The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-21
HALCYON DAYS
BROUGHT BACK
AS RACES OPEN
Overjoyed Thousands Thrill
at Sound of Bugle and
StrombOli's Victory.
FIRST METROPOLITAN
EVER WON BY BELMONT

hess
reaped a rich reward yesterday when
his four year old gelding Stromboli won
the Metropolitan Handicap with the ac-
companying cheers of 10000 persons
who went to Belmont Park to demon
s,rate the renewed popularity OF the
sport which attracts both peer and peas
ant as no other pastime can.
stromboli's gallant victory over a
high class field marked the first tim
that the Belmont colors had flashed first
in which the Metropolitan Handicap had
been a turf fixture. That the win OF
the chairman OF the Jockey Club should
come at such a critical time. when rae
ing appears TO be embarking on a new
wave OF success. was particularly pleas
ing to the immense crowd which peopled
the stands and lawns on the opening
day OF the Westminster Racing Asso-
citation meeting. the first for the season
OF 1915 OH metropolitan tracks. More
over, ths Belmont entry, which included
the hve-year-old Rock View with the
victorious Stromboli. was favorite In the
betting and a large percentage OF the
lovers Of high class ~roughbr mad
a modest wager on the bearers or the
scarlet. maroon sleeves and black cap
at the prevailing odds of 3 TO :.
There was glory enough in the Met
ropolitan, which had "A field OF ten
horses, for more han the winner and 4
substantial norton was accorded to ;he
three-year-old Sharpshocter, which :an
into second place and was coming so
fast at the finish that tire Belmont nor"
won by only half a length. Snarp-
shooter IL owned by Schuyler l.. iar-
sons. long identified with the turf rs
the secretary OF the Coney Island Jockey
Club. but who did not start In to rae
horses until the existence OF the sport
was threatened. since which time he has
spent money freely in An EFFORT to A.
ouire a formidable stable. Sharrsnooter
carried more weight than any DINER
three-year-old In the race ana gave
p,omise of better things to come 10y nv
iahing resolutely after being abs'!uteIl
last in the early stages OF the heNt
breaking struggle ~
Another sturdy patron Of the thor
oushbred Capt. T.. u. Cassatt. cap
tured the .hird money win rlElhS
Esiry. ranked as one of the best mares
in the training and which has earned
a warm place in the hearts OF race
eoers by her consistent and plucNy per
formances. AS was the case with SharP,
shooter. Flying Fairy was not 'aNore"
with luck in the early part OF the race
but she fought her way to a contend
ing position and 1t was only IN tne
last eighth OF a mile hat she REIN
uuished the chasing Of Stromboli 10 the
three-year-old contender. -
Though he held no place among the
money winners r. 7. Wilson Jt's iar-
tar is entitled TO his need OF prd,s',
This sturdy son of ogden wis a decided
$500. H. .n,a ranA until hp lnlutH lnp
turn into the home stretch, wherr 80
many horses have gone astray AT heI-
mont. Here he was carried VIDE ny
Rock View. the stable companion OF the
winner. yet finished with such deter,
mination that in spite OF the lost grouho
ne was only a neck behind riyins
FAIRY at the finish. Thus. If accidents
had happened 10 the FIRST three horses
the big event still would have been Won
by q sterling sportsman and pillar OF
the turf.
Further honors awaited the chairman
of the Jockey club after Stromboli nae
fulfilled his ambition to win a Metro
politan Handicap. The next event OF
the card was the eighteenth running o.
the New York StecplecAase, and agar
the Belmont silks were carried 10 TN
front by Mission. a daughter of Rocl
Z Sand. which carried top weight. Sh'
stood off the challenges OF a field o.
clever fcncers and won in a gallop whei
both Ballybay and Flanders came Il
grief trying to take the obstacles al IN
hot pace set by the winner.
It was a glorious day OF revivicatioi
and reunion to mark the opening of IN
season and the lowering clouds which
threatened found no sympathy in tn
smiling faces that looked with JOY aki'
to hilarity on the tremendous welcom'
to the thoroughbreds
In such a vast throng II was pleasing
to notice the number of old time sports
men who again sought the opportunit,
10 pay homage to the horse. Figure
known In public and sporting life wer
to be met at every urn, Jin
Brady was one of the wonders toppc,
of with a tall hat Of the vintage of ISL.
now coming into vogue again and typi
cal OF the time the British gentleme
played cricket and rowed races wearin
this astonishing headgear.
Jesse Lewiston was another old time
who came back. His chief contribute
to the pictorial effect was a vest q
distinct but delicate red. white and blu
squares thai in the fleeing sunligt
looked almost like the co,ors of one 4
the racers. William A. Hazard. secrs
tary OF the Polo Association and a horse
man every inch. talked with Foxy Keen
and r.. e. Cowdin, other noted pol
players. in the clubhouse. United state
Senator William S. Hughes Of New Jei
sey was one OF the prominent legisla
tors TO he seen on the W
Among the others noticed were FIRE
Johnson, owner OF many good horses
G. x. q. Billings, one OF the thorough
bred recruits from the trotting ranks
Rod. J. Mckenzie. the Canadian VII
took many rich prizes last year; Whit
Hat Mccarthy, who won a Derby in II
early sos with C, II. Todd Pete
Mcdonald OF %Irvington Edgar Glib
Murphy, once noted trapshooter PriC
Mckinney, another trotting man wi
has taken up the thoroughbred JAIME
Fleming OF Troy Matty Corbett, jaime
gan. Peter Mcdonald, John Saline
Thomas Flanagan. Or. r. T. Cunninl
ham and so on through the list OF ne
who love a horse and a race.
All were on tip toe when the saddlir
bell gave warning that the long days
waiting were over, When the bug
sounded Theodore Smiths Uncle Jimm
had the honor Of leading the parade {
the first race, Uncle Jimmie is an o
binary son Of a great horse. Uncle. b
h was welcomed by thousands
o ynroas as though ne were a DER
winner. Uncle Jimmie's favor was sho
lived, for though the applause he 7
ceived stirred him into speedy acti
no that he led the Neld at tho bneinn'I
Of tho six furlong dash. l.. Feuste
Heno gelding He WIN came along a
captured the FIRST purse Of 1913.
During the time preceding the runni
OF the big race James Rutler's III
Count WAS added to tho overnight G