New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-09
MERIDIAN WINS THE
EXCELSIOR HANDICAP
Sets New Track Record in Beat
ing Cock O. The Walk Half
a length in a Drive.
WHITNEY ENTRY UNPLACED
r. F. Carman Has a Field Day,
with Two Winners, Two
Seconds and a Third
in Five Races.

r. F. Carman's Meridian picked up 100
pounds and won the Excelsior Handicap
at Belmont Park yesterday, in the alb
sencc Of Whisk Broom II. He ran a
brilliant race too, covering the mile and
a sixteenth in the fast time of 1:ii s..
which equalled the track record set by
superman in 1891 and came within two
ffths Of a second of the worlds mark,
established in 1908 by Royal Tourist. in
California.
The five-year-old son Of Broomsuck
rushed to the front at the start, which
was fair for all except Prince Eugene.
and set such sizzling pace that he
opened up a gap Of six or seven lengths
in the first quarter and had everything
driving behind him 10 keep up
It was freely predicted that he could
not carry such speed over the full dis
tance, and when Cock O. the Walk raced
up on the outside and gave challenge half
way down the stretch ii looked as If the
wise ones were right; but Glass, who had
the mount, had saved bit for the finish
and drew out 10 win by half a length.
Cock O. the Walk swerved out slightly
under extreme pressure just at the end,
which may have cost him the race but
he had no trouble in beating Lahore three
lengths for the place.
Harry Payne Whitney started Prince
Eugene winner OF the Belmont Stakes.
and Nightstick !n place Of Whsk Broom
II, which had beer assigned li2 pounds,
but neither finished in the money. There
was some excuse for Prince Eugene. He
was pinched off at the start and was a
bad last in the run up the hackstretch,
whereas Nightstick. which was expected
TO make the running tor his stable com
panion, as he did in the Suburban for
Whisk Broom II. was fairly tiptoed by
Meridian. Prince Eugene made up sorle
ground but was never dangerous after
his III luck at the barrier
Meridian Won the Kentucky Derby as a
three-year-old and is a horse of some
class He chased Whisk Broom II home
In the Metropolitan Handicap this year,
and was third to the same horse in the
Suburban, but beaten five or six lengths.
Butweil. who rode Cock o. the Walk for
Fred Johnson. said after the race that
he headed Meridian inside the last fur
long pole and thought he had the race
won, but that when he drew his whip
the horse "ducket." az was plainly seen
from the stand.
The steeplcchase as usual furnished
plenty Of action, but the eight starters
kept their feet. although Maxim's Pride
made a bad landing at a jump on the
backstretch and unseated Tuckey.
Big Sandy, L. Navarro and Wrinkle
made a pretty race through the last mile,
taking the last two jumps practically
head and head. The last named, running
in the colors OF Mrs. Payne Whitney.
saved enough ground by skinning the
barrels TO beat L. Navarro in a hard drive
by three parts OF a length.
Gilbert did not ride his best race on
l. Navarro, but explained that he met
with some interference on the lower turn,
when his horse dropped back and lost
three or four lengths. The boy then made
the mistake of moving up too quickly. so
that he had nothing left for the finish.
Harry Payne Whitneys Delft a daugh-
ter Of Blue Girl, had little chance 70
show her true form in the second race for
the reason that she and The Spirit kept
humping and crowdng each other almost
from the start. which proved a distinct
handicap 10 both
The winner turned up in Lady Grant
which d. j. Leary bought at the disposal
sale OF the late Charles Kohler's horses
few days ago. Leary was once stable
manager for Sam Hildreth and when the
latter went abroad stayed In this country
10 train Mr.. Kohlers American string.
He told some Of his friends yesterday that
he thought Delft would win but had
the satisfaction Of seeing his own colors
carried to victory by the daughter Of
Charles Edward.
This satisfaction was rudely shaken
when he had TO devote the purse and
little more TO protect his hlly. Lady
Grant was entered 10 be sold for 800, and
both Jack McGinnis and representative
Of the Quincy Stable took turns in bid
ding her up when she was offered at auc-
ton. They carried the price 20 $500 be-
fore Leary could save her at s. ad-
vance.
In speaking Of Delft in the paddock be-
fore the race John T.. Madden became
reminiscent and recalled that her grand
sire, Hamburg. and her dam, Blue Girl
had won for him between them more than
a quarter Of a million dollars.
He pointed out that Hamburg had won
close to $4,000 in stakes and purses before
n sold him to Marcus DAILY for 81 900,
9nd that Blue Girl won about $4,000 be-
Dire he disposed OF her TO the late William
G. Whitney for $4,000. When the Marcus
Daily horses were sold Madden and Mr..
Whitney bought Hamburg for $4,000, and
later Madden sold his share, so that he
prohted not far from 10000 on the two
great horses. He expressed the opinion
that II Blue Girl were crossed with
Broomstick she would throw a better
morse than she has produced so far.
r. r. Carman's horses were conspicu-
Gus ell day. Following Merchants victory
in the Excelsior Handicap, Water Lily
lasted just long enough TO win the last
race, while Kalinka was second In the
opening event Water Lady ran into tho
place in the second and Ella Bryson nm
ished third In the selling race at one mile
Form as indicated by close hgures oi
the handicappers was not at premium
The quoted favorites In all six races went
down 10 defeat the list being Lazy
lightning. Delft. Rolling stone the Whit
ney entry and Lahore, in the E%celsior'
l.. Navarro. in the steeplechase' ana Chcie
Nun