New-York tribune., 1909-05-14
rIKG JAMES WINS
HISTORIC HANDICAP
cPOH-D RO4RS WELCOME
TO RACING SEASON.
IT,, Tbousand Persons at Belmont
Park Enjoy the Sport With
ont Interference.

= - least. was the opinion of some ten thon-
- persons or perhaps a few more VINO Went
-, n the parklike Enclosure at Belmont PARK
.+e-5sv for the long deferred opening OF 'he
-,oson. and n see 5 g Hildreths King James
- =, ;r,-,-essive victory in the eighteenth run
Ing of the historic Metropolitan HANDICAP ol
ooo - one mile The good son Of Pleudit-
1-r.iett1v raced Nimbus into submission IN me
e. half mile. and then, after a short but de-
-. struggle. with John f. Madden's Fayette
a .ta stretch drew out. to win rather easily hy
:. ,,,e+rs Favette which ranked Well up
-, Cir Martin. the champion two-year-old OF
,ooe finished second. length ar 50 before q O.
re;,,scr.s J,,zrler King James was the quoted
<.,-,-i+e a = 10 / and ran the distance in 40
zood performance. all things considered
7bere was lacking the excitement Of a close
md driving finish. but the crowd. hungry lot
=. snort was fairly carried away by the love OF
s+rife among good horses, and cry went UP as
.ts Geld raced into the last furlong that de-
-slored into q rear as King James gaIloped
,es the finish line. It recalled the days be
E.. ~. massage Of the Agnew-Hart Law, and II
...,ol,a = keen interest in the effort being made
. brild III, the sport once more without or
-snized betting and also without police censor
ship.
There was more or less oral betting among
.boss who were disposed 10 wager, and prices
we're quoted by the so-cailed memory brokers'
without anv interference from the authorities
II G Cowles. District Attorney OF Nassau
COUNTY VAS on hand with a number of de
tsctiyes. while Sheriff Foster. with twelve dep
mites was also at the track TO see that the law
-es NOT violated AS Belmont Park is situated
IN Nassau County. outside the city limits no
-ol;oeroen in uniform We're present. The de-
tsc.iyes and the deputy sheriffs walked about IN
the hix crowd on the lawn. and reported that so
far as could be seen the law Was observed TO the
letter Under decision Of the Supreme Court
crs1 betting is not violation Of the new statute
and consequently there was interference
with those who quoted prices and bet among
themselves. and everything ran off smoothly
In the absence of police censorship and the
dread Of possible arrest, there was a general
freedom from restraint which was lacking IN the
closing DAYS Of last season. This. to all appear
,,ces nut everybody in a good humor, and
made II possible to enjoy The sport for the sake
Of the sport even without monetary interest
HoRsENEN ENCOURAGED BY OPENING.
August Belmont. chairman of the Jockey
Club did not hesitate 10 express his satIslac-
ten and said that 10 those deeply interested ana
concerned for the vast breeding industry in the
country and the sport Of racing the size Of the
crowd and the wholesome, spontaneous enthIsl-
asn we're most encouraging. and promised well
for the future.
Belmont Park has always been a magnet for
the smart set and yesterday proved no eXcep-
ton TO the rule: in fact society turned out in
force, and the clubhouse lawn and balconies
were crowded all the afternoon with gayly
gosned women and men Of affairs. Many went
down to the tracl. in automobiles. and between
two hundred and three hundred cars, Of all
sizes and descriptions. were parked back OF the
grandstand. making quite show in itself
Those who went down by rail found the
trains crowded 10 standing room, but everybody
smiled and paid no thought to the discomfort
for the simple reason that il looked and seemed
Ike the old days in happier times for racing
IN the paddock. under the trees in the grand
stand, the lawn. and even in the clubhouse
Enclosure, there was general reunion Of friends
many Of whom had not seen each other since
the fall meeting at Sheepshead Bay last year.
Horsenen back from the Coast or from Pimlco
looked about Il en- with every mark OF satisfac-
ten on their faces, and expressed the opinion
one 10 another that things didn't look so
badly"
Everything contributed to make suspicious
opening for the racing season in the meTopoh-
tan district. The weather gods smiled and
day was provided that reminded one Of the
poets --zre day in June The stands had been
infeld were green with the freshness of spring
and the track. with its wide stretches. was fast
and in perfect condition for racing The sport
too. which by the way held the centre Of in
terest Of q kind to satisfy. Most Of the
finishes were hard fought. while the steeple-
chase furnished quite enough excitement in
itself TO pay for the journey TO the course, as
Agent and Sir Wooster fought II out in a stir
ring drive with the issue in doubt until the
last few strides. when Agent drew out to win
BY scant length
BARON WEINBERG AMONG VISITORS
Baron Weinberg. one OF the leading turfmen
n Germany and for whom Joe Notter is riding
ths year, was an interested onlooker. as a
guest Of the westchester Racing Association
De expressed himself as we'll pleased with the
conduct OF racing in this country, and said that
rs could see no reason 10 fear for the future OF
The turf in this state. Judging by the crowd that
turned cut for the opening day. on the invita-
non Of the stewards he went up in the stand 10
watch the running of the last race
Senator McCarren. who has always been A
lover Of racing said that the outlook did not ap-
pear dark as it did last fall, while Charles G.
sstes. David Gideon. Davy Johnson. the one
ufne plunger; John J. Hyland and other men in
'erested IN the sport also expressed themselves
n Optimistic terms
At & meeting Of the Jockey Club before the
hrst race Ogden NJ Bishop and ". NJ Manley
we're elected TO membership.
Among those present in the clubhouse in
e1osure were Mr. and Mrs Robert l. Gerry. Miss
nary Hartman. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goelet,
Doont Rudolph Colloredo- Mannsfeld brother Of
cunt Ferdinand Colloredo- Mansfield; Mrs
onFer W. Bird. Mr.. and Mrs Payne Whitney,
f'escott Lawrence and his daughter. Miss Kath-
phs Lawrence: Mrs James B. Eustis, Mr. and