The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-29
FRED BLOUNT
THE WINNER
OF GENTS RACE
CLOSE FINISHES AND FINE SPORT
WITNESSED AT THE TRACK,
ESPECIALLY IN THE GENTLE
MANS RACE.
BY w. A, &.

Blount won the gentlemen riders race
yesterday in a terrific driving finish
from Mr.. Hargis and thereby became
the proud possessor of Gull Holland, the
prize the bookmakers hung up for the
successful amateur rider. The prize
could not have been a more fitting or
valuable one. AS a two-year- old Gull
Holland was a ten thousand dollar
beauty, Chat price was refused for
him) and SO fast did he develop as a
eyarling that his owners named him
after the vice president of the Califor-
mia Jockey Club. Mr.. BlOunt can right
fully be proud of his acquisition won
in such masterful fashion for it was
simply a case of horsemanship as to
who would win when Dandy Dancer
gamely made his run at the head of
the stretch in an effort to catch the
flying leader, Elsie Van. the latter re-
ceiving as near a perfect ride as man
can give a horse from Mr.. Hargis,
But Dandy Dancer got the rail when
the field swung into the stretch while
Elsie Van swerved ever so slightly
and made a wide turn. That gave Mr..
Blount a slight advantage and quick to
observe 1t, he was even more quick to
take advantage of it and rushed his
mount forward to the utmost. Neck
and neck, first Dancer a short stride in
front and next Elsie's nose was to the
fore, the two gallant thoroughbreds
raced down the sixteenth of a mile
stretch with both men riding with rare
Judgment and calling into use every
knack known in the art of riding. It
was a rare race; seldom has its kind
been witnessed over half mile course
even with the most experienced pro-
fessional jockeys in the saddle.
At the paddock gate the two leaders
were still abreast; two strides more
and Elsie Van was striding a short
head in front but responding to the
urging Of Mr.. Blount, Dandy Dancer
came again with a wonderfully game
rush, flashed under the wire, the two
with necks extended but Dandy Dan
Ger was there first by only a nose.
The grand stand contingent, or even
those on the ground beside the judges
stand. could not pick the winner SO
waited breathlessly until the official
numbers were posted.
OHe moment before the crown was
in the widest state of excitement. The
audience rose in the grand stand as If
one when the field came pounding
down the stretch and cheered the
riders and game horses to the echo
but suddenly as the wire was rea ched
the tumult abated in breathless appre-
hension waiting most impatiently for
the official decision and when the
numbers were hung out once again and
with renewed vigor did the spectators
cheer man and beast alike until the
very framework of the grand stand
shook and trembled.
Yes, Bo! 1t was a gala day. Kup-
frian's Park has witnessed many a
memorable race and great gatherings
but the 'doings" Of yesterday will
linger longest in the hearts of the
lovers of the grand old sport of thor
oughbred racing and cause the glad
| hand of welcome to be extended next
winter should the bang tails once agar
return to the Land of the Sun and
hospitality.
OF course. there were five other races
decided yesterday and all were great
! events, but what of these? Did not
all Pnsacola wait for weeks to see
who was the champion gentleman
rider7 And did not the race yesterday
prove beyond a doubt that there are
| seven champions here for every one
in the rcae showed superb horseman-
| ship? Those finishing in the real
were not there because Of lack Of
skill. Nay, not so. The inside track
was soft. Several were forced into the
deep going when the barrier went VI
and others were forced wide on the
turn and knocked out of it. The race
| of each and every rider was a credit
| to himself and their efforts were high.
ly comemndable.
The meeting at Kupfrian's Parl
! draws to a successful close this after
noon with the running of six cracker
| jack races. Each and every event will
be a feature. Preparations are beinl
made to handle another bumper crowd
for while present indications are ia
vorable for racing here next winter
there is a chance that today will wit
ness the last of Florida thoroughbred
racing.
The First Race.
lamar, the receding favorite in tn,
6TSC race, maze an easy NlClOIy VI /
after appearing defeated at the hal
mile, but came again with furious
rush and wearing down the pa ce
maker, Lucky Mate, drew away in tn
closing furlong to score by two lengths
Lucky Mate had nothing left on which
to finish and stopped completely
finishing next to last. Cousin Peter,
ten to one shot, proved a surpris
package by laying off the pace to tn
closing sixteenth where he cam
strongest of all and managed to bea
out the fast firing Red Robin for TIL
place by q head. Red Robin. promi
nent throughout, lasted for SHOW
money by a head, Regards, the ia
vorite, weakening in the closing drive
The latter was the medium of goo'
sized plunge, forcing the price dow
from an opening of s to 5 to odds oil
favoritism of l to 2, while the opening
choice, lamar, drifted up to 3 to 2 a
post time. 1t was just another of tn
many well planned good things to g