The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-05
SYSONBY AND RACE
KING TOGETHER
Big Metropolitan Handicap
Purse is Divided
BELMONT PARK Is OPENED
Races Are In Wrong" Way of the
Track-Fifty Thousand People
Witness the First Days
Racing.

New York, May lone OF the greatest
crowds that ever gathered to see thor
oughbred race in America was at Belmont
park today to witness the sensational
running of the Metropolitan handicap, in
which James r. Keene's 3-year-old Syson-
by and O. l.. Keen's hardy 4-year-old
Race King finished so close together the
judges were I'M BILE to separate them.
Both owners announced their satisfaction
with the result as it stood, and the purse.
amounting to more than $4,000, was di-
vided
Sysonby was the favorite in the betting,
his stable mate. Delhi, having been with
drawn. Long odds were offered the pub
lie on Race King, but here were few who
thought highly of the Tenny colts
chances. The time of the race was disap-
pointing. showing that the Belmont tracks
are still new and slow. Drawn by the
dual attraction of the opening of the
newest and greatest of American race
tracks, and the fourteenth renewal of the
Metropolitan handicap, more than fifty
thousand persons made the trip to Bel
mont park.
The novelty of seeing races rur the
wrong way o. the track or finishing
from the right, was by no means unin-
teresting feature of the days sport. Some
persons anticipated accidents because of
the unusual conditions. but aside from the
natural tendency of the horses to bear
OUT at the turns and finish close to the
outside rail, there seemed to be no ap-
preciable difference in their running.
The winner of tte first race. quite un-
expectedly came from the stable of Au-
gust Belmont, chairman of the Jockey
club. To Mr. Belmont, to his jockey. w.
Davis, and his trainer, A. J. Poyner, the
West Chester association presented three
large silver cups as souvenirs of the in
augural contest over the Belmont course.
Not often has the spectacle furnished
by the struggle in the Metropolitan hand!-
cap today been equalled on an American
race course. An even dozen thoroughbreds
went to the post, Delhi, Rose Ben, Leoni-
das, Pasadena. Tanya and Siglight hav-
ing been withdrawn. The scratching of
Delhi convinced the racegoers that Syson-
by had outworlked the son of Ben Brush,
and they made the Keene 3-year-old ia
Vorite at odds of 2 to l. Beldame was
heavily played by the general public at
4 to l. These two carried the bulk of the
wagers.
When the horses were called out to pa
rade, Beldame was well on her way to the
brief glimpse at the Octagon mare dis
mayed her hackers, for she plainly showed
her unfitness.
After a rather tiresome delay at the
post the horses were sent away. The
start for the race, which was at one
mile, was directly across the track from
the grandstand. and the great crowd en-
joyed the spectacle to the fullest. Santaca-
talna had the rail and showed for In.
slant In front, but Sysonby was at her
side, and before the first quarter pole
had been reached the Keene colors flashed
to the fore Beldames frinds had a ray
of hope for a moment as the mare drew
ont of the struggling mass and shot into
third place.
Sysonby seemed to have a clear lead
of two or three lengths on the far turn,
but Shaw eased up his mount as a strong
wind struck him in the face. and took the
Melton colt back allowing the field to
close on him.
Colonial Girl and Race King displaced
Beldame and Santacatalina, who dropped
back hopelessly beaten. First Mason.
stable companion of Colonial Girl was
not far away. Sysonby was seen to bear
away toward the outside rail on coming
into the stretch, and at his side was Race
King, the little swaybaeked son of the
famous Tenny
To even the most hardened racegoers
the struggle between IneSe lWO WIS Sucu
as to send a lump into the throat. There
was an instant silence as the thorough
breds dashed along the rail. First one
brown muzzle showed in front and then
the other as the horses strained every
fibre to gain an inch.
Shaw and Smith were driving like
mad, but to no purpose. and their charg-
ers finished so closely together that the
Judges were unable to separate them.
The shouting multitude which had been
stilled for an instant by the royal strug-
gle. broke out into cheers afresh as the
ciphers went up decnoting a dead heat,
for the crowd had witnessed something
seldom seen In the big handicaps, and felt
rewarded thereby even II not successful
In backing the winners.
Behind Sysonby and Race King, but on
the inside rail, was Colonial Girl, winner
of the Worlds Fair handicap at St Louis.
Both she and her stable mate, First Ma
son, ran a good race. The others were
beaten off
James r. Keene and o. L. Richards,
owner of Sysonby and Race King. quickly
settled the question of the dead heat by
dividing the proceeds. Summary:
First race. Belmont Park inaugural, six
furlongs, straight-Blandy, lis CIV. Davis,
to 1. won Oliver Cromwell. 1l3 tGreen),
100 to 1. second; Regal, lis SHAW, to l,
third. Time, I'd.
Second race five furlongs. straight-Ne-
ronese lis I'd. O'Connor). IL to l, won;
(x) Merry Boy SHAW. to 2. second;
Green Room. 122 tO'NeilD, 9 to 2, third.
Time, :55 So. (x)-Coupled with East End
Third race. the juvenile stakes, five fur
longs. straight-First Way. III 20 Nellll,
to 1. won; Vendor. III CBurns), to l.
second. Coincidence. 104 Baird, 20 to l,
third. Time, 80 2-5
Fourth race, the Metropolitan handicap.
$4,000 added. one mile-(x) Sysonby, lol
(Shaw), to /. (x) Race King. 81 a..
SMITH, 20 to I, (xx) Colonial Girl i'll CIV.
Booker), 10 to l. third. Time, 1:41 3-5-
Oxford, Dolly spanker (xxl First Ma
son. Kehailan, Wotan, Beldanie. Santa
Catalina, Joaquin, Ormonde's Right ran.
(x)-Dead heat between Sysonby and
Race King (xx)-Coupled.
Fifth race. New York steeplechase.
about two miles-Good and Plenty, 146
CRayl. to 10. won; Flving Buttress- 15d
Pending), Is to 1, second Rube. 1853 (Sulli-
van). so to l. third Time. 1854.
Sixth race, selling, seven fiTlongs
straight-King Pepper JOG II. ]. Walsh
10 to !. won; Onatas. III Gvne), to l.
second; Whorter, 106 Baird, II to 5, third.
Time, 1:25 -
Belmont Entries.
First race, four and one-half furlongs-
Maidens, 2-year-olds, Sidney F. Sirius,
kuro, Hammer Away, 112; Hocus Pocus,
Jaeobin. Lille B. 1903
second race, six furlongs. straight-away,
selling, 3-year-olds and up-Neptunus,
Rocklands, 109; Orfeo, Old England, 107;
Et tn Brute, 1O6; Aeronaut Renault. Jer-
ry q ss Second Light, "a, Carrie
Jones, 81