian, Plau-
dit and the others. Around the turn
they rushed and were but a quarter
from home, and still Cock Robin led
the van, but "Skeets" Martin was urg-
ing him and he was beginning to fall
ter. Right at his throat was L'Alou-
cite, hanging OF much better than her
owner had any idea h could. Right at
her tail was Gibraltar and Gala Day
was pegging along at his heels, but the
boys were driving the colts while
Clawson was still waiting for the final
rush which was bound to come. Sloan
dug smells into Or1eIS SlOe ana ne vent
past the others like a flash and pOked
his nose into first place, while his sta
BILE companion, Cock Robin, with his
bolt shot, fell back rapidly to the rear.
Clawson looked in surprise at the
change in horses, but not in colors, n
got to work at once to ride a finish
with Sloane. Uriel's effort was his last,
for a furlong from home, Clawson had
got him and was drawing away, when
a new competitor doomed up in the
despised outsider Lydian, who had
come from the rear under the vigorous
urging of Thorp and, with Sloane on
Uriel a head behind, vas making a
bold bid for the stake. The distance
was a little too short, however, and as
L'Alouette passed the wire Lydian was
at her tail, a head in front of Uriel,
who was a head in front of Plaudit,
while the others were strung out
through a sixteenth Of a mile.
In the fall handicap, a hot finish was
looked for. Voter and Hastings were
about equal favorites, h former hav-
ing the call at the close. The start
was poor and Hastings and Voter were
away in the lead. They ran locked to
the head of the stretch, when Cleophus
joined them and it looked like a close
finish between the trio, but Ornament
came from the rea with a rush and
won easily.
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