Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-20
SySonby'S Hard Task in the
Big HandicapS.
MUST CARRY TOP WEIGHT
History of Classic Races Does Not
Favor Heavy Impost Horses.
BOWLING BATTLES LAST NIGHT
Conditions Announced for Roosevelt
Cup Race-Golfng at Palm Beach
Base Ball Notes.

J, r. keene's champion Sysonby has been
asked to carry 13l pounds in the Brooklyn,
Suburban and Brighton handicaps. and not
withstanding the severe impost, he is ex-
pected TO prove equal to the task. 1t was
believed that Handicapped Vosburgh would
be severe on the of Melton, owing to
his remarkable career on the turf last year
and his well-known ability to carry weight.
but the racing public was hardly pre-
pared for the penalty of i31 pounds in
each of the classic events.
Although Sysonby's task is a big one, the
weight is not record one for a four-year-
old in these big events. In the inaugural
Suburban handicap. in 1884. George Kin
ney started with the impost of 132 pounds.
cunning fifth in the race, which was won
by Gen. Monroe, six years old, with l2i
pounds up.
That sysonby is considered equal to the
task allotted to him is Shown by the bet
ting in the winter books, in which he is
quoted at 10 l in all three events, with
Harry Payne Whitney's Artful second
choice at I to l. Burgomaster at 8 to /.
for the Brighton handicap, is the only
other horse seriously considered in the bet
ting.
Hard Task for Top Weights.
Horses carrying top weight in the Subur-
ban handicap have always had difficult
task. In the twenty-five times the big race
mas been decided the horse regarded as the
greatest by the Handicapped has won the
rich event but four times. In 1Sso Henry
of Navarro then -year-old, won al top
weight. lS9 pounds and in 1897 Ben Brush,
"a four-year-Old carried The greatest weight,
123 pounds, and was the winner. as was
Gold Heels in 1902, he being also four
year old and winning with 124 pounds up.
Hermis carried top weight l2I pounds, and
won the Suburban in 1894 but, like Henry
of Navarro. he was then a hve-year-old.
Ornament. as a fOur-year-old. in 1888 was
asked 20 carry the same weight as Syson-
Oy has been allotted, and ran eighth, Tillo.
also four-year-old. winning with f19
pounds up. Ethelbcrt, fOur-year-old, was
handicapped at $50 pounds in 1900. but could
only finish second. Kinley Mack, the same
age. winning with l25 pounds up.
lampightcr, as tOuT-year-old in 1898,
was asked to carry the top weight of III
pounds. but the best he could do was TO
finish third the race going TO the five-year-
old imp. LowlandeT. which carried the light
weight OF 100 pounds Top weight was ac-
corded To RaCeland. a five-year-old. in 1880,
but the mighty Salvador won with 12f
pounds up, the highest weight any four
Sear-Old has ever carried 10 victory in the
big race. Tenny then five-year-old, car
Iied the top weight In 1891 but Loantakar
which was in light. ran away with the race.
Suburban Record.
The record of the other Suburban handi-
cap races show that top weights have hard
picklugs in the famous events.
ISS5-Tlp weight General Monroe aged. ia
pounds; race won By imp. Pontiac, years lO2
Iss6-Ttp weight. Baruum. aged. iao pounds;
race vou by Troubadour, years, rs pounds up.
1ss7-Tcp weight. BaInuuI, sged, l25 pounds;
iSssETop weight. Linden. years. i2l pounds;
rae Won hy Ekwood. 5 years, 1l0 pounds up.
isso-rOp weight. Terra Gotta, years, ia