New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-06
IRISH LADS METROPOLITAN
WINS EASY VICTORY.
Duryea CoIors Three Times an
Front at Norris Park.


From a field which only the most hysterical
idoIator of the thoroughbred could character
ize as brilliant Irish Lad, son Of Candlemas-Ar-
rowgrass, winner of last years renewal OF the
Brooklyn Handicap and the only rival of the
great Africander for the title of the three year
old champion of his year. won the MetrOpoli-
tan Handicap at Morris Park yesterday after
noon. Nearest to him he galloped by the
winning post but hopelessly beaten and reeling
under the stinging punishment of whip and
spur. was James II. Keene's four-year-old King
ston colt Toboggau and behind ToboSgan with
an open strip of daylight separating them, was
the three -year-oId Octagon flly Beldame. the
pride and the hope OF the Bennington Stable
The son Of Candlcmas grown into a mature
and magnificent specimen of the thoroughbred.
raced in the name and colors OF Herman B
Duryea to whom the horses of the late Will
lam c. Whitney were leased soon after their
owners death last February. Last year he ran
in the colors Of the Westbury Stables, owned
by Herman 3. Duryea and Harry Payne Whit
ney. He was the overwhelming choice Of the
public being played from to in the opening
quotations to : to > at post time.
That the company he disposed Of yesterday
was not possessed Of more quality and class was
Irish Lads misfortune alone. In the race he ran
he fulfilled all the requirements that are de-
manded of turf kings, and lived up 10 all the
royal traditions of his race. He took up his
weight made the pace from flag fall to finish.
outsprinted the sprinters and outstayed the
stayers. a king could not have done more.
RACE WATCHED BY RECORD THRONG.
Whatever was lacking I'm the group Of seven
teen performers that took part in the latest re-
newaI of the Metropolitan Handicap was atoned
for in the numerical strength and the enthusiasm
NJ tho crowd which OurueVed q the WeStcheSter
inclOsure To witness their efforts. Long after
the sun had gone down behind the hills Of West
chester huge COnsEnments OF humanity. pour
Ing out from an apparently inexhaustbe supply
stored away in the various stands and fields.
were waiting be freghted cityward. Even
Robert Pinkertor. who is not given TO over
estimating the size Of racetrack throngs. ad-
mitted THAI il was the greatest gathering he
had ever seen within any inclosure.
In each OF the enclosures which separate in
sharply defined lines the various strata of race
goers there was enough material to keep the
hero wcrshipper always on tptoe. Captains Of
Industry and generals of the prize ring held
their separate courts in their separate ways.
The clubhouse and the paddock were blaze
of splendid color; the free field riot of pink
shirt sleeves.
Hundreds Of automobiles sputtered on the
lawn back Of the clubhouse and lent to that
exclusive precinct aroma that would make
member of the gashouse district feel perfectly
at home More sporting fours and tandems oc-
cupied the coach inclosure than at any previous
time in its history. and in the grandstand not
q vacant seat was to be found after the buge
had called the horses to the post for the first
race.
SOUTH WIND AND SUN PLEASE ALL.
It was the opening day of the last spring
meeting the Westchester Racing Association
will hold at Norris Park. and the valedictory of
the beautiful ncloSure was fitting one
The south wind and the sun tempered the
weather to the holiday lamb. and his airiest raj
ment was in harmony with the day.
Following the example Of the genial weather.
the LAYERS of the odds were in an unusually
earerous mood and of the sum total of
and women who wagered their money in the
hope Of a get-rlch-quick return probably two
thirds OF them went home convinced or the folly
of toll when money could he made with no more
mental or physical exertion than that demanded
nv the simple task of selecting a given animal
to win a given race.
Among the field for the Metropolitan stakes.
Irish Lad. so far the public was concerned.
stood out alone-invincibe and unconquerable
But curiousy enough this confidence was not
shared by that element of the racing crowd
known as the talent The composition of the
field made certain questions vitaly pertinent. SO
far as Irish Lad was concerned. and there was
a doubt In the talents mind as to whether he
could answer them satisfactorily
With 123 pounds he was not only taking up
all save three pounds of his weight tor age Dut
he was conceding Jumps of weight, varying, ac-
cording to the scale, from thirty-six pounds to
one pound to performers with well known rePu-
tations as sprinters of courage and ability.
IIv-M
ha 60 evolve mounds actual weight. and the
three-vear-old colt Highban, to which he was
conceding only one pound by the scale, were
both looked on as factors, and possibly winners
and in the final adjustment Of odds these two
were made equal second choiees TO hin' ana
toth "a h,g following at prices ranging from
tens to eights
MANY ADDED STARTERS.
The expected number of added starters quite
counteracted the effect of the inevitable with
y ing q fI1a