The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-20
ON the TURF



New York, June 17-This was a gala
day at Sheepshead Bay, and it seemed
as If all the town saw Imp win the six
teenth running Of the great Suburban
handicap. When the time came for the
gest seen at Sheepshead Bay in years,
fully $4,000 being present.
The horses reached the post about
twenty minutes past O'Clock and lined
up. George Keene was fractions and
refused to join his company, kicking at
everything within reach. At 4:30 O'Clock
the starter thought he had them in
fused to break and they were called
back. Ten minutes later they got an
other break. They were all in perfect
line, but Maher on Banastar did not
like his position and pulled his mount
up, for which he was 1ectured by the
starter. Five minutes more elapsed and
Briar Sweet and BanaStar were the Of
tenders. Another break came and this
time only the inside wing moved.
Briar Sweet spoiled the next break.
In the eighth, ninth and tenth breaks
Banastar was the offender, but in the
eleventh they got away in perfect or
der, when just after the flag fell Ban
astar bolted and turned the other way
amid the hOwls of the crowd and it was
over so far as the favorite was con-
cerned.
Imp was the first to poke her nose
in front of the squadron and close be-
hind her came George Keene with the
others in a bunch almost on her neck.
BanaStar trailed along lengths in the
rear. AS they passed the stand the
first time Previous was running in
front, while only a head behind was
Briar Sweet, the two of them being a
safe length in front of Imp, who was
head and head With Filigrane. The
others were trailing just behind, with
none of them at an advantage.
Around the lower turn the horses
went at high rato of speed and when
they Strengthened out on the back
stretch Briar Sweet had a head the bet
ter of George Keene, the pair having
run practically locked around the lower
turn. Imp and Filigrane were locked
together half a length behind.
Just as they were nearing the upper
turn Turner crouched down on the
neck of the black mare, Imp, and like
a flash of lightning she shot past Briar
Sweet and George Keene until she had
a length the best Of them and all indi-
cations to make it more. The Jockeys
on Briar Sweet and George Keene urg-
ed their mounts vigorously, but with
little effect, for the faster they urged
their horses the mere she put into her
going. She seemed to gather strength
with every bound and flashed around
the turn into the stretch at record
speed, with every horse behind her
straining his utmost. 1t was a hopeless
stern chase for first money. George
Keene and Briar Sweet tired and grad
uaIly slid to the rear. BannOckburn
and karrentOn were the only ones who
seemed to have the slightest chance,
and down Through the stretch they
thundered.
The great crowd in the infield surged
to the rail to watch the finish, and just
as Imp and Bannockburn had passed
them, down went the rails for a dis
tance Of fifty feet and scores of people
fell over into the track. The horses,
however, were not hugging the rail
and no one was hurt
During the excitement it seemed for
the instant that Bannockburn was
gaining on Imp, but the former had
shOt his boOlt in trying to catch up
with the leaders from sixth place, and
he could not get further up than two
lengths behind Imp, who crossed the
line first Bannockburn rushed in
second.
Out of the dust cloud caused by the
falling rail Warrenton emerged and
managed to get third place.
When Bana star, the favorite, went
past the stand, the crowd did not hesi-
tate to show their pique at his actions
because the spectators seemed to fully
appreciate that he was to blame for
most of the delay at the post and that
he had bolted after the fall of the flag,
Imp ran grand race, and had Ban
astar acted as he did in the Brooklyn
handicap the track record would sure
ly nave been broken. AS it was, 2:O5 4-5
was hung out, the fastest time by 2-5 of
a second the track had ever won and
Within 40 of second of the track
record made by Salvador. The Subur-
ban record up to today was held by
Ramapo, who mado it in 2:O6 1-5 in 1894.
The stewards of the Coney Island
Jockey Club meeting today fined Jock
ey Maher $500 for abusing the horse
Banastar. Maher was suspended from
riding for ten days for wilfully break
ing up starts in the suburban race