Evening star., 1909-05-31
BIG TURF EVENTS
FOR THIS WEEK
Brooklyn Handicap and Bel
mont Stakes Are Racing
Features.

NEW YORK. May 31.-This week will
be a busy one in racing circles. Turf
events worth in the aggregate $4,000
will be decided-not a paltry sum for a
sport that is dead" The stakes that
will be raced for are the Belmont. worth
$4,000; National Stallion. S14.COo; Brook
lyn Handicap. 5000; Laureate. $500;
Van Cortlandt Handicap, $1,000; Criterion.
$1,000: Great American. $500; the Myr-
tie. $1,000: Kensington, $1,000. and Grand
National Steeplechase Handicap, $500.
Besides these fixtures there are a great
$500 cash.
OF course. the real racing attraction of
the week is the Brooklyn Handicap. This
big event will be the feature of the pro-
gram Thursday, the opening day of
the spring meeting at the Gravesend
track. 1t is the first of the great races
at a mile and a quarter Among the
horses eligible for IL are Celt, King
James, Hilarious, Fayette, Jack Atkin and
High Private, the best thoroughbredS in
training at the present in this country.
The Brooklyn Handicap promises to be
recorded in turf history as the race in
which Celt achieved ;He distinction of
being for the second time the post favor
ite, prestige never before held by Il
race horse in America for this event. The
result may also mark his second consecu-
he should win he will have accomplished
a great deed, something that no other
horse has ever done
Looks Like Celt
From the present outlook, Celt holds
the race at his mercy. He has only to
live up to his previous form to win
7 .,pfx- l..
tests was Colin. All other horses were
his interiors. That he retains his old
speed and endurance was made evident
by his recent victory at Belmont Park
In the estimation of many trainers the
result of the race simply hangs on Celt s
condition. If his cracked heels do not
again bother him they say he will win.
Physically, other than his sore feet, he
is in pegfect shape for long, hard tus-
sic. James Rowe, his able trainer, will
turn him into the hands of the jockey
ready to do battle at every stage of the
race.
King James. who won the Metropolitan
Handicap and the Toronto cup in such
impressive style, will be on hand to op-
pose Cet for the Brooklyn Handicap.
Both horses are four years old and DOS
sess the full strength of their age, vigor-
Gus health and the speed transmitted to
them through a long line of great start
ers' sres.
In the estimation of Walter S. Vos-
burgh. the official Handicapped of the
Jockey Club, these two horses are
| nearly equal in ability. He has placed
121 pounds on Celt and 126 pounds or
King James. 1t is in these two horses
that the interest in the race centers
They have demonstrated time and
again their superiority over the other
horses that are eligible to start. the
| race, therefore, narrows down seeming
ly to a two-horse struggle. With Mas
ter Robert declared out of the race and
Jack Atkin far below his last season. s
form. the prospects are that Celt and
King James. If both start. will have
the fight for supremacy between them
from the rise of the barrier until the
winning post is reached.
Brooklyn Handicap.
Here is list of the eligibles for the
Brooklyn handicap. From it will be
made up the field of starters. All of
the starters will carry the weights
originally assigned, for this handfcap
is one Of the few in this country whicn
do not demand a penalty from win
ners after the publication of the