The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-06
IRISH LADS METROPOLITAN
TINS HANDICAPINPRESE OF
 5000 SPECTATORS.

One of the Largest Crowds Ever Seen
 at Morris Park-Toboggan Second
 and EeIdaine Third, the Latter Win
 ming from HighbalI by the Length of
 Dollar Biii-Race Worth s11,5OO to
 the Winner.
 New York, May 5.-Irish Lad won the thirteenth running of the Metropolitan handicap over the Withers mile at Nor ris Park to-day in easy fashion. He was carrying the top weight and was favorite in the betting by many points. Taking the lead in. the first hundred yards he led the field throughout, and finished two lengths ahead of Toboggan. an added starter from the Keene stable. Beldame. winner os the Carter Handi- cap, a few weeks ago, was third, the much vaunted Highball coming next.
 Lux Casta and Highball were disturb- ing factors at the start, but when the flag sell the horses were fairly well aligned, City Bank, the eleventh-hour entry of John E. Madden, and Toboggan getting the worst of the send off.
 Damon shot out fast, but before the first sexteenth pole was reached Irish Lad had gone through on the rail and was two lengths In front.
 Here an accident that might have proved serious occurred. Lord Badge, ridden by Cormack and heavily backed for second and third places, was well away from the post and near the outer rail. Beldame. with little A. Brennan up, was in the middle of the bunch and one os the first away. As soon as she got into her stride she bolted toward the outer fence and struck Lord Badge sharply, knocking the Oliver horse down on his side. Cormack was sent rolling in the dust but arose nuinjured. Lord Badge jumped to his feet quickly and was not hurt.
 Meanwhile Irish Lad was running in slow time through the first and second quarters Of the race with a scattered field behind him. Something seemed to discourage Highball just before the turn was reached and he backed up as if done However, he came on again strongly in the stretch. It was coming round the turn that Irish Lad seemed to slow up as if to encourage his com petitofs, but Shaw was not taking any chances.
 With arms and heels he shook up the leader and Irish Lad responded quickly. winning in 1.40 by two lengths from Toboggan, who was tired but game.
 The fight for third place between Bell dame and Highball was the most thrill- ing incident of the rather tame finish. For forty yards they were nose and nose and for few strides Bullmans s skill placed Highball, the champion of last years tWe-y year-alds, few inches in the van. But Beldame proved the gamer, and nipped the s1,000 third prize by less than the length of dollar bill. Red Knight was fifth, three lengths back and the tired field was scattered along behind him.
 Irish Lads victory was most popular. and he was cheered from the head of the stretch to the winning wire. When Shaw rode him back to dismount anoth- CT wave Of cheers for horse and rider arose and continued for two minutes. Irish Lad, who won the Brooklyn han grass. and when two-year-old was bought from John E. Madden by Harry P. Whitney and Herman B. Duryea, being the first purchase of that young racing partnership which has proved a most successful one.
 The fractional time of the race was: One-eighth. B seconds; one-quarter, 24 2-5; three-eighths, 36; one-half, 48; five- eighths, 1.01. and the mile in 1:40.
 The race was worth about s11 300 to the winner, $2,00 to the second and $1.- 900 to the third horse. Dazzling, Ros- tand, Illyria and Pulsus were with drawn from the field originally carded. John F. Madden added City Bank, F. R. Thomas, Buttons; J. D. Adkins, Lord of the Valley, and James R. Keene add ed two, Toboggan and Careless.
 When betting was first posted three to one was laid against Irish Lad but only for a minute. Heavy wagers sent his price down to two to one, but when the westerners began to plunge on Highbell, and Mamie Worth's friends with the numerous followers of Lord Badge began to pour in their money, Irish Lad went up as high as five to two; but his average was around two to one. The Keene entries were the next in price, about to l. Lord Badge was the most heavily backed of the outsiders.
 The attendance was one of the largest ever seen at Morris Park, the official estimate putting it at 35,oOO. The day was delightful and the track was in perfect condition.