New-York tribune., 1906-10-09
BALLOT AND ADORATI0N
DTVIDE MATRON STAKES.
yrousides Beats Good Luck a Head
in Jerome Handicap.

ranes R Keene, r. 7. Wilson, jr and Harry
psvne Whitney figured prominently IN the dis
,os;tion OF the three stakes decided at Belmont
PARK Yesterday. Mr. Keene's Ballot won the colt
division Of the rich NIatron Stakes Mr. Will
sons Alteration. the FLY. half of the same stake.
and Mr whitneys Ironsides the Jerome Handi-
cap for three-year-olds. II was the opening day
Of the fall meeting OF the westchester Racing
ASSOCIATION, and under the most favorable
weather conditions the big, parklike inclosure
never looked more attractive Strange to say,
however. the crowd was far below expectations
,n the matter Of size. and while some eight
thousand persons were IN attendance, they
looked lost in the huge grandstand.
A good programme had been provided with
The Matron Stakes for two-year-olds at six fur
longs as the chief attraction. James p Keene's
Ballot was the favorite for the colt and gelding
division az odds-on. as with McCarter scratched
he appeared to have the race at his mercy
Yankee Gun had a strong following and closed
q pronounced second choice at TO 2 Okenite
and Don Enrique. coupled as the August Belmont
entry, were held at TO /. while H. B. DURYEA'S
Hickory added starter. and Flint Hill were
the extreme outsiders
Ballot won. but not without a long and hitter
struggle with Okenite the least thought Of OF
the Belmont pair. They fought It out head and
head over the greater part OF the six furIong
course. and IL was only inside the last sixteenth
pole that Ballot was abls TO draw away under
pressure TO win by length. Okenite tired from
his efforts 10 race Ballot into submission barely
lasted long enough TO save the place from the
fast closing Hickory. Yankee Gun ran a dull
race, while Don Enrique could hardly raise a
respectable gallop.
Those who had accepted the short price offered
against Ballot had few anxious moments he
fore the red board wenr up TO confirm the off,
clsl placing. Ballot and Okenite had engaged
tn a humping match half way down the stretch
and J. Jones' who rode the latter. went before
the stewards and made q claim of foul against
Radtke, who handled Ballot. While the stew
Hrds were celebrating James r. Keene and Au-
gust Belmont who were the ones vitality inter-
ested, stood talking together inside the club
house inclosure. and when the stewards dis
missed the complaint AIr, Belmont generously
congratulated Mr. Keene. There was quite a
difference Of opinion among those who watched
the race from the grandstand as TO whether Bal
LOT or Okenite was responsible for the fouling
The general opinion, however, seemed TO be
against Ballot, as he kept bearing out all
through the race. What little Interference there
vas. however, was hardly enough 10 have
changed the result, the ruling OF the stew
ards was accepted without comment
Pope Joan, which was beaten only a short
neck by Electionee- in the Futurfty was the
:syorite for the fly half OF the Matron Stakes
while Yankee Girl and Alteration closed equal sec
ono choices al . TO ?. backed down from 6 10 /
Alteration, with Miller up. raced Common Sue
ana Pope Joan into submission in the first hale
me ana then coming on won rather cleverlv
ZION Fantastic. liberation covered the six fur
.ones n III -. which was g fifth OF a second
ias'e man Ballots time. She was conceding
"e!gm 10 her field, and on her performance yes
ts.asy she stands second only to Court Dress
es among the best twO-year-old fllies OF the
season.
uIly four horses went TO the post in the Je-
rome Handicap, but Running Water. Ironsides
enl Good Luck appeared 10 be so close together
a. me weights that al time IN the betting
70 was the price gainst each with Nealon
he outsider. Just before the horses went TO the
post Good Luck and Running Water got the
pu!k OF the play. so that Ironsides drifted back
70 . 70 = Running Water did not play prom
men part III the running Of the race as the
weight told in the last quarter of a mile and
she, with Nealon dropped out of it. while Good
Luck moved up 10 take issue with Ironsides
%iAch ma forced the pace. Good Luck caught
fohsces insld, the las sixte-rth pols and
appeared to ia'e the race safely wo1, but Iroc-
tioes was no+ TO be denied. and under Radtke's