The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-29
Ahead of Gunfire at the Wire
by Three Inches.
PURSE WORTH s15,15O.
One Of the Greatest Struggles
Ever Seen at Gravesend.
First and Second Money Went
to the Whitneys.
A Crowd of Nearly 10000 Out
to See the Races.

New York, N. Y, May 29.-Harry
Payne Whitney and H. B. Duryea's g.
year-old colt Irish Lad won the seven
teenth Brooklyn handicap at Grayesend
Thursday afternoon in 2:05 2-5. lower
ing the record of 2.06A for the race
made by BaHsstar in 1899. W. C. Whit
ney's GunAre winner of the Metropoli-
tan handfcar and favorite was second,
beaten by MT more than three inches.
Eight lengths behind these two came
w. 8. Fanshawe's Heno and closed on
Heho's harks were Foxhall P. Keene's
Injunction Jacob Worth's Dom Paul
Second favorite in the betting, and
ALEX Shields Hunter Rain. Herbert
was last with Bonnibert. Igniter and
the much thought Of Yardarm in front
Of him, as ramed.
Worth in gross s1s.150, the winners s
share OF the Brooklyn handicap of 1903
was SJ5,l50 the second horse taking
81, 900 and the third 81 900
No more evenly judged race was ever
run as the fractional time shows. Quar-
ter 25 seconds, half 80, five-eighths 1 :02
10, three-fOurths la 2-5, seven
eightks 1:27 10 mile lao is, one and
quarter mile 2:05 2-5. Irish Lad
led practically from post to finish sue
cessfully stalled off the challengers of
Dom Paul and Igniter and won after a.
bitter struggle from his stable COM
panion.
EAen after Is minutes delay at the
Dost the start was made, irish Lad get
ting away drew over close to the inside
fence. He led as they passed the stand,
running easily, until under restraint
Dom Paul was second, Gunfire third and
Igniter fourth
Swinging around the back stretch
Heno and Injunction tried to join the
leaders but both We're crowded back
several lengths. Irish Lad was a length
in front when the run down the back
stretch began. but Dom Paul challenged
at once and the two raced side by side
for three furlOngs Gunfire appeared
for moment to De in trouble Igniter
raced up to and passed her and Colonel
Bill was making sturdy bid He
reached the flly's throatlatch as they
neared the turn.
Then in a moment it was all over but
for two horses. 1gniter and Col Bill fell
back of Dom Paul's green and white
jacket was hidden by Burns Blue as he
took Gunfire into second place.
Irish Lad led into the stretch by A
length, Gunfire close behind and Dom
Paul still within striking distance but
apparently beaten. Strengthened out for
the run home the Whitney father and
son had the race to themselves. Irish
Lad had never faltered and O'Neil had
rated him perfectly. When Gunfre drew
along side the 3-year-old a sixteenth Of
a mile from home and Dom Paul made
a last effort the outcry from the stands
and the lawns was terrific. With every
muscle strained and riders doing their
utmost Irish Lad and Gunfire raced to
the wire. The flly gained on the colt
inch by inch and 20 feet from the finish
line her nose was in front but with one
splendid burst of courage and speed Ir-
ish Lad leaped forward and in the very
last jump won by three inches. One
jump from the wire the race was a dead
heat Jockey O'Nen, an obscure rider in
the west last winter, took his first ride
in the floral horse shoe.
Between SO, 900 and 10000 saw the great
race