The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-08

New York, May s.-The Metropolitan
Handicap will call to the post this after
noon probably the best field of horses that
ever engaged i'll the race. In the estifna-
ton of shire wd judges, Ben Eder shares
the leadership as to fitness for the Metro
politan with First Mate When he worked
the Withers mile the other day in :45 the
crowd attracted 10 the track 10 see the
Metropolitan candidates try applaUded
loudly. In Pittsburg Pills stable Belmar
and The Winner have showed up almost
equally well The Winner has royal
chance
AS Handspring i ; the only old animal IN
Frank McCabe's stable who belongs iii the
stake-horse class, Phil ID wyer will not be
represented III the Metropolitan. With The
Friar out, the scarlet silks OF the MOrrises
will be cared for by CasseOpia. She did her
last work yesterday, and the clever way
i'll which she went the Withers mile opened
the eyes OF some who witnessed the per
Torrance Under the conditions, with a
good lig weight boy up, she VIII make
some OF the older horses believe they have
been in a race before she is through.
The West swears by First Mate, who will
probably be great fayOrite. Byron Nc
Clelland viii send commission here to be
put on him. McClelland says he is the best
horse he ever trained. First Nate has
many Eastern admirers, too, for he has
been doing some great work since he
came here from Kentucky.
All that is known of Hastings is what
John Hy;and has told his friends, and that
is that the colt is all right
Only few announcements have been
made as to jockeys. Taral has arranged
TO ride Hastings, Sloan will ride I he Winner,
and Simms Ben Eder; Sherrer will ride
First Mate and Doggett Sir Walter.
Fred L;tlefield, who was to have ridden
The Friar in the Metropolitan Handicap,
said yesterday that Tommy Powers, the
lightweight jockey, who nearly Outrode the
veteran Hamilton the other day, would
ride Casseopia, the Morris candidate in
the race
bright sky, insuTing fine racing con-
dtions. made everyone at the track this
morning feel that tie day would be one OF
the most successful in the history Of the
track The crowd was small at first, hut
it grew as the day advanced, every train
and trolley bringing in its installment
Every one was talking about the Metro
pOlitau Handicap and every one was eager
to see just what the different candidates
would do They were in a measure dis
appointed because all Of the prospective
starters received their last work yesterday
and the day before. What little gaIloping
they did this morning was merely to timber
up.
tod hat yr-il no 10
tween 10 900 and 10000 people present
when the first race is called this after
noon.
At the resorts uptown last night August
Belmont's Hastings, who will carry top
weight. was the favorite for the Metro
poiitan at IL TO l He is regarded as a
certain starter, and will Toe ridden by TaraI
There were many inquiries for NJ. F.
Dryers Ben Eder, and at the Bookmakers'
Club he was backed at TO L. Sir Walter
and Voter had friends. The distance, one
mile, and the threey ear-oIds entered lend
an added zest TO the race.
Interest in the Juvenile is even greater
than i'll the Metropolitan. In no race Of
recent years have 50 many horses been
So strongly tipped to win. At least five
of those entered are known to have worked
wen enough 10 VIII d great idpHIS Ol
two year-old stakes in ordinary years. The
best backed Of the entries in the betting
last night was A. H. & d. II. Morris Warns
This colt 5 remarkable trial at Morris Park
Thursday attracted much attention. p. ].
Dwyer' Handball, L. S. Wv. P. ThOmpson's
Reprisal. and David Gideon Frohman were
all supported
In addition to the two stakes there are
four other races, all of which have been
well filled.
The following are the entries for the
MptrODalitan.