New-York tribune., 1907-09-30
GOSSIP OF THE TURF
SOME FORM REVERSALS.
Promise of Good Racing in Meetlng
at BRIGHTON Beach.


| Club at Gravesend. which came to end Sat
urday, was anything but long, sweet dream
! for the form players, enc surprise followed
another in such quick and startling succession
that the handicappers hardly knew which way
to turn. There were two or three form soner-
| saults which seemed to demand an official in
vestigation, but so far as can be learned the
stewards asked no questions. or If they ola
nothing could be discovered to justify any ac-
/ ton. Gold Lady'S sudden Improvement IN WIN
ming the AIbemare Handicap Monday. after
such a bad three days before when she did
not show particle of speed, and was beaten
three lengths by Don Enrique, was so
startling that il seemed as If some explanation
/ should be forthcoming. This was emphasized
by her even more brilliant race on Thursday,
when she made a new track record for mile
and furlong in winning the Occidental Handl-
cap Gold Lady is a good mare. the best of her
/ age and in training in all probability and
raCegOers would like explanation OF her
race of September 20 when she could hardly
raise a respectable gallop.
Yankee Girls sudden return TO form, Smiling
Toms disgraceful race on Friday and Frank
Gls quick Improvement were other cases which
aroused unfavorabe comment. Frank GllIs bad
race in the First Special and his good one in the
Hindoo Stakes be explained in some rea-
sonable way, he met much inferior field in
his good race. and handled by stronger
boy than Notter, for whom the good three-year-
old will not kindly, 70 all appearances
Frank Gill is not so good a horse as he was
when he beat Peter Pan, as was SHOWN again III
the Second Special, but with his class he was
quite good enough to dispose of such horses as
Monfort. Prince Hampton and Smiling Tom.
which hardly more than selling platers Su-
perman, the Brooklyn Handicap winner. was
plainly not at his best when the Hindoo Stakes
Frank Gill has won some $4,000 this year and
stands next to Peter Pan the biggest three
year-old winner of the season.
An explanation has come all the way from
1ay7d M from pCC q lufhOrltV tl0r
oughbred subjects than Rapier, in The Illus
trated Sporting and Dramatic News as TO why
John NJ. P. that erratic English jumper re-
fused at the last hedge at Saratoga. when lead
ing by a sixteenth Of a mile or more. and heaV-
lily backed ar a short price Jack O'Brien, the
amateur cross country rider, gets the blame. as
Rapier says. IF a steeplechase horse is pulled
up almost to a stop he nears the last fence.
the surprise would come. not from MS refus-
ing, hut from his jumping"
It seems that an enthusiastic believer in and
admirer of John NJ P wrote his version OF the
race TO Rapier and asked for an explanation.
in which he said, in part that his riders ex-
cess of caution had permitted him TO come al
most to a stop as he neared the obstacle and
while the horse straight at the jump
he swerved suddenly and unseated Mr. O'Brien
This was hardly true 10 the facts Of the case.
as while Mr.. O'Brien taking things rather
easily. he had good reason to do, he had not
pulled the horse almost TO a walk.
Judging from other races Of John NJ p 1t
was not altogether Mr. C'Briens fault II al
all This iumper which skins his fence Ike
a bird when so disposed, has q wilful way
which would take more than an expert 10 ex-
plain. Like De Mund. Roy A. Rainey's faint7
hearted sprinter. John NJ. P. wins one race in
an all conuuering Nav. 10 he heralded a great
and brilliant performance only 70 fail the next
time when most is expected. and force his fol-
lowers TO search deep and look far for some
reasonable explanation. Horses like John NJ p
and De Mund are dangerous TO bet on and dan
gerous TO bet against
The racing scene VIII change again to-day, |
when the Brighton Beach Racing Association
vii throw open its gates for a six-day
meeting. In that time eight stakes will he de-
cided. four OF which are rich enough TO attract
the best horses in training. The Brighton Prod |
uce Stakes. which has a guaranteed cash value |
Of 100000, will be to-day In two divisions. |
the first half for filles and the second hair Tor
colts and geldings Harry Payne Whitney holds |
a strong hand for the flly part OF the stake with
Stamina. Fancy and Adriana, but Julia Po"eI
and Masquerade should furnish enough com
petition to make the race interesting from END
10 end.
The unbeaten Colin should gellop home in the |
colt and geIding division of the stake and add |
the rich prize to the big winnings OF James r |
Keene August Relmonts Fair Play and Harry |
Payne Whitney's Royal Tourist are good young |
sters but they cannot be named in the same |
breath with Colin. ard only an accident can rob |
the son Of Commando OF the race
The Cup Preliminary, a weight for age race |
exclusively for horses nominated for the |
Brighton Cup, will be the feature Of the pro- |
eramme Tomorrow The distance is one mile |
and a half Among those eligible are Ballot, |
Salvidere, Montgomery. Frank Gil, Runnlng |
Water Electioneer and Ironsides. and the field |
will probably be made up from these. The race |
will prove more than usually interesting. as the |
same horses are being pointed for the Brighton |
Cup on Saturday, which is a race at two miles |
and a quarter for $4,000 and a gold cup valued |
at 81 900 The Brighton Cup is one of the most |
coveted fixtures of the fall racing season, and |
the best field In the history Of the stake is like
lv TO go TO the post this year Holscher fur |
nished a stunning surprise by winning last year.
The Mercury Handicap for all ages, will be |
the fixture on Wednesday, while the Triumph |
Stakes for two year-ods, is sure TO be big |
drawing card on Thursday. The latter has an
added money value of $4,000, to say nothing of |
the historic Phalsalia Plate, with value Of |
$1,000 which will become the property Of
the owner winning IT twice, not necessar-
lily in succession. 1t is the first race of the
wear exclusively for two yearolds at one mile.
which lends an added interest. Among the
youngsters eligible and likely to start are Not
asulga which is generally ranked as the best
two-year- old fy of the season, in spite OF her
defeat on Saturday; Uncle, Sam Hidreths
$4,000 colt; Meelick, Spooner, Restigouche,
Stamina, Firestone and Alfred Noble. The last
named has been carefully pointed for this race.
and in all probability will not lack for follow
ers even in the good company he is likely to
meet.