The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-27
THE PICKET
 TAKE PURSE Vests Ch3npiOn Wins Brooks. Handicap.
IRISH s,AD THE FAvORITE
P .Alar Idol Beaten by the
 Shortest of Noses.
Duryea Colt and Hermis Make Running All the Way, Shaw Snatching Victory for His
 Mount in the Stretch.

New York, May 2e.-Coming down along the rail. in the last few strides of the run to the wire, The Picket, the Vests champion in the Brooklyn han dicap, snatched victory away from the ever popular Irish Lad, the Brook lyn winner of last year and the Me- tropolitan winner of this year.
 It was scarcely more than the nod of a head, but the hardy westerner fin ished stronger than the ~Duryea colt, whose terrific pace with Hermis up to the very home stretch would have tried to the utmost the stoutest of heart and the sturdiest of limb. Fran tic cheers which had been ringing from the throats of nearly 10000 on- lockers died away when 1t was real ized that Irish Lad had gone down to defeat.
 California Candidate.
 Proper the California candidate. came through at the end and beat out Hermis for third place. The time for the mile was 1:Ss 2-5. and for the mile. and a quarter 2:06 3-5, one and one fifth seconds slower than the race rec ord made by Irish Lad last year.
 The handicap was worth $20.000, of which $2,500 went to the second horse and $1,5o0 to the third.
 A great outpouring of turf devo- tees witnessed the eighteenth running of the event. As the time for the han dicap drew near the name of Irish Lad from the stable of Herman B. Duryea could be heard on all sides. He had grown into immense popularity, after it had been definitely learned that there was little hope for McChesney owing to the injury sustained by him in his work out few days ago. Mo- Chesney's owners frankly admitted that they had little hope of gaining any distinction In the race, but were determined to send him over the route as an evidence of good. faith.
 There were sixteen thoroughbreds entered and four or five of these had recorded victories during the past tvo years in the principal events of tke American turf Reports of sensational time made by The Picket in his work outs, brought him many supporters but the rank and file was loath to put full confidence in his ability under the con- ditions with which he was confronted.
 Although the weather was ideal and the track swept by the cooling breeze from the Atlantic. the betting ring was swelt- ering mass of humanity No sooner had the odds been posted than there was a rush to back Irish Lad. Three and a half to one were the prevailing quotations for a time but money poured steadily into the ring and when the bugle sounded calling the horses to the post no better than Il to could be had against the fa- vorite.
 Hermis opened and closed at to 1. The Picket was we'll played but his price re- ceded only 2 points From tens he was backed to to 1. Much of the speculation on the wihner. however was conducted through the winter books and large sums were won both here and in the West on his victory. Every horse in the race was played in a desultory manner but the bulk of the public wagers continued to pour in upon the favorite.
 Starter Fitzgerald lined them up back of the barrier and after three minutes delay sent them away in splendid order Irish Lady. on the rail. led his field with The Picket second and Hermis third Helgerson on The Picket eased his mount a trifie and when the racer passed the grand stand Hermis and Irish Lad had hooked up side by side for their heart breaking struggle which was kept up nearly mile. The Picket, running cas- fly. in third place. made a nice pace for the balance of the field.
 Hermis and Irish Lad.
 The Thomas colt and the favorite strug- gled In vain, each to master the other. Across the circular track from the grand stand and three-quarters of a mile from the starting point. they were running like one horse. In this manner they swung around the far turn and made for the last one which headed them into the stretch. Shaw on the favorite and Redfern on Hermis were bringing out every ounce of speed in their mounts. while Helgeson was drawing The Picket together for the final rush to the goal. He closed a gap of two or three lengths and before they had reached the last quarter pole was close upon the tiring leaders.
 Hermis had run his race and was drop ping back and Shaw swung the favorite a trihe wide As he did so Helgeson shot in on the rail and in driving finish seventy yards from the wire The Pick cts nose showed in, front of the Duryea colt Lyme, on Proper. in a vigorous ride, brought the Jennings candidate alongside of Hermis, who fell back to fourth place.
 There was a scene of excitement which has seldom been equalled. Cries from thousands urging on the favorite and shrieking the name of his jockey rent the air. For a few seconds when it seem ed almost certain that Irish Lad would repeat his victory of last year, 40.OOO per sons screamed his name, men threw their hats into the air and embraced one an- other They did not realize how close up Helgesen had brought The Picket, nor did they observe that Shaw on Irish Lad was not as near the rail as he might have been. The Western horse responded nobly to the callh Through a gap bare ly wide enough for him to pass he made his run and he won by the length of his muzzle.
 The Rude Awakening.
 The shouts of joy died away in the throats of the vast assemblage as though the onlookers had been sud denly paralyzed. Proper was third, two lengths behind Irish Lad and a nose in front of Hermis. McChesney nose in front of Hermis. McChesney and Africander and Claude were at the end of the procession.
 The Picket is owned by the Waldeck stable of Louisville, Ky, controlled by and Middleton. He won the American Derby last year at Washing ton Park. Chicago. was brought East and started here last fall in three or four races, beating Africander in one