The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-08
.CUNFIRE
WON THE
BIG RACE
Captured the Handicap
Before Big Crowd.
BROKE RECORD OF
TRACK AND RACE.
Whitney's Swift Fiily Took
Withers Mile in 1888 IL.
OLD ENGLAND SECOND:
TWO LENGTHS BEHIND
.------------- -------------------- ----------
These TWO, With Lux casta. Had the
Race from the Start, Though Artic-
ulate Made Remarkable Show
ing After Being Pulled Up
al the Barrier by
His Rider.
OLD ENGLAND SECOND:
TWO LENGTHS BEHIND
fpy A,soc,otrd pre.s) !

NEW YORK. May 7.--Gunfire won tho
twelfth running OF the Metropolitan
Handicap at Morris Park to-day before
45. 900 cheering spectators. who had made
Mr. Wnitney's swift nIly the favorite in
the betting. With T. Burns In the sad
die, she went the Withers mile In 1854.
breaking the track record by one second
and the record II the race by one and
one -auartLr seconds. She displayed
speed and gameness and was the first
OF her sex "a Ein this classic.
Two lengths behind the winner. to
whom he gave four pounds, weight ac-
cording TO the scale, and nine pounds
actual load. came Old England. the ia
nous sprinter OF Green 3. Norris. ridden
by Shaw. Lux casta. the Albemar!e,s IS
stable entry. with Cannon up, was third.
These three had the race among them
from the start. Articulate. who was
pulled up by his rider, the apprentice.
Larsen, when the barrier rose, ran b re-
ma rlable race and finished fourth. q
length behind the tired Lux Casta.
NECK AND NECK.
Gunfire was ehead when the barrier
went up. but was BIZ slow to get going.
his lead OF length or mcre. Wills New
York dropped back, giving place frst
to Gunfire and coon to Lux Casta. Next
to the last away from the barrier. Can
non rushed his mount-too speedily,
trainers say-and at the turn was racing
neck and neck with Old England and
Gunnro. Like a team they came around
to the home stretch, and there Lux Casta
was beaten.
Down through the long stretch home
raced the Morris and Whitney horses.
side by side. Gunfire looked to be
beaten a quarter OF mile from home
Close on the rails he seemed to fatter.
while Shaw. with wllrling whip arm.
took the big bay neck 10 the front.
Burns never stopped riding. however.
and soon Gunflre was neck and neck
with the leader, then head in front,
and as the leader reached the grand
stand enclosure the Whitney hily drew
clean. while perfect thunuerbolt OF
nliunfre. roared from every bench. In
creasing her lead. the beautiful daughter
OF Hastings and Royal Gun Won handily
BIG WAGERS.
Articulate's splendid race led to an
offer OF his owner. W. c. Deb Lopez to
match him against Old England. same
distance and weights as In the Metro
politan. and Mr.. Morris quickly agreed
to a match for $1,000 side. John Mad
den. who sold Guniire as two-year-
old to w. G, Whitney, bet $50 on tho
llly, large wager for him. e. T.
smathers. owner OF Lord Derby and Nc
chesney, wagered $4,000 on Gunflre and
won $4,000
In the Meadowbrook Hunters Trial
steeplechase Genus was first home. but
was disqualified, and the race given to
Betsy Ross, 50 to shot, with The
Duffer, another so to /. second.
SUMMARIZES,
First race-lnst five and half fur
longs OF the Withers mIle-sovereiEn
70 to 81 won. Royal Summons g to y
second. Luke Ward a to ! and to 81
third. Time. :07.
/ Second race-last four and half fur
longs OF tho Eclipse course-Rapid Water
u to ~ won, Nameoki q to y second,
Tickle go to y third. Time. So
Third race-the Juvenile Stakes, last
FIVE rurlongs Of the Eclipse course
Broomsticle az to y won. Precious
stone (even) second. Palm Bearer a to
~ third Time. 80.
Fourth race-the Metropolitan Hand1-
cap, the withers mile-Gunflre e to ~
won, Old England 10 to ~ second, Lux
castn Is to y third. Time. 1851,
Fifth race-the Meadowbrook FFuntera'
Steeplechase about two mfles-Betsy
Ross $50 to u won, The Dufrer (5o to ~
second, Kate spotswood (s to y third.
Time. 4:16
sixth race-last seven furlongs Of the
withers mIle-satire 60 to y won,
Nevermore e to y second, Rough Rider
e to ~ third. Time. l;27h.