New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
WITHERS WON BY COMPUTE
AND HE WAS NOT THE BEST HORSE
IN THE RACE, EITHER
OLD ENGLAND DEFEATED BY AN INFERIOR
BECAUSE HE WAS RIDDEN IN
CLUMSY FASHION.

It Is always a melancholy duty to record the
defeat Of the best horse in a of importance
Such a spectacle is always a distressing sight to
the sportsman. even though the victory of the in
ferior horse may mean a profit him. But
occasionally happens that although a may
be for keeps by all the contestants
perior animal is beaten by one his inferior.
Such occurrence took place yesterday in the
running of the Withers Stakes for threey year-olds
at Morris Park when Compute, after a desperate
struggle, succeeded in defeating Old England by
the narTowest possible margin, owing to the
clumsy ride put up by Jackson the boy who rode
Old England There be question that Old
England was better horse yesterday than Com
pute. but the California jockey match in
skill for Shaw. who rode the winner, and the hand
icap was too much for the gallant of Gold
finch.
A big crowd turned out TO see the running OF the
classic Wthers, named for the greatly lamented
d. D. Withers The field contained much class.
though several of the starters had no business in
such fast company. Old England and Compute
were about equally favored in the betting. The
sGoldinch colt had already from
good company in impressive style and Compute
had some fast trials, although he had not yet
started in a race this season At the close of the
speculation the balance inclined slightly in favor
Of the Hanover colt. but ii is doubtful If he
ried money than Old England. Hyphens
good performances at the close of last were
remembered vividly that the layers would not
give much Of a price against him either. though
comparatively few bettors risked their coin his
chances. King Hanover looked so far from fit
when he started and left at the post earlier
in the week that he quoted the liberal
price OF L TO ]. His showed that he
rapidly getting into condition. Whiskey King and
Stevedore the only scratches. that seven
horses paraded when the bugIe blew.
KING HANOVER CAUSES A SCRAMBLE.
Before the race the paddock was thronged II
has seldom been before with crowds anxious TO
get a look at Old England, Compute and King
Hanover at close quarters. There moments
excitement amid the group about the Whitney
candidate when King Hanover got blanket
tangled up in his heels and began TO thrash about
IN such lively style that 1t took three four
grooms TO hold him The throng scattered in such
lively fashion that fell in the rush to
get away, but not injured.
The race itself was worth going far to see, and
will long be remembered as one of the most gal
lantly fought contests 4or the classic
Withers. 1t was WOE by a royalty bred colt. and
after splendid fight that involved gameness
TO the last gasp, but the memory Of II must al
ways be marred by the conviction that the best
horse lost
There was only a brief delay at the post, caused
partly by the difficulty OF getting Compute TO face
the barrier. and partly by Winnie" OConnor's
anxiety to get q running start Igniter-an anxi-
ety that cost him a fine of S25.
AT length, however, Mr.. Fitzgerald pressed the
electric button, the barrier few up, the crowd
shouted They're off, and the field leaped for
ward like a troop OF cavalry. Old England and
Compute were the nrSt TO get into their strides
Head and head they raced up the backstretch.
Then Jackson took a wrap his mount: and Com
pute crept neck to the fore. Both horses were
running well within themselves, and the multitude
knew that they being saved for the final
breathless scramble after they had made the turn
for home King Hanover running in third
place, only a length behind the leaders and the
rest of the field struggled along behind. In this
order the thoroughbreds raced until the
leaders rounded into the home stretch, and here
1ocF fba For bon
Compute close the rail and travelled the short
est distance possible in making the turn, but Jack
let Old England out, and a groan escaped
HIS thousands of hackers they observed this
move.
In consequence Of the mistake OF the jockey the
Hanover colt had gained length and a half be-
fore he and his rival Strengthened for
the to the wire But Old England game
He did not acknowledge himself beaten.
with this handicap against him. He settled down
20 run. and under whip and spur he gradually
gained on Compute. Up. up, up he crept, until the
lost ground had been made up. and sixteenth
OF mile from the judges the running
stItoe Tor strlde ano nod Tor moo, shaw was CIV.
ing one OF his mastery hand rides the Of
mount and steadying him to straight and true
JACKSON USES THE WHIP.
Jackson kept at Old England with the whip and
he began gain. In few jumps he actually
a head in front. Jackson seemed to think the race
was run. Old England ahead and he stopped
riding him. Four jumps from the wire the Gold
finch colt was in the lead, but Compute only ran
the faster. Jackson was helping his mount no
and thus for the second time he lost the race.
Compute flashed under the wire winner by the
hind came King Han9yer E & having run race ace that bat
three-year-olds carrying stake weight thus early
in the season Ignite ran surprisingly good
race. He was well ridden by O'Connor, and a
furlong from home ahead Of Old England and
on almost even terms With Compute he was was not not
back beaten. Hyphen does not seem to be in
5G5 haS Pa faGDS GP eed5dy s lame and will
20 have let up in his B training for the present 1t
again tfs season, for the Hanover colt has yet 10
What looks like a fiIy Of extraordinary caiibre
was turned loose by Miles Finlen as an added
turf world knows for two-year-old fIes Her
b by Hambg ea cut o M seer IN
good blood in the but ii did not show to
with It. Mr.. Featherstone's Mary Street The
choice OF the talent Win OConnor nor IN the SADDLE %
liked Perry Belmoats Tioga. a daughter of Tenny
higher in the betting than fours, out of respect
for her sire and her dam. Sammy" Doggett the
veteran. was oown TO pilot Mamari. She did not
{ require much plotting. She knew what was re; re;
q e The I ssf ,f tToubIe h IN tSe a wors pont
mention II. j btg" She romped along with the
away from them with consummate ease and was
three lengths ahead at the wire, running the race
since Il was made -four and a half furlong af-
with IN all the two-year-od flIy stakes of the
season.
FINISHES WITHOUT RIDER.
The International Handicap Steeplechase had
twelve starters and was a pretty race FaciIe.
Perion and G. W Jenkins fell before IL was over,
but neither horses nor riders were hurt Jenkins
was in third place. and did fall until the last
fence was reached. The riderless horse galloped
ben was always well up and in a rousing good
finish with Buingdon. the winner being only
three-quarters Of a length the good at the end
The time was 33l. almost as fast the record.