New-York tribune., 1907-08-26
List WEEK At EMPIRE.
Tonkcrs Meeting Has Been Drasc-
ing Large Croscds.

The final week OF the summer meeting
at the Empire City track begins to-day with
the Tarrytown Handicap for three -year-olds
and upward as the feature There have already
been thirteen days of racing the YOnkers
course. If this week proves as successful as
the two previous James Butler will be fully
satisfied That it will be there seems no rea-
son TO doubt.
It is a long trip from the heart Of the city TO
the Yonkers track. and the transit conditions
are not perfect by long way. But despite
this unfortunate circumstance the crowds which
have been IN attendance daily at Empire City
have not been far below those. in point OF num-
bers at the long established Long Island courses
Had the Yonkers meeting not been in conflict
with that at Saratoga the crowds would have
been still larger. There have been few days
when less than eight thousand persons were at
Empire City 1t is the unanimous opinion that
Mr.. Butler has reason to be proud of the sup
port he has received from the lovers of thor
oughbreds.
No fault has been found with the work of'the
officials Indeed, II has been exceptionally good
Jake Hoffman has given complete satisfaction
In his capacity as starter. With few exceptions
the fields have got off well. On several oc-
casions the judges have been called upon TO
decide close finishes, but invariably the public
has accepted their decisions without comment
There has been very little rough riding at En-
pire City. and only one horse has been disquali-
fed The allotment Of weights for the handi-
Nothing except praise can be said for the Of
fcias.
Although the Jockeys are not at the head of
their profession there some fairly good boys
at the local course Those who have ridden
with most success are Schilling, Preston, J.
Lee Pohonl1a, Sumter Musgrave W. OFT, Lei
bert L. Williams and Lycurgus
II must be acknowledged that the class" OF
the horses which have been under colors has not
been as high as had been hoped for. The ma
he -ad zc
and third raters at the Long Island tracks.
This condition was looked for when the meeting
was arranged. There was much disorder Just
prior to the meeting. and the larger owners
feared to take any chances of the meeting not
going through. AS the horses at Empire city
are ALI about in the same class the racing has
been good and there has been plenty Of oppor-
tunity for speculation
Several horses at Empire City stand out above
the others on their performances at this meet
ing. Among these may be included Colloquy,
which has been out three times and returned
a winner the same number; Polly Prim, Taunt,
Stanley Fay Colonel Bob, Hanbridge, Royal
ONYX Topsy Robinson, Carthage and Gold
Proof The two later have had the poorest kild
Of Iuck and neither has yet won brackets.
Carthage has been placed four times and IN
variabIy he has lost by the narrowesc OF mar
gins principally because of poor riding Goid
proof which has been asked to carry consider
able weight has finished second four times ana
got the show money three times
The stewards have Investigated several pecul-
lar reversals of form. but action has been
taken Early last week there seemed TO be no
such thing as form, but later the horses per-
formed nearer to their real ability. There was
one noticeable instance on Thursday. when an
odds-on favorite was dsgracefully beaten by
horses far below her in ability on previous per-
formances There seemed to be no legitimate
excuse.
Among the most successful owners thus far
are II E Watkins, T. B. Hayes, w Shields,
William Walker, T. Z. Crist, Mrs. II. III. Selby
and II. K. Vingut.