The Florida star., 1901-05-24

season passes that several OF them arr
not more or less injured and one or two
killed, but the remuneration IL large
and the excitement has much that d
entIeing. =
The scene at the track on Brooklyn
Handicap day Is one to be remembered
tor a lifetime. Shortly after the race
that directly precedes the great event
the contestants begin to appear in the
paddock. and quarter OF an hour
later the trumpet signals the parade.
and the horses come-on the track, pass
oy the judges stand and take up their
positions at the starting point There
Is just about one chance In twenty that
the field will be sent OF the first time.
The thorOughbreds are all excitement
for the coming struggle. and the jock
eys are up to their usual tricks and
using every art known TO their profes-
sion to get the best or the start There
are several false send offs, which play
havoc with the nerve and temper Of
some OF the horses and practically put
them out OF the race before ii is run.
When the starters flag finally falls,
there is deafening yell OF They're
offP' from grand stand and field. and
then there is such silence for 30 sec
onds that the hysterical laugh OF a
woman CRATES harshly OH a thousand
ears.
Now the horses are no longer bunch
ed. but strung out like sheep following
their leader. and the spectators begin
to groan. shout and cheer. The people
in the grand stand can be held down
until the third furlong has been run.
and then the excitement becomes In
tense, and pandemOnium breaks loose.
Faces flush or grow pale. men cheer or
curse. women sob or laugh. as the
strain takes full possession OF them.
When the flying horses have entered
the home stretch. three or four leading
the field. silence falls again on the
multitude for a few seconds as eyes
seek to discover which oncomer has
the advantage. Then a mighty roar
goes up. and from that instant there is
cheer upon cheer until the winning
With body bent forward over his
horses neck. with eyes which see moth.
ing but the finish post ahead. with
voice and whip urging the painting
steed under him 10 last grand effort,
the jockey whose luck IL Is TO win the
Brooklyn Handicap Is far on the road
TO fame and fortune. and his name goes
down I'm the annals or racing history
He is given a grand ovation after the
race as he takes his seat In the floral
horseshoe and Is carried past the grand
stand TO the paddock. there 10 be show
cred with congratulations.
If the finish be close. men 20 mad for
the moment and women sink Imply
down. The last half furlong or a des-
perate struggle between two game
horses 10 geI a head under the wire
first Is more exciting than a charge OF
and the strain endured for a
few seconds leaves faces drawn and
pallld for an hour.
Included in the entries for the Brook.
Ign Handicap OF 1901 are the names OF
some OF our most famous race horses.
who should furnish a race worth going
hundreds OF miles 10 see. Among the
best known are Ranastar. Kinley Mack.
Brigadier RaffaellO. Ban
ockburn. Charentus and Bean Gallant.
and. although IL looks as II one OF these
turf wonders would surely capture the
purse. some horse hitherto almost un
known and quoted at big odds may get
his head under the wire first. EOwberp
does the unexpected happen Oftener
than on a race track Ii Is a matter Of
turf history and a fact that has been
Oh as passing strange that
no horse has ever won the Brooklyn
twice. although previous win
ners have been entered several sue
cessive times hnI made no record
worth mentioning
England has her Derby and France
has her Grand Frix. hut with a fair
day and a fast track there will be seen
no better racing in any country In the
world than at the famous Brooklyn
A. B. LEWIS.