The Washington times., 1902-10-26
Covers Two Milesin 3:57 81
Proving Himself a Great
Long Distance Horse-Ex-
oeptional Enthusiasm Dis
played on the Event.
Merry Acrobat, an 8 TO l
Shot, in the Maiden Class,
Takes the White Plains
Handicap From a Good
Field.

IlGlQ.
NEW YORK, Oct 25.-The Westches-
ter Racing Associations fall meeting
wound up in blaze of glory this after
noon at Morris Park, where $4,000 men
and women gathered to see the final
stride of the star thoroughbreds.
Though racing in this part Of the
country will continue for two weeks
more at Aqueduct, today's sport ' as the
wind-up of a season that has been phe-
nomena1ly successful in every way.
1t was fitting climax to series of
memorable triumphs that the iron horse,
Advance Guard. won the Norris Park
Autumn Weight for Age race at two
miles and quarter in common canter,
and thereby convinced racegoers that he
is the greatest long distance horse. bar
ring possibly Gold Heels, that has been
seen on an American race track in years.
A Tremendous Ovation.
1t was with tremendous ovation that
Advance Guard was received as he gal
loped down the stretch with perfect
stride and we'll within himself a winner
by eight lengths in the fast time of
S:57X. The famous Woodlawn vase won
by Gold Heels last year went with the
victory, and Advance Guards owners
Immediately took possession of the
trophy with the intention of exhibiting
it to their Canadian friends.
MI -,
race, Advance Guard, with odom up, be-
ing a to 10 favorite. Frank Farrell's
Blues was fancied strongly at 9 to ),
with a heavy play on John A. brakes
three-year-old Wyeth, the American
Derby winner, who was reduced to Az
to 1.
When they were sent away from the
post, opposite the field Blues went out
in front to make what turned out to be
a slow pace. Advance Guard kept with
in a length or so of him, with Wyeth
trailing, and in this order they travelled
around the Withers course once.
Advance Guard to the Front
Passing the judges stand the second
time Martin shook Blues up, and he
was fully extended when he entered the
backstretch. But in the twinkling of
an eye Odom moved up with Advance
Guard. AS soon as the iron horse got
upon even terms with Blues, tie latter
curled tip and quit, dropping back as if
his legs were tied and his heart was
broken.
Then Wyeth went after Advance
Guard, and together they rushed around
the far turn, the iron horse in mag
nificent stride and travelling along as
smoothly as a well-oiled machine.
As soon as the stretch was reached
it was simply question of how much
Advance Guard would win by He drew
away rapidly. with Wyeth struggling
along hopelessly under the whip Odom
eased the Great Tom horse up in The
last sixteenth, and he came down to he
wire absolute master of the situation.
Great Enthusiasm Excited.
No race this year has excited such en-
thusiasm as the great crowd displayed
Thousands broke into cheers, and when
Odom brought the great old horse back
to the scales there was another pro-
longed ovation.
The time of the race was IL seconds
slower than Gold Heels best tine for
the course, which was made last year
Wyeth finished fifteen lengths before
Blues.
The White Plains Handicap for two
year -olds, run over the Eclipse course
drew a splendid field TO the post. Hurst
bourne was the favorite at twos, with
River Pirate and Molly Brant at fves.
Dick Wells at skies, and p J. Dwyer's
Merry Acrobat, who up TO the time of
going to the posi- had not got out of the /
maiden class, at s to /.
Eleven horses started after rather |
long delay caused by the disorderly CON
duct OF Fire Eater. At the Withers /
crossing Hurstbourne was in front, with
River Pirate, Dick Wells and Merry |
Acrobat all within striking distance.
Almost Record Time
Then Hurstbourne stopped, and River |
Pirate looked a winner, though he was
hard pressed by Dick Wells and Wild |
Thyme at the last sixteenth Suddenly
Merry Acrobat, with Redfern up. the
colt having a big pull at the weights,
made a gallant spurt and won on the
post by head. in 1:09&, which was
three-quarters of a second slower than
the best time for the course made bv q
two-year-old.
River Pirate. Dick Wells and Wild
Thyme followed necks apart as named.
with Molly Brant. Fire Eater and Asta-
rita practically on even terms a length
away.
After the race O'Connor said River
Pirate stumbled in the early stage of the S
struggle, and that he lost stirrup, and c
that otherwise the colt would have won | J
Those who were at the post said they /,
did not see any accident. ]
Eugenia Burch, who picked up 1913
pounds was anchored. i
. The Crowd Puzzled !
The second race, for maiden two-year- 3
olds, puzzled the crowd from betting :,
point of view, as it was hard to draw =
the line between August Belmont's j