The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-02
SARATOGA SEASON OPENS WITH GUSTO. August BeImont'S Colt Wins
 the Feature Event FIRST VICTORY OF SEASON Americana Wins s5ooo Garden City Handicap at HarIem-Was Des-
 perate Finish Between
 the Two Leaders.
FIRST VICTORY OF SEASON

Saratoga, N. T., August 1.--August Bel monts Hastings colt, Lord of the Vale, came home winner in the Saratoga handi- cap here today. and as he flashed under the wire 12OOO people cheered themselves hoarse. The handicap was the feature event at the opening day of the race sea- son of 1904 at the Saratoga track. The weather was warm but thousands went to the famous course to witness an un- usually fine card of events.
 The handicap is the first big race MT. Belmont has won this season, and the big throng of society and clubhouse folk showed their appreciation accordingly.
 The mile and a quarter, the distance of the handicap, was covered by Lord af the Vale in 2:O5, which equals the track re- cord for this distance, and beats Water Boys time made last year in the same event by three-f1fths of second.
 MT. Belmont's 4-year-old went to the front at the start and showed the pace to the finish A length and a half separ- ated the Hastings colt from T. R. Brad ley's Bad News at the finish Hermis
 
 Picket ruled favorite in the betting, hay ing to chalked against him when the field went to the post but was beaten out of third money by Caughnawaga by a neck.
 James R. Keens Sysonby won the Flash stakes, worth 5000 to the winner, in hol- low fashion. Augur ran second six lengths behind his stable mate. He. in turn, was half length in front of Glori- fer, who was quoted at Ii to- 5 at post time. Sysonby and Augur were coupled In the betting to win, and were odds-on favorites. while three to one was quoted against Augur for second place. Trapper was out-classed.
 At one time In the steerlechase, the Ballston cup, Bonfire was the only horse on his feet with rider on his back ex- cept Thorn Hedge, who could not be in- duced to take the jumps. Donohue on Cohgny was thrown in clearing the water jump the first time around He remount- ed, however, when his mount had been caught. and finished Jiminez, an added starter, fell in taking the Liverpool and was so badly injured that 1t was found recessary to destroy him. His rider, Con nolly, suffered a broken shoulder. Sum mary:
 First race, six furlongs-W. R. Condon, no (cormacD, 20 to l, won; Girdle, 1Os (Redfern), 15 to l. second; Emergency, 100 (Robbins), to 1, third. Time 1:13.
 Second race, the Ballston cup, steeole- chase, full course, about two and one half miles-Bonflre, 132 e. B. Wilson,, II to 5. won; Coligny. 154 (Donohue), to D. second. Time, 6:24. Six started.
 Third race, the Flash stakes five and one-half furlongs-"Sysonby, 125 (Red- fern), to 5, won; +Augur. 1l9 CJ Martini, 2 to 5, second; Glorifier, 125 QIiIdebrand), Il to 5, third. Time, 1 06 4-5. '-Coupled In straight betting only. Fourth race. the Saratoga handicap. roie and a quarter-Lord of the Vale. 112 Nyne). to 1, won; Bad News 1OS (C. Kelly), to l, second; Caughnawaga, III (Odom), 20 to 1, third. Time, 2:05
 Fifth race. five and one-haf furlongs- Hearts Desire. 109 (IIldebrand). to 10. won; Mlrthless, 109 CH. Phillips). to 1. second; zala, 101 Qyne), 12 to l, third. Time, 1;N 4-5.
 Sixth race. mile-Sais. 101 (Redfern). I to l. won; Unmasked. 103 tE. Walsh). to 9 second Stuyve, los QIildebrand) to 10, third. Time, 1:S9 3-5.