The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-26
Race Track and
Stable Gossip

W. IL. Rowe. a writer in the New
York Telegraph, gives an interesting re-
view of some notable races of the year.
including the performances OF Ham
burg of the Bitter Root stables and Ben
Holiday Of the Willow Brook farm.
Mr.. Rove writes as follows:
II is the merry Christmastide-the
time Of Peace on earth, good will to
men, SO. away with uncharitable
thoughts! A truce To criticism! Let us.
at this time, indulge in none but pleas
ant recollections of the racing days Of
1898. for. after all. II wasn't such an
awfully bad year. Some Notable Races
of the Year" Were there any? Yes;
despite the fact that turf writers take
a dark, duh view of the class of horses
which furnished the seasons sport,
there were some really notable events
To be sure, we Lacked the distinctive
feature of any high class match, OF
which such gems OF other days as the
Miss NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Salvador
Tenny. Tenny-Longstreet, Domino
Dobbins and Henry of Navarre-Clif-
ford-Domino specials will linger long In
fond memory The lack Of just such a
feature is the point about the racing
season OF 1898 which is the most cause
for regret. for. as I have before taken
w ~ III Nbt wv ~ y -
just uch events that stimulate racing,
revive semi-quiescent public interest in
the sport, and send things booming
along for days and weeks to follow.
In a necessarily hurried glance at
some of the notable races of 1896, the
sensational incident on that wretchedly
racing day I'm May. at Morris park.
when the classic Belmont stakes came
up for decision, must needs occupy the
first place I'm our consideration. What
a thrill of excitement went through the
assembled thousands. budding here
and there in groups and colonies in the
immense grandstand, the club house
windows and sheltered piazzas mean
while bristling with anxious eyes. as
the mighty Hamburg, the admitted g
year-old king Of 1897. cantered to the
post to carry for the first time I'm a race
the copper. silver sleeves. green cap"
OF his new owner. Marcus Daily.
"wm Hamburg stay?' lis he 1T for
a bruising race" What a perfect storm
OF anxious inquiries were passing
from lip To lip, as Hamburg and his
competitors made their way to the place
Of alignment. The Morris scarlet" was
carried by one Of the most impressive
3-year-olds that ever looked through a
bride. the eventual winner. Bowling
Brook. while the Dwyer white. gold
tassel' was intrusted To Previous. one
of the most abused and mismanaged
colts that ever was cursed by a blunder-
ing policy. Last Of all came the gorge
Gus yellow, purple maltese crosses.
purple cap of Mr.. Hum. elected To be
represented by the eleventh hour candi-
date. Gala Day. As a distinctively
sporting event" the Belmont admira-
bly, rewarded the Jockey club execu-
tives for their enterprise in Offering so
ample a prize at that early stage of the
season, and | am sure that no eyewit-
nesses Of that pitiless duel between
Bowling Brook and Hamburg. hammer
and tongs around the first turn. through
the long backstretch and up that heart
breaking hill, will ever for a moment
regret that he braved the weather Of
hat day. Was IL all n luke" WAS
Hamburg really himself. or was a the
going?' or Was Bowling Brook really
so much the superior colt?' IL there
had been a storm Of inquiries before he
race. their proportions became simply
a deluge as soon as Il was all over.