The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-26
This Afternoons Contest Will
Be Seasons Event.
THEBIG FOUR TO START
Irish Lad, Africander, McChes-
ney and Hermis Entered.
Purse Is Worth $4,000 to the
Winner Besides Honor.
A Crowd of 1000 Spectators
Expected at the Track.

New York. May 26.-As fine a field of
thoroughbreds as ever faced a starter
IN this country viii meet this after
noon in the Brooklyn Handicap. For
weeks past trainers have been pointing
the cracks for the great race. There are
richer prizes on the turf, but none
brings greater fame to the winner, IN
less it be the Suburban. of nearly 100
horses nominated for the Brooklyn the
field has narrowed to less than 30. 1t
is likely that not more than Is will
90 to the post. That number is too big
for comfort.
Given a bright day, the Brooklyn
Handicap should attract 10000 persons.
The public never before patronized rae
ing so literally as this year. More than
1900 paid to see the Metropolitan
Handicap. Glorious as was that con-
test it does not equal in class or at
tractiVeness the Brooklyn Handicap.
OF the candidates for the Brooklyn
Handicap. Africander, Irish Lad, Her
mis- and McChesney stand out as the
cracks of the lot. Africander probably
viii be faVorite. He deserves that hon
or. There have been few horses on the
American turf that have shown to bet
ter advantage. He has all the attrib-
utes that go to make a great racehOrSe
speed, courage, ability to carry
weight, go a distance and sail through
mud fetlock deep or race on d track
hard as macadam. His performance in
the Suburban last year stamped him as
an extraordinary colt. That he is fit
and well was shown by the one race he
appeared in this year at Morris Park.
Not far from where Africander is
stabbed at GraVesend is Irish Lad. EV-
erything that can be said in praise of
Africander applies as we'll to Irish Lad,
unless 1t be in respect to ability on
heavy track. No two horses in train
ing probably are better matched than
in the Suburban last year was no more
brilliant than Irish Lads in the Brook
lyn- The Handicapped figures African
der one pound better than Irish Lad.
In the light of Irish Lads performance
in the Metropolitan this year the Dur
yea champion is entitled to no allow
ance from any horse unless it be Wa
terboy.
McChesney will have chance in the
Brooklyn to show whether he is as
great as is claimed for him. No horse
since Tenny's time has had a more de-
voted following than big Mae. Idol
of the west, one of the greatest stretch
runners ever known, game to the core,
he packs weight with ease and has
way of buekling down to his work that
wins the admiration of horse lovers.
Hermis when at his best is a mighty
horse, but Hermis never has been at
his best in the spring. There are those
who think Hermis is just a trifie lack
ing in that building courage which a
but he was too good a 3-year-old and
too good a cup horse last year to war
rant suspicion. A few months later
HermiS would be a more formula BILE
figure pitted against Africander, Irish
Lad and McChesney than he seems
now.
But it must be remembered there are
other crack horses in the big race. The
Picket, Claude, and Proper, western
representatives. have all worked fast,
particularly the first named. Then
James r. Keene's Toboggan will be
sure to go with a feather on his back;
also August Belmont's Mizzen and
John E. Maddens City Bank, who has
shown some rare qualities lately and
will have only 100 pounds to shoulder.
Hurstbourne has been going great guns
recently, while John A. brakes Sava-
bic and Runnels are fit and ready.
Whether HighbalI will start or not
remains to be seen, but just now train
ers who have watched his preparations
believe he will be reserved for later en-