New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
THE R4CETRACK,
A Succession of Black Fridays for
Form PLAYERS at GraUesend.

FROM the form players point Of view TIE week
at Gravesend was succession Of Black Fridays
he most carefully compounded dope" has failed
20 bring satisfactory results: favortes have been
beaten with frequency that seemed almost 10
defy the Law Of chance, and the pickers have been
unoone With regularity that has been disastrous
n some cases.
This. however is another week. The programmes
OF stakes is not especially alluring from the owners
point OF view but Il viii give the regulars chance
70 recover or 60 down and out. To-day's offering
not won Sl-el0 Up TO the time OF entry. There are
allies as Funnyside FlsmmuIa. The I,adv RoheSis
an. ana silver Dream meeting on nearly even terms
GraVesend TO see.
II an equine performer may be said 20 possess
such a quality as magnetism. McChesney has It in
a very marked degree. There IS not a horse in
training to-day that occupies quite the same place
on the turf stage does this big red horse who
came out OF the West a few months ago with a
conspicuous chip his shoulder. The manner OF
his coming and the seeming tendency on the part
OF his owner 20 find hole in the fence in order
dodge Waterboy created decided prejudice against
the horse. The Eastern turf world. from pickers 10
owners was almost unanimous In its opinion that
McChesney was a vastly overrated animal. who had
obtained his reputation at TIE expense Of q lot OF
cheap horses. Not only has he overcome all these
prejudices. but he has galloped his way through
the enemy's country 10 abiding place Fl the
heart OF horsenen and ''pikers'' alike. With his
blaze face. HIS white stockings and his big outline
he Is horse easily recognized by the veriest novice
and whenever be appears the track his recep-
tion is much like that accorded 70 a popular star
Here comes Big Mac.' IS the familiar fashion in
which his entrance Is heralded. and Immediately
thousands q held glasses are levelled upon him.
Although he races in disiEurfng binkers. he never
works IN them ano The pune mas an opportunity
20 him at his 'handSOncst' when he gallons
through the stretch IN bis preliminary. His manner
always loiters behind his opponents for a great
part OF race, and then, Just as his friends are
81 z
! IN anxious angle, he wakes up puts just enough
power into that great, confident stride OF his TO
has caught its breath be IS hack again the
judges stand cool and confident ever. The
4 amounts almost TO idolatry. In the paddock o
saturday. when MCChesnev was being saddled foT
the Second Special man from Mllws kee reached
. handed them a commissioner. ''McChesney.' he
sac ore f f- PTS s oSir s, to s And to think
he added. sorrOWfully 70 friend. that that's all
I've got put him. Why. it's an INSULT
The ranks OF the stars have been sadly thinned
out since the performers returned from Saratoga
z. r. Thomas's Yardarm. the Henry OF Navarro
three-year-old colt. who is said have cost HIS
Young owner s20So. IS one of the more recent re
cruits 10 the retired list His injury sustained In
a workout is similar that which befeu Z. A
| Jones's colt Jim Kelly. The Hgaments Of one leg
were so badly torn and that should he
] regain the use OF the leg Re VIII never De Mt TO
race again. Africander is Of training, and viii
not start again this year His condition; however
! IS much improved, ana ms owners nave hopes now
/ that he may resume his triuuphal career next
year Both the tNo-z eaL-olo cot HlgLbsIl ana ne
/ three-y ear-old The PICKET nave reIred on thelr
laurels. and VIII not be seen their owners say, IN
public until 1900 OF the lesser lights. Gimcrack and
Platter have both gone wrong" and VIII not race
! until late in the fan. II they do then Hamburg
Belle stiH suffers from the kick she received IN the
/ Futurity- and her trainer will be satisfied II she