Evening star., 1909-05-14
RACING SEASON
STARTS IN NEW YORK
King James Wins Metropolitan
Handicap Before Good
Crowd at Belmont.

NEW YORK, May 1.-THE opening of
the metropolitan racing season, which
was coupled this year with the running
of the classic Metropolitan handicap p.
passed into turf history yesterday with
tie winning of the blue-ribbon event by
S. c. Hildreth's fleet four-year-old King
James from a field of eleven starters.
Fayette, the Madden entry, finished six
lengths behind, with Juggler, six-year-
old gelding, entered by c. c. SEithson. a
close third.
The conditions under which the sea son
was ushered in were ideal in point of
weather, and served to bring out fash
ionable crowd. The entire number aggre-
gated less than 10000, but in view of the
ban placed upon race track betting by
the Hart-Agnew law the falling off did
not create surprise.
The new form of betting is a travesty
of the practice which fiourished during
the days of the Percy-Gray law.
Under cover of a decision of the appel
late division which permits oral betting
the layers of odds took up their stations
on the concourse in front Of the grand
stand. and in whispers and by mods ac-
cepted wagers and gave odds. The meth
od was yelled in mystery, accompanied
by searching glanceS and Stealthy looks
IL Ino WOuIu-De D6lIOT was KNOWN TO the
bookmaker his bet was accepted with
a muttered you're on" No money was
passed; the boOkmaker trusted the bet
tor to search him out after the race and
pay him the amount of his wager If he
lost and the bettor his part trusted
the bookmaker to look him up in the
same fashion and give him his winnings.
If he won.
Some of the layers of odds settled out
side the grounds after the last race and
. froi y-of,r rrrHsy,
Won in Handy Fashion.
The race of the day, the Metropolitan
handicap, was won in handy fashion, for
King James led the field home by six
lengths. The eleven starters got off well
with the Hildreth entry, quoted variously
at to and to !, in the lead, closely
followed by Nimbus. an added starter.
AT the far turn King James forged to the
'front.' and from then on the race was
his Fayette was well up all the way
and finished second. nosing out Juggler,
who finished a strong third.
Favorites Jared badly during the day.
only two-king James and Newmarket
winning. The other winners, however.
were we'll played. Agent, an added
starter in the steeplechase, and backed
from tives to fours. defeated the 4-to-5
favorite. Sir Wooster. in mild drive.
The field Wnere thousands have assem-
bled in former years for a cheap admis-
sion was closed yesterday. and this was
one of the noticeable omissions of the
usual racetrack features.
Racing will be resumed at Belmont
Park Saturday, for it has been planned
by the Jockey Club to have racing only
three days in each Week-Tuesday, Thurs
day and Saturday--until the public shows
by it's attendance that more racing days
are desired.
Summary.
First race: three year -olds six furlongs;
straight-Iady Bedford, 116 u. Howard), 3 to /,
even, and 1 to 2. won; Joe Madden 121 tG.
Burns), to 5, to 5, to 5. second; Miss
Kearney. 116 ,McIntyre). 3 to /. even. 1 to 9,
third. Time. liz As. Lawton Virgins Wapo-
noca and Mauriette also ran. Lady Bedford and
Miss Kearney coupled.
Second race maiden two-year-olds. four fur
lougs-Starbottle. 10 tE. Duganp 5 to 1. 2 to 1,
even won; Hampton Court. 11O tC. RusselD. to
S. 8 to 5. TO 8. second: Perry johnson. 1o7
((;lass) Is to /. to I, to 1. third. Time,
O. Al as German Silver Black Chief. Cuthbert.
shannon Eta May, Responseful, Hibernica,
Young Belle and May Florence also ran. Hamp-
ton Court and Shannon coupled.
Third race; two-year r-olds: four and One-haf
IFS tMcIntyre}. TO 10.
to 4. out. won: Anavri. 112 (Smith) ) to 2. to
10. out. second; Naughty Boy, 115 q. Howard,
Z to 10. to 4, out, third. Time, O.53 3-5.