New-York tribune., 1905-03-27
BELDAME'S FUTURE.
Interest IN Hozc the Great Mare VIII
Race This Year.

Race This Year.
Beldame. by octagon-Belladonna, is unquestion-
ably the most talked of and most popular thorough
bred OF the day Her brilliant series Of victories
last yeag, three-year-od, when she won twelve
races in fourteen starts endeared her TO all true
lovers Of the racehorse AS is we'll remembered, she
won the undisputed championship of her age and
SEX and raced TO a distinction which gives her
place turf history at the of the great mares
which have gone before Her equal has. perhaps.
never been seen on the American turf at least and
| her warmest followers claim precedence for her
even over those Of other countries also. except
ing Pretty Polly. In looks and conformation Bel
dame closely approaches the perfect type Of the thor
oughbred She is a rich chestnut in color and built
heroic lines Her great depth through the heart
gives her wonderful stamina, and her clean, well
musced legs provide the speed which makes her
victories possible. Her boodike head and graceful
neck add to her appearance. Her easy, frictOnless
way Of going charms and is of her strongest
characteristics No energy is wasted. once she
settles down to racing. and ii has been remarked
more than that she appears TO be only gaIlop
ing when her field is driving and racing TO keep
within striking distance In every respect she fills
the eye and the heart Of those who see her at
or in the heat of struggle. E3eldame. like many OF
her sex is wilful. vicious. She cannot
and will brook restraint. and once the track
led the post, and once there she is bad actor.
As It happens however, she Is usually ready Tor the
right out and settles down TO racing Once on the
variably races in front In some furlong 3,, in race
she goes SO Ist at NAV a he b t r7on o on G
OF the middle furougs. but the result is the same.
She is of the hale and hearty sort and sound as
a bell of brass She was in constant training last
year from April 10 to september y, ana went went
horse of her class.
What will Beldame's future be? This question
is an absorbing topic among horsemen and racing
folk. The racing season is now at hand and, ere
lor z. it must be decided. VIII she train on and
race TO greater triumphs must she be retired
early to earn further fame as a matron? Every
thing points her adding laurels to her
crown. She has wintered well. looks strong and
robust and takes her work. which is even now
well under way. if it only play. On Fri
day she gallOped half mile in O:5113 in free.
easy way which indicates that she is close to
a race. It is true that this year she is in the
har as of the Handicapped to large extent, and
must meet the best in training under trying con-
cessions of weight it is true also that she,
il any, can accomplish the many difficult tasks
set. August Belmont. in whose name and colors
she will this year, and Fred Beriew, her
trainer than whom know her better, have
indicated convncingly their confidence in the great
mare She has been entered in all the big
tandicaps-tbe Carter. Excelsior. Metropolitan.
Brooklyn Suburban. Brighton and Saratoga-and
host of other fixtures. and success in any one
Of these would write her name even higher. She
is in a conspicuous place. considering her sex
allowance the official Handicapped has placed her
either at top weight only two pounds under
Hel mis- those races for which the weights have
been announced. With amateur and professional
, handicappers and those who deal in future prices
she is practically the favore even the races
for which she is named. while host OF enthust-
asts who follow her blindly unwilling to admit
that she can be beaten in any m race in whiGh she
generously, will have plenty OF latitude IN Sc
lecting particular races for which TO point her.
and another brilliant for her seems assured.
In all probability she viii be trained rain with the
Metropolitan in view. as TO WIN TINS historic hx-
ture on the opening DAY OF the new track at
Thoroughly ht her for that she may be started at
Aqueduct Of Jamaica
In this connection her brilliant record last year
is worth summarizing once more. In fourteen
starts she won twelve races, was second once and
third once for total of $3.50 Her victories
follows:
April Is. the Carter Handicap, seven furlongs;
May 2 the Ladies Stakes one mile; time IA 15
June 9. the Gazelle Stakes. one mile and a six
june r. the Mermaid Stakes one mile
T5ne 90 overnight race one mile; time 1:3s %
August /, the Alabama Stakes one mile and fur
August 20 the Saratoga Cup. one mile and three
Augst so the Dolphin Stakes. one mile and
September :. the September Stakes. one mile and
September t. First Special one mile and quar-
September "A, Second Special, one mile and half;
On May she ran third in the Metropolitan Handi-
cap with a Bremen up, handicapped by bad
start and interference, and on July is she
second 10 Hermis in the Test Handicap in what is
generally acknowledged 10 be the greatest mile ever
run in this country
The weights for the Metropolitan and Carter
handicaps announced last week with the
/ same general approval by owners, trainers and
racing folk generally did those for the Brooklyn
Suburban and Brighton handicaps. announced Feb
ruary l. II only remains for the horses entered 10
( train insure big fields going to the post and
there is hardly a trainer who does think his
particular horse has chance AT the weights AIr
Vosburgh's handicaps usually acceptable but
this year he seems to have outdone himself in pro-
vidng some hard problems 10 solve In the Carter
Handicap, which viii be run April J.. Beldame
seems 10 be the general choice even with her impost
/ OF III pounds Bedame is hardly likely TO start
however, and with her II has been hard 10 find
--L-c.