The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-08
GUNFIRE WINS IN
DRIVING FINISH
Whitney's Swift FiIIy Gets Away
With Big Handicap
BURNS MAKES GREAT RIDE
Old England Made Good Showing, But
Could Do No Better Than Secure
the Place, While Lancaster Fin
ished Thlrd-45,o 900 Saw 1t.
BURNS MAKES GREAT RIDE

New York, May 7.-Gunfre won the
twelfth running of the Metropolitan ham
dicap at Morris park today before 1900
cheering spectators, who made Mr. Whit
ney's swift flly the favorite in the bet
ting With 7. Burns in the saddle, she
went the Withers mile in ;SS1k, breaking
the record by one second and the record
for the race by one and one-quarter sec
onds. She displayed speed and gameness
and was the first of her sex to win this
classic.
Two lengths behind the winner, to
which she gave four pounds weight, ac-
cordIng to the scale, and nine pounds by
actual load, came Old England, the IA
nous sprinter of Green b. Morris, ridden
by Shaw. Lancaster. the Albemarle sta
ble's entry, with Cannon up, was third.
These three had the race among them
selves from the start, Articulate, who was
pulled up by his rider, the apprentice Lar
sen, when the barrier rose, ran remark
able race and finished fourth length
behind the tired Luxcasta Yellow Tail
was fifth. Masterman, the pride of the
Belmont stable, was an inglorious last,
with Herbert and Col. Bill close in front
of him. Gunfre won s11,1s0 for his owner,
Old England $1,000 and Luxcasta $1,000.
The fractional time of the handicap was
one-eighth I2%; quarter, "a; three
eghths, :35 1-5 half, AS rs; five-eighths,
200 49, mile, 1:3S 3-5. The official time
was made 1881 because of the time
boards used at Morris park.
All Big Stables Represented.
represented in the great race and hum
dreds of thousands of dollars were wag-
cred. field of fifteen faced the starter
All proved tractable at the post and
They're off" roared out within three
minutes Like a shot Old England jumped
into the lead, with New York two lengths
back Gunfire was ahead when the bar
rier went up, but was a bit slow In get
ting under way. Along the back stretch
Old England held his lead Of length
or more while New York dropped back
giving place first to Gunfire and soon to
Luxcasta Like team they went around
to the home stretch and there Luxcasta
was beaten. Down through the long
straight way home raced the Morris and
Whitney horses side by side Both riders
were driving to their utmost, but while
Shaw rained whip strokes on Old Eng
land, Burns could use only unspurred
HeelS anu the Cast Oh MS UOuy W anu Ills
mount. Gunfire looked to be beaten
quarter of mile from home. Close on
the rails she seemed to falter while
Shaw, with whirling whip, took the big
bay neck to the front
Burns never stopped riding, however
and soon Gunfire was neck and neck with
the leader, then a head in front, and as
the leaders reached the grand stand en-
closure the Whitney filly drew clean
hup or
"Gunfire" roared from everybody.
Mr.. Whitney Delighted.
Delighted with the result Mr.. Whitney
shook the hand of Tommy Burns. He
said he had felt confident of the result
and added that Leonard Loring, stable
mate of Gunfire, could beat the Metropoli-
tan winner at any distance from one mile
to four. Articulates splendid race led
Ito an offer of his owner, w. C. DeLopez, to
match him against Old England and Mr..
Morris agreed for $1,000 a side. e. E.
Smathers won $4,000 on Gunfre.
Summary
First race. last five furlongs of the
Withers mile-Soveriegn, 115 (Odom), to
s. won; Royal Summons 10 SHAW, 8
to /, second; Luke Ward, 121 (Bullman),
4 to /, third. Time, 107
Second race, last four and a half fur
longs OF Eclipse course--Rapid Water 122
SHAW, 2 to 1, won; Nameok, 1872 (Hoar),
4 to 1. second; MCKEE. 1l9 q. MARTINI, so
to l. third. Time, :53.
Third race, the Juvenile stakes, last five
furlongs of Eclipse course-Broomstick
1872 (Odom), u to l, won; Precious Stone.
1872 SHAW, even, second; Palm Bearer,
119 (Gannon), to /, third. Time, $50.
Fourth race, the Metropolitan handicap,
the Withers mile-Gunflre. 1903 tBurns),
to l, won; Old England. IFS SHAW. 10
to /. second; Luxcasta, 1O2 (Gannon), to
l. third. Time, 1:3S1k.
Fifth race. the Meadowbrook hunters
steeplechase. about two miles-I3etsy
Ross, IA Parson), so to l. won; The
Duffer, LAG &c. SMITH. so to l, second;
Kate Spotswood. 144 (Donohue), to l,
third. Time, 4:16.
Sixth race. last seven furlongs of
Withers mile--Satire, ia (Odom), to 1,
won; Nevermore. 80 (Fuller), to 1, sec
ond: Rough Rider. 106 qIicks), 10 to /.
third. Time. 1:27ik.