New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-04
CLOSE FINISHES RULE
GATES CLOSED TO-DAY.
Half Sovereign Beats Big Chief IN
the Ocean Handicap.

As If 10 make up for the lack or rich fixtures and
high class fields which marked the racing on
Wednesday. the sport sheepshead Bay yester-
day replete with close and stirring finishes in
almost every race This kent the crowd interested
"a crowd which was quite big that on pre-
vious days of the week. bat siih 4 mere hsnefui
as compared with year ago. The Pinkertons-
under the direction Of the Coney Island Jockey
club were quite active usual in preventing
even the faintest show of betting. and the onetme
bookmskers vi O were in attendance were so care
ful live up 10 the new regulations that they
. would quote prices or say what horse IN
their opinion, would be the favorite Ten or
twelve men were warned not to apply for edmis-
sion on SATURDAY. because they were suspected OF
quoting prices but otherwise the day passed OF
serenely. all serenely for those who liked 10
. back their judgment.
For the first time in several years between April
L and November Is. except when the horses were
at Saratoga there viii be racing in the Metro
Dolitan district to-day The officials of the Coney
island Jockey Club decided not TO race on Fridays
and those who are stn faithful Sin have to 90
5own 10 Elkwoed Park up to see the bah game
On Saturday big crowd should be in attendance
sitk the prospect Of seeing Maskette Sir Martin
and other good two-year-olds meet in the Flat
bush Stakes to say nothing of other good races
august Beimont's Half Sovereign won the Ocean
Handicap, at mile, yesterday, Which $1,000 III
the feature OF the programme Butler TOOK her
right TO the front the start, and she was never
m serious danger. although Big Chief made bold
but fruitless challenge through the last furong-
James r Keene's Restigouche was away badly
1r otherwise he might have forced the winner out
He made I'D lot OF ground, and was running
strongly in the stretch. The impression was more
81 less general that Half Sovereign was sprlnteF
pure and simple and would not snow 10 sdNahtase
over any distance more than SIX f1ilonSs. she
son in way indicate, hoveteT, that under care
rul handling she would go any olStoiet "f 10 d
mile and & quarter
John z. Madden's Mis- heaTncy Won the twenty
second running OF the Dash Stakes 1or tr-o-year-
olds six furlongs. Size appeared 90 ~ hope
lessly the last lurloas pole when August
Belnont's Field Mouse and Harry Payne Whit
nsy,s Sea Cliff were fighting it IN the
TIE Planudes fly closed with rush. however.
under Shilling's strong finish, and got Up in the
last stride TO beat Sea Cliff head in the fast
time Of III 80 Field Mouse hung in the closing
strides as if Z short, and she will be hard 10
beat the next time she goes to the post. This is
the fly that won a at Belmont Park this
spring when quoted at 100 10 !.
Old Caller. well handled by Donahue, made all
the running in the steepiechase and won ridden
put by q length from Pirate, which made favor
able Impression Navajo which was well fancied
~ the cross country sharps broke down badly on
The second turn of the field and was pulled up.
Sheriff Lane OF Westchester County . Wis
tor az the track. but had nothing 10 say beyond
the fact that he wanted to see how racing was
conducted at Sheepshead Bay
At a meeting of the directors OF the Saratoga
Racing Association at the track yesterday il was
Seeded TO withhold the announcement OF the early
closing stakes for the present
AT the sale % yearings in the sales paddock be-
fore A J. Joyner, acting for Harry Payne
whitney, paid $500 a chestnut colt by Broom
stick-Audience. Broomstck holds the worlds
record for mile and quarter OF 2rs "a. made
SShen he beat Irish Lad head in the Brighton
Handicap OF 1853 z T. Wilson. jr-- paid $3.50
Eor bay colt by Broomstick-Ss norlta- me win
her Of twenty-five races, while J. ). Hawkins
Bought good looking colt by OTmEs-Hood0o tie
81 lam of MesmeTist Tor = Do
In the unusual quiet which marks Jhe finish Of
most Of the these days took
documentary interest in the excitement Of two young
s<vouen in the gTandstand when Black Mary won
5the first race Even the Pinkertons looked around
hss Il they thought they had a duty TO perform
BIT turned out that the only bet pair Of black
velvet slippers.