Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-05-06
ETHHB[RI THE winner
OF THE GREAT METROPOLITAN
HANDICAP AT MORRIS PARK
YESTERDAY
WITNESSED BY THOUSANDS.
Stakes without Any Trouble.
Ethelbert's Finish in the Handicap
Was Surprise to the Talent, and
Even to the Owner of the Horse.

NEW YORK, May 5.-There was
never greater crowd at the Metropol-
itan handicap than to-day. From one
o'clock until long after the first race
had been run trains and trolley cars
ran up to the gates of the park crowded
with people, and still there were thou
sands of persons waiting at stations
along the line for a chance to get to
the races. The roads leading to Morris
Park were alive with vehicles of all
descriptions and the automobiles were
out i'll great numbers.
When the time came for the great
race there were fully 10000 people in
the big grand stand and on the lawn
in front, while the club house piazza
and the lawn in front of this were I'M
comfortably crowded. Although every
one was anxious for the big race, there
was lot of .interestein the juvenile
stakes for two-year- which
brought the best of the youngsters to-
gether. Competitor was the favorite
in this race, but was never prominent.
Bellario made all the running, but
when they came into the last furlong
Spencer cut loose with Tommy Atkins
and won very easily.
Then came the Metropolitan handi-
cap. A year ago Ethelbert was beaten
for the Metropolitan by Filigrane,
when it was thought he had a rare
chance to win, but to-day when his
owner and his trainer thought he was
not up to the race, he galloped home
with a good bit to spare, making the
Dther horses look like selling platers,
followed in by the uncertain Box,
while the great mare Imp finished
third.
The great crowd cheered the horses
enthusiastically as they marched to
the post. Starter Fitzgerald got them
in line at once and they were sent
away in perfect line on the first break.
There was no delay to affect the top
weights so all had an equal chance.
Half Time broke in front with Ethel
bert close behind, Box third and IL
dram fourth.
AS the horses settled into their
stride Voter went to the front and
he was running free in that position
as they went past the first furlong
pole. He had but a head the better
of Contestor, the lightweight and the
the much praised Waring was third.
Maher had taken Ethelbert back
into sixth place and was holding him
in good position for the finish. At
the quarter pole there was no change
in position, Voter and Contestor run
ming heads apart a length in front of
the others. who were well punched
behind them. AS they prepared to
round into the new track Voter began
to open up a gap and as they rushed
around the turn into the home stretch
it looked as if it would be Voter first
and the others far behind.
Suddenly Maher seemed to wake up
on Ethelbert and as the flying horses
rounded the turn, the maroon and scar
let jacket came flashing around on the
outside and in the flashing of an eye
Tthelbert had poked his nose in front
of the whole band and gradually in
creased his advantage. 1t was a grand
race for six furlongs and then a pro-
cession with the crack year-old of 1899
leading it.
The maiden steeplechase, which con-
Guided the days racing, resulted in a
chapter of accidents OF the nine
horses which started only three finish
ed and the winner, Buela, the hot fav-
orite, was then disqualified. Master
Ford refused and the five others fell.
Phillidore broke his neck None of
the jockeys was seriously hurt.
--@zasH----