Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-10
Big HANDICAP DAY
Splendid Field for the 18th Run
ming Of the Metropolitan
at Belmont Park.

bred have been looking forward to for
months. It marks the opening OF the first
spring meeting Of the Westchester Racing
Association at Belmont Park. the biggest,
best appointed ana most commodious rae
Ing Enclosure In this country. 1t has been
APPLY called the Newmarket OF America,
and those who have seen both courses con-
tend that It Is quite the equal Of the IA
nous track In England. The racing sea-
son In the metropolitan district Is now al
most four weeks old. The sport at Aque-
duct was excellent. and that at Jamaica
even better, but those meetings. good al
they were. served only az curtain raisers
for the real opening Of the eastern racing
season today.
Thousands will go to the track from every
walk In life to honor the occasion and to
see Inc running of the historic Metropolitan
Hahoicap. 1t matters not that with the
exception OF the big race and the New
York Steeplechase the card Is hardly I'D to
the standard of those which have been Of
tered at Aqueduct and Jamaica for racing
FOLK Will go to the track rain or shine as
mere ID glamour about the Metropolitan
Handicap hard to explain but none the
less alluring. In two races at least there
VIII be no cause for complaint as sport of
the best Is promised with an environment
most attractive.
Nineteen Probable Starters.
Nineteen horses have been sent out as
probable starters for the sixteenth running
OF the Metropolitan Handicap at one mile,
ana II would be no surprise X at the last
minute one or two others might be added
TO race FOR the rich prize. It has ever been
q great contest and always worthily won,
ana todays running Is likely to be no ex-
cept1on to the rule. The horses are we'll
matched at the weights, and the outlook is
Tor one OF those stirring drives to the wire
which quickens the pulse and adds so much
to the charm of racing.
OF the nineteen carded thirteen have had
part OF their preparation in actual races.
and FOUR of these at least, ISRAELI, Rose
ben, Grapple and Accountant, have &C
quilted themselves In a way to insure them
many followers today. Unfortunately the
track Is likely to be heavy, or at least dead
and cuppy, and this will probably count
against Roseben, which now has the OPP
portunity to redeem himself for his defeat
in the Excelsior handicap. The big weight
carrying Splinter. which holds the world 8
record for six furlongs On a circular track,
Is at top weight of those named, with 128
pounds and 1t looks almost as II his task
was too much.
Israeli made a host of friends an his
easy victory In the Kings County handicap
last Saturday, and 1t Is more than likely
that he Will go to the post slight favorite.
Grapple. although lacking in class perhaps.
won his last race so easily that he too will
for Accountant, which won his only start in
a way to indicate that he had grown and
developed into q good three-year-old. The
others which have started this year are
more or less forlorn hopes with the possi-
BILE exception OF Ormonde's Right. which
Ia erratic and inconsistent at best. Colo
NAL Girl Is in well and might show i'm
proyement over her first start.
Dandelion Dangerous.
Harry Payne Whitney Is depending upon
Pegasus. a three-year-old, which will make
his first appearance Of the season. He was
highly thought Of last year. but hardly
raced UP to expectations. He is royalty
bred. by Hamburg-Peg Wellington, and is
said to have Outworked his stable COM
panions in preparation for this race. Thos.
Hitchcock. jr.'s, Dandclion has been pre-
pared at Washington. He worked a mile
the reverse way of that track a few days
ago in 1.42 which was quite good enough
to give him royal chance today under 1OS
pounds. Stalwart Is also said to have been
working well. but 1t Is so long since he has
faced the starter, because OF leg trouble
last year, that little dependence can be
placed on the good son of Medlar, which
was ranked aS the very top in his three
year-old form.
The race, from whatever point viewed
looks distinctly open. It will be battle in
which the skill and the brains of the
Jockeys. as we'll as the speed and stamina
of the horses, viii have an important part
There will be waiting. but GREATNESS
rush from barrier to judges, and the Win
ner will well deserve the plaudits OF the
crowd and the honor which the winning of a
race of this kind brings.
The entries for the Metropolitan. with the
weights to be carried, the jockeys and an
estimate of the probable betting, follow: