The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-11
CITY TRACK OPENS
CROWD or 10000 PERSONS SEES
GOOD RACING.


k'~.' St
bridge. TAunt and MOnacOdSr Also win.
In spite Of transportation facilities that
Wv re worthy Of the attention Of tbs Public
service Commission the Empire City race
meeting at the YOnkers track was opened
", sterday with 10000 persons on hand. The
I zion Hallway Company, which controls all
the trolley lines In The BropX. WAS directly
responsible for n state Of AFFAIRS that was
little short OF a disgrace. Although the
trolley people assured the track management
that they would have enough cars and power
10 handle the thousands who Intended TO visit
a. trark. the railroad was practically tied up
Within n range OF three miles " the track In
all directions before I o'clock. Some said
that the power gave out completely. while
al hers insisted that the trouble was wholly
,Iie 10 execrable mana cement, but whatever
vas the real cause Of the trouble. the fact re-
mains that thousands Of men and women
we're compelled 10 walk along the dusty roads
fer two miles or more to the main entrance OF
the track on Jerome avenue.
The trouble started when the Jerome
avenue cars reached Woodlawn Cemetery.
they were running under ten minutes head
Way, but NJ the cemetery. which Ia two miles
from the track. there was a breakdown. so
that everybody had to get ont and proceed on
loot. Then. a. the special trains from the
Grand Central station reached WOODLAND,
the passengers found that there were only a
lew trolley cars to take them the rest OF the
way. so that there was another long pro-
,ession Of pedestrians coming from that direo-
ion. H. was the same story for those who
tried To get to the track from Mount Vernon
md Yonkcrs. James Butler. the president
= the Empire City club, and his attorney,
ames Russell Solely. we're soon inspecting the
lixup In an automobile. They sent word TO
he walking army that the first race had been
postponed until 3 O'Clock. and then hunted mp
he trolley people for an eN plans'ton. MT.
'Intler said afterwsrd that ne believed the
Union Railway Company had done its best and
that the troubl" was unavoidable. But IL is
lery probable that within the next day or two
Yr. Butler will establish n system OF free trans
Dortation from the New York Central station
in Mount Vernon. half a mile away.
There were probably 10000 spectators on
hand when the first race was run. while thou
sands who would have made the trip under
more favorable circumstances turned back
aisgusted. With the regular % rate Of admis-
sion to the grand stand and 81 to the field,
the management took in enough money TO
cover all expenses to date. which was an ex-
aellent showing. The field was entirely too
small to accommodate the crowd that paid
admission TO IL. 80 that there was "A big over
TOW to the infeld to relieve the congestion.
The big grand stand was filed while the races
were under way, but the betting ring under
meath it was "A fearful place to spend five
minutes or so. II was a sardine box In which
seventy layers had more than they could do
20 handle the business. which was wonder
fully brisk at all stages. while the field
betting enclosure beggsrs description. Suf-
ice IL to say that hundreds gave up the almost
impossible task of getting down a bet and just
look ed on the rest Of the afternoon.
Considering the class OF horses that TOOK
part in the various events the racing was
excellent. There was a lack OF good jockeys,
but that made no difference with the bettors.
who backed their choices with plenty OF con-
fdence. There we're several close finishes
in which Judge Frank W. Thorp showed that
he was thoroughly competent. while the
starting of Jacob Hoffman was as fine as any
thing ever seen on the big Jockey Club tracks.
Altogether the first days sport was pro-
nounced a success, and when the ,fun was
over the crowd found that the trolley road.
with a down grade 70. travel over, had re-
covered its second wind.
James Butler had the clubhouse, which is
the finest in the country. in splendid shape
for his guests. A luncheon was served in the
well appointed dining room and among those
who sat AT the tables were senator John !.
Mccall. James J. Hogan. II. NJ. Ziegler, n; l..
Thomas, John T.. Royan, james Russell Solely.
Joseph A. Rhinoch. Matt J VIM, y. J Nor
Frank O'Brien. Capt COsgrave. Joseph Puah.
Judge Hoffman,, Asssmblymsn Schwesler.
Joseph 4. Murphy. Newton Bennington and
many others who are well known on the big
The only friction in the betting line VS.
caused by the scratching Of the Ally Ia veits
in the fifth race she Vas named as a starter
was on the Jockey Clubs forfeit list for $50.
Hayes paid the forfeit after the first race had
been run but an old rule was dug up which
Of his horses which had been entered before
the forfeit was paid. J Lee was announced
from TO Sto to ,. while Wardine was backed
"Hsxpected announcement that La .veitS
was. scratched. which caused some confusion
until the word was passed out by the ring
would be fifteen minutes for a new book.
That settled the controversy to the ~satisfac-
The track was in excellent condition and
fast time was made 10 all the races. The
feature was the Empire City Handicap at
Ahmed and Howard oats,s Topsy Robinson
closed eaual, fayorites at 7 to 2, with heavy
and II, Y. watkins's ~flavigny. both of whom
,% 1sn, sent c9 ,S the r4 fs1S s s%nS from n p.t Iss DS siisn in
Llent and Topsy Robinson quickly went to
the front with what looked like a winning
Essn Os .hs T 5ssa rea to sto ,pe and ND Prince s Ahmed
and Cedsrstrome. 70 ! both passed her,
he won rather easily by half a length in
I4o3-S. Cederstrome was two lengths In
front, Of T,opsy Robinson.
w W " y " - " wv
got a bad looking ride from T.. Williams in
the opening event, AZ about six fnrlongs, the
uolored jockey pulling up his mount on the
far turn and finishing In the ruck George
II Hoole. who won two races, produced the
winner of this event In his fleet mare Colo
ouv. who receded 10 S to /. She set the pace,
attended by Goldproof. ; TO / and in a hard
drive beat The latter a, neck ~ ! Oa i;5., Three
longths back ". 'hields's Diamond, backed
down TO q. took third place bv a head from
Minor, % TO I. with Carthage not far behind.
". Shields's ServilP. even money ia vorite,
was much the best in the second race. for two
year-olds. five and a half furlongs, but he
was BEATEN because OF n bunRling ride by !.
Hennessey, who got him shut of on the turn
and then took the overland route, Bounding
Elk. : TO ?. second choice. show ed the way
from the start and won In a hot drive by a
neck from II. X. NinRut's B~elphPbe, who
In turn beat Miss MalZoni, backed down TO
S. by n head. The latter was slow to begin,
but beat Servile. who was closing rapidly.
by n length and a half,
George II. HOLE showed a good two-year-
old In HandridRe in the fourth event at
i've and a half furlongs. for the Banastar
colt. backed down to Z to 10. simply galloped
in front all the way and rolled home eight
lengths before u. e. Hughes's skye. o 20 S,
with }. 7 Muir's Polar Star. ~ TO 1, a poor
third. The time was / O7 LIS.
T. f.. CRISIS Taunt, backed from 4 70 ,.
made all the pace in the fifth race. for three
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