Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13
GRAVEsEND RACES.
River Pirate Beat Hermis in Mud,
Making Remarkable Time


Hermis the 10000 horse owned by E. r.
Thomas, was beaten again yesterday at
Gravesend, but under extenuating circum-
stances. Over a track that was sticky and
sloppy Hermis was vanquished by Perry
Belmont's three-year- colt River Pirate,
who. with feather on his back, ran a mile
and a sixteenth in the wonderfully fast
time of LAT LIS.
No sooner was the barrier raised than
River Pirate rushed off at a terrific pace
Callahan sat still and steered him as
straight as die along the rails. Rice.
taking hold of Hermis, trailed behind Il
length away. with Stamping Ground out
of IT as they entered the backstretch. The
checkers were busy all along the line, and
as furlong after furlong was covered in
phenomenal time predictions were freely
made that Hermis would be beaten. Rice
began to ride Mr.. Thomas horse on the
far turn. believing that River Pirate would
come back to him. but simultaneously Cal
lahan went to work with Mr.. Belmont's
colt, who increased his speed as he rushed
into the stretch.
Hermis struggled gamely to get up under
hard ride. but River Pirate held his own.
Then Rice drew his whip and put Hermis
under the gait. The great horse swerved
over to the rails and came on pluckily. the
crowd roaring encourag cement with every
stride. Hermis gained some ground oppo-
site the betting ring. but River Pirate,
running straight and true. though plainly
tired from his own fast pace making. kept
on in 'front.' passing the judges in triumph.
There was a wild yell from everybody as
the race ended, followed by expressions of
surprise at the fast time.
In spite of the disagreeable weather there
was a crowd of 1000 at the track Scratches
were numerous. and five favorites were
bowled over in the most heartrending man.
ner. Long shots continually got into the
money, enabling the layers to put a harvest
their SatChe1S
81 200 handicap at mile and seventy yards
looked to the talent to be a good thing for
Herbert, always formidable in the mud,
and accordingly the old campaigner ruled
favorite at 8 to 5. But the smart bettors
who made the paddock their headquarters
plunged on Red knight, backing him down
FROM to to II to 5. second choice. AS
result Col. Bill who carried top weight,
went back in the betting to skies. Col. Bill
cut out the pace for the others, with Red
knight and Herbert following close up. At
the head of the stretch Herbert passed Red
Knight and went after Col. Bill. But when
Hack let Red Knight down and went to d
fierce drive the latter overhauled both
leaders and won In a rafting finish by y
length and half, Col. Bill beating Herbert
by a head. The time was La 40, the last
mile being run in l. AZ So.
The sport opened with a knock down for
the big bettors who accepted to 3 against
Mrs. Frank Farrelrs The Musketeer. for
the Masetto horse in bad humOr.
kicked up at the post in fit of sulks and
chucked 1t up in the first furlong. which
was run In oil. Ascension, second choice
at fives was the winner by two lengths and
a half, with Invasion. 40 to 1. second. a
length and a half before Brixton, 100 to l..
who beat the favorite by a head. The
time was II 3-5.
An accident at the post was a telling
blow for those who made Bath Beach ia
yorite in the Hanover stakes, for twO-year-
oIds at five and half furlongs AS the
barrier went up Bath Beach, who was on
the outside, bore in and bumped into Miss
Nancy and cut her down in such a manner
that she may never race again. O'Neil
hustled Bath Beach after his field and took
the lead at the turn. but the effort was too
great and the colt stopped to nothing The
winner turned up in r. W. Walden's Lu-
minosity, by Albert Luminous. 80 to l shot
who came home In a drive length and a
half before the Goughacres stables Lath-
eron, 40 to l, the latter a head better than
Greencrest, third choice The time was
1.O9 2-5.
The Sullivan contingent got jolt when
T. D. Sullivan's Setauket. the favorite,
failed to win the fifth race at a mile and
sixteenth. Locket, 80 to I. rushed to the
front and had a lead of six lengths round
ing the far turn. Then he backed up and
Hack, skinning the rail with r. T. VIII
son. jr.'s, Highlander, second choice, took
the race in a drive by a length from Sc
tauket, with Locket three lengths back and
head before Arden. The time was
80 As.
Mordella, the only winning favorite, took
the last event. for two-year-olds, at five
furiorgs In clever style. pullman rode her
and caught Sydney Paget's Inquisitive Girl,
the pacemaker, at the last furlong pole.
Mordella having length and a half over
Ida Leib, full sister to Banastar. who
finished strongly and beat Sir Walt. 20 to
l. by two lengths and half. Hack rode
two winners.