New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04
ARSENAL THE WINNER.
FE1 TTIERSTONE'S COLT CAPT
URES INETROPOLITAN.
AT LONG ODDS IN THE BETTI INC-BIG
CROWD At NORRIS PARK De
SPITE BAD DAY.

~ L II b-ND b-Al
| The racing season in the metropolitan district
! got its second wind yesterday with the opening
of the spring meeting at Morris Park and the
running of the Metropolitan Handicap. The
thronE that went to the picturesque and spa
cious Westchester racecourse must have num-
bored somewhere about twenty thousand per-
sons. despite the extremely chilly and disagree
able weather that followed fortnight of nearly
ideal racing conditions What the attendance
would have been had the skies smiled Morris
Park il is hard TO say. but the multitude that
hraved the most discoUragng conditions must
he regarded as strengthening the impression
that the public is more interested in thorough
bred racing this year than ever before
The faithful thousand saw a fine days rae
ing. The principal race of the day was. per-
haps so absorbingly interesting as has
been some years in the past as it will doubt
less be in the future but it interesting
enough TO turn the betting ring into a pande-
monium of excited, pushing. jostling spectators
and 10 fill the huge grandstand and the club
house to the utmost of their comfortable capac-
ity. The ram drove most of the spectators from
the wide soping lawns and those who drove to
the track came in automobiles were forced
10 take 10 cover early in the afternoon. The rain
had turned the track into rather cuppy mire.
so that the horses that like 10 hear their heels
4
METROPOLITAN a SURPRISE.
The result Of the Metropolitan was great
surprise. and when A. Featherstcae's Lamp
, Hghter colt trseftL night weighted and carry
ing e jockey who is far from being considered
worthy OF mention in the same class with the
hest riders there We're not many bettors who
fe.t pleased Mr.. Featherstoue made no So
cret, some time ago. of the fact that he liked
ArsenaTs work. He even declared that ne
pected 10 win the American Derby with him at
Chicago But if he really believed this at the
time he said il his enthusiasm must have cooled
when he the class Of animals he had to
beat n the Metropolitan. for if he backed his
colt at all 1t not enough To affect the bet
ting. Arsenal closed at - to l in most books,
although there some in which high "a
80 to | could bc obtained.
Herbert. the best son of Albert that ever ran
in this country. was an equal favorite in the
betting with Frank Farrelrs stable. which was
represented by Bonnibert and Colonel Paddeu.
1t is hard to why either of the Farrell pair
should have been considered dangerous. but they
were. Roehampton, too regarded with
picon by the bOokmakers. because he had an
unbeaten record as a three-year-old, failing
however, to meet any Of the three-year-oIds IF
1901 that We're acknowledged to he in the front
rank. Pentecost, J. F.. Madden's candidate, was
held at 10 To /. as was Sombrero and the others
were at longer prices.
WATERCOLOR WOULD HAVE BEEN FA-
VORITE
Long before the bugle sounded to bring the
horses to the post for the big race the Metro
politan had been robbed OF much of its interest
by the withdrawal of several Of the best horses
entered. First and foremost. was the scratching
of Watercoor who would undoubtedly have
been the favorite. Many shrewd horsemen doubt
If he would have won because the handsome
son of Watercress does not like a crowd. and
he would have had that yesterday. but ha is
wonderfully fleet animal. and thousands
GREETED his absence. Far Rockaway. whose per
formances last summer at Saratoga still re-
membered with admiration. was another of the
early scratches Mr.. Mackay next withdrew
Heno one of the very best of the two-year-ods
of 1901 The fleet Whiskey King, of the
best of the sons Of Kantaka Old England, who
had done we'll in the far West for Green b.
Morris; Saturday and Smart Set, the other
withdrawals. that the field twenty
strong when it faced the starter.
There has been a wide heralding of the 1902
Metropolitan field as the highest class field that
ever ran in this classic fixture. 1t does not seem
so to the writer. 1t seemed especially ordinary
after the horses named had been withdrawn.
Alcedo the Suburban last year but it was
from commonplace field and with only 112
pounds up. McMeekin is a good handicap horse
but not topnotCher. Bonnibert a great
disappointment a three-year-old Ten Can
dies has class. but is erratic. Carbuncle has
shown much speed with a light weight up. but
has few other claims to class. Lux Casta has
run only one good race. Chiffon was not quite
in the front rank last season. PenteCost showed
two year-od speed, but was not thoroughly
tested and while Sombrero, Reina and Dixiene
may not he selling pIaters they are not much
better than that.
ONLY ONE RACE BEFORE.
As for Arsenal, the winner. he has only
one race before. On September of last year at
Sheepshead Bay he won the Autumn Maiden
Stakes at five furlongs down the Futurity chute
from such good ones as Masterman. King Han
over and Homestead. In the Dash Stakes three
days later. he finished behind Heno, LeOnora
Loring, Cameron and Presumption, and at
Gravesend the last of the same month he
finished behind a common lot. Yesterday. with
only ninety pounds up and with little j. DAILY
in the saddle, he ran like a frightened doe. and
came home a little over length ahead OF good
in he E