The record-union., 1899-06-18
eolng the Distance Within Four-Flfths Of a
Second Of the Track Record.
Banastar, the Favorite, and Sweet
Briar, the California Horse, In
the Rut at the Finish-Was q
Gala Day at Sheepshead Bay,
Twenty-Five Thousand People
Being Present.

NEW YORK, June 17.-ThlS was a
gala day at Sheepshead Bay and it
seemed as If all the town saw Imp in
the sixteenth running of the great Su-
burban Handicap Contrary to the usual
custom of coming late to the races,
those to-day were on hand early, and
even at noon the front rows of seats in
the grand stand were filled with peo-
pie who We're willing to wait several
hours for the big race. As the hours
wore on the crowds began to increase,
and by the time the first race was run
there was not a vacant chair in the
whole grand stand. When the time
came for the big Suburban the crowd
was the largest seen at Sheepshead
Bay in years, fully 25000 being pres
ent; the lawns and the field We're pack
ed and fringe of people hugged the
rails in the infield.
In the parade of the horses past the
grand stand on their way to the post
Ben Holiday was at the front The
horse received some applause, but the
greater share was for Banastar, the
favorite, and the winner of the Brook
1yn Handicap, ON whom so many peo-
pie had pinned their faith to break all
records by winning the Brooklyn and
Suburban in one year. He looked in
fine trim, and was greatly applauded,
although Bannockburn received his full
share of the hand clapping.
At the post George Keene was frac-
tious and refused to join the company,
kicking at everything within reach. At
half past the starter thought he had
them in line and called them. Briar
Sweet refused to break and they were
called back. Ten minutes later they
got another break. They were all in
perfect line, but Maher, on Banastar,
did not like his position, and pulled mis-
mount up, for which he was lectured
by the starter. Five minutes more.
Imp and Briar Sweet and Banastar
were the offenders. Another break
away came, and this time only the in
side wing moved. Briar Sweet was re-
sponsible for the next break In the
eighth, ninth and tenth breaks Banas-
tar was the chief 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
all over SO far as the favorite was con-
cerned
Imp was the first to poke her nose in
front of the squadron, and close behind
her came George Keene, with the others
in a bunch alnosti ON her neck. Banas-
tar trailed about four 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 being a full length in
front of Imp, who was head and head
with Filigrane. The others were trail
advantage
Around the lower turn the horses
went at a high rate of speed, and when
they Strengthened out on the back
stretch Briar Sweet had head the bet
ter of George Keene. the pair having
run practically locked around the lower
turn Imp and Filigra.ne We're locked
together half a length behind.
just as they We're nearing the upper
turn Turner crouched on the neck of the
black mare Imp, and like a flash of
lightning shot past Briar Sweet and
George Keene, until she had a length
the best of them, and all indications to
make it more.
The Jockeys on Briar Sweet and
George Keene urged their mounts Wig
orcusly but with little effect, for the
speed Imp 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 gradually slid to the rear.
Bannockburn and Warrenton were the
only ones who seemed to have the
slightest chance, and down 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 distance
of fifty feet. and scores of people fell
over into the track. The horses, how
ever, were not hugging the rail, and
no one was hurt
During the excitement it seemed for
an instant that Bannockburn was gain
ing on Imp. but the former had shot
his bolt in trying to catch up with the
leaders from sixth place, and he could
not get farther up than two lengths be-