Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-06
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
FIRST Big Event Of Racing Season in
East,


FIRST Big Event Of Racing Season i,
East.
New York, May 5.-Irish Lad won tn
18th running Of the Metropolitan handi
cap over the Withers mile at Morri
park, today. in easy fashion. He wa
carrying the top weight and was tn
favorite in the betting by many points
Taking the lead in the first hundre,
yards he led the field throughout, an,
finished two lengths ahead of Tobog
gan. an added starter from the Keene
Beldame. winner of the Carter handi
cap week ago. was third, the much
wanted High Ball coming next. Lu,
Casta and High Ball were disturbing
factors at the start, but when the fiai
fell the horses were fairly well aligned
City Bank. the eleventh hour entry Of
John +. Madden and Toboggan getting
the worst of the send off. Damon sho
out fast, but before the first 18th pole
| was reached Irish Lad had gone
| through on the rail and was two
length 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. Baldame, with
little A. Brennan up. was in the middle
of the bunch and one Of 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 uninjured. Lord Badge
jumped to his feet quickly and was not
hurt.
Meanwhile Irish Lad was running n
slow time through the first and second
quartJs of the race. with scattered
to discourage High Ball just before the
turn was reached and he backed up
as If done. However, he came on again
strongly in the stretch. 1t was COM
ing round the turn that Irish Lad
seemed TO slow up as If to encourage
his competitors, but Shaw was not
taking any chances. With arms and
heels he shook mp the leader and Irish
Lad responded quickly. winning in Lilo
by two lengths from Tohoggan, who
was tired. hut game.
The fight for third honCrs between
Beldame and High Ball was the most
thrilling incident of the rather tame
finish For 40 yards they were nose
and nose and for a few strides Bull
mans skill placed High Ball. the
champion CT last years 2-year-olds, a
wv inches in the van. But Beldame
proved the gamre and nipped the $1,000
third prize by less than the length of
dollar hill pa1 Ep;rbt wa.
three lengths back, and the tirel fed
was scattered along behind him.
Irish Lads victory was 'i!n.-t popular
and he was checred from. III" heal of
the stretch to the winning u.re. When
Shaw rode him back to dismount an
other wave of cheers for horse and
rider arose and continued for two min
utes.
The fractional time Of the race was:
one length IL seconds: one quarter.
"a 2-5: three eighths. So; one half, As;
five eighths 1.01; and the mile in 40.
The race was worth about 81 500 to
the winner. $1,000 to the second and
81 900 to the third horse.
The attendance was one of the larg-
est ever seen at Morris Park, the Off
cial estimate putting it at $4,000. The
day was delightful and the track was
in perfect condition.
New York, May 5.-The first big event
Of the racing season in the East came,
Thursday, with the running of the Met
ropolitan handicap at Morris park on
the grounds of the Westchester Racing
Association. Beautiful weather with a
good field of starters and reports that
the course will be in fine condition all
gave promise of record breaking
crowd. Early in the day it was esti-
mated that no less than $4,000 persons
would be in the grand stand and crowd
ed about the course when the horses
We're sent away.
The Metropolitan handicap field of
Thursday distinctly lacks class and
quality. 1t is a big field. but there are
not more than four really known high
class horses in it. Irish Lad stands out
with Deldame, Stalwart, PutshOes and
Highball next in order.
Last year William c. Whitney's mare
Gunfire. scored a brilliant victory. This
year Harry Payne Whitney's Irish Lad.
racing in the name and colors Of his
partner. Herman B. Duryea will go to
the post a favorite in the great event.
1t was the uncertainty surrounding
the new corners which gave the real in
terest to the event.
Highball ranked well up among the
dangerous contestants and Putshoes, a
who will carry only 100
pounds of weight. had been strongly
supported. Another favorite with many
followers was Mamie Worth and Lux
Casta. who was reported to be in better
shape than ever before in her life,
carried the hopes of many turf follow
ers.