New-York tribune., 1903-05-08
GUNFIRE'S HANDICAP.
WINS THE METROPOLIT4N
Breaks Record for Hnhers Nile IN
1888 3-5.


cap over the withers mile Morris Park yestsr-
day afternoon She carried 100 pounds and de-
feated a field Of fourteen thoroughbreds. What
ever the future may have in for this
derful four-year-old FLY. her present status is
definitely defined Her performance yesterday
was sufficient for her fame Her name always
will be coupled with the names of the great idols
of the turf-Hamburg. Domino. Commando and
Henry of Navarro Not only did she run the
mile in the fastest time that has ever been made
az Morris Park but she conceded weight TO
some Of the most competent performers on the
turf
The hgures-1:3 IS 3-5-are likely remain
example for aspiring thorough breds for some
time 10 come. Gunfire is owned by William c.
Whitney. and is a brown FLY by Hastings
Royal Gun. She is the first illy that has ever
won the Metropolitan Handicap. ard. with the
exception of Lux Casta. she was the only fly
in the handicap yesterday. II is not often that
the royal family Of thoroughbreds produces az
this season of the year great member OF her
sex Gunire's achievement Of yesterday proves
her TO be. and all the big. splendid adjectives
which the racing world is so fond Of bestowins
upon its heroes may be applied 10 this daughter
OF great sire without offending the proprieties-
The mighty Gundre" is not especially euphoni-
GUS but neither was the mighty Imp nor the
grand Hamburg until those distinguished mem
bers OF the equine peerase. by their perform
ances. had educated the public 70 think Of them
always N those phrases.
OLD ENGLAND SHOWS COURAGE
Splendid her triumph was. it cannot wholly
ov ershadow the performance Of at least three OF
the contendsrs that followed her flying feet
dc~2 the long. broad stretch 10 the goal There
was something altogether inspiriting in the way
Old England. Green B. Morris's sturdy bay
gelding, fought for every inch Of ground with
his feeter rival, never conceding that the VIC
tory was not his. refusing 10 finch or vince
under the pitiless blows that were rained upon
his quivering hanks and shoulders His ears.
still braveIy forward. were at Gunfres quarters
when the struggle ended
And what is written Of Old England may Be
recorded with equal truth Of Lux Casta- Rae
ing luck" that very potent factor in the con-
tests Of the turf. did not favor this well bred
FLY, and she was compelled TO go the longest
way home. Cannon seemed TO be always at
work on her. and she was ridden every rod OF
the distance as though the Withers mile were
| merely scramble down the Eclipse course
Probably only a comparative few saw the
| pitffuIly brave bid for fame which Yellow Tan,
that giant racehorse from out Of the West, made
| in the last heartbreaking furlong- The son OF
watercress was coming through the field in
! great conquering strides. when suddenly he
faltered and for fraction Of a second il seemed
| 70 those whose glasses were on him that he
| would go down. He caught himself however.
| and struggled on past the judges stand finish
i ing only a few lengths behind Articulares VINO
was an equal distance behind Lux Casta- And
| the last two hundred yards he ran practically
on three legs. In trying 70 improve MS POSITION
Waterbury monnertarfIy took him by the head.
| and in turning him the big horse twisted his
ankle When he returned 70 the weighing stand
| his near front hoof all but dangling. IL
may be that such exhibitions Of courage as this
in the sport of horseracing was what won the
| approval OF kings.
OPENING AS a vALEDICToRY-
The opening of Morris Park, which always
| places the sterling mark on the racing season.
| was as It happened this year in the nature or
| vaIedictory. After the season closes, next
| october. the famous fncIosure viii be given over
TO city streets and pavements. and where the
thoroughbreds once trod the trolley car no
doubt will ultimately pursue its sporting course
| The founders of the park, however. could not
| have dreamed Of nor hoped for a more splendid
ending to its history. Never has such a multi
| tude attended racecourse on this continent
The threatening clouds Of the morning may
| have deferred a few from going-they certainly
| seriously complicated the problem OF spring at
tire-but at no time after the noon hour was
/ one warranted in harboring any sense Of lone
| Illness or isolation beneath the great. lofty
| efrders of the srandstand. The multitude came
| in waves that flooded stands. lawns and pad
dock There were forty thousand Of them
! They poured from the suburban railroad in par
| cells that could best be measured in acres; they
| came on road coaches and park drags, in auto
! mobiles and in traps The lawn in front Of the
| clubhouse was a mass Of color. the same strip
| of turf in front Of the grandstand was mass
| of humanity 1t ebbed and flowed between the
| open spaces and the betting ring. drawn by that
irresistible force which dominates the racetrack
multitude.
The easy amateur who on these infrequent
davs becomes the reckless sportsman was there
in numbers He spoke glibly of quarters in
thirteen and one-eighth" Of miles IN forty-two
on the Bit He plunged his five dollars on the
favortte with as much courage the plunser
plunged his thousands. He knew he was living
at last and he glo~ied in it,
PILGRIMAGE MADE TO PADDOCK
BEFORE the bugle sounded for the Metropolitan
the piIgrfrnage 10 the paddock made with
all the solemnity which that time hOnored func-
tion demands In the shed and the lawn.
with its pIeasant shadows cast from the great
eIn,s and naples were the hooded and sheeted
candidates
There was Colonel Bill. Old England. Herbert.
Masternan, Articulate. Gunfre, Isniter. Syr-
lin Royal. New-York II, Waswift. Zoroasrer.
Ink Casta yellow Tail and DR.. Saylor. as
GOOD a lot taken altogether. has even gone
10 the post for the running Of this classic. Luke
Ward Francisco. Leonora LOrtng, Hunter
Raine. Royal Summons and Miss Dorothy were
the only withdrawals. Their absence did
rob the race of either quality or class
Mr.. Whitney kept his hlly Leonora Loring IN
the stable. because he believed Gunhre was
quite competent 10 carry his coIors. The public
E~F~x