New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-31
Little Considered Horse
Romps Home to Victory
in the Suburban.
SHORT GRASS Is
SECOND IN CLASSIC
Huge Crowd at Belmont Park
Sees Surprising Finish in
the Feature Race.
BY f. u. BURROWS.

Ky r. ID. BtRRONS.
Three years ago this month. at the
beautiful Nursery Farm. maintained by
August Belmont in the midst Of Ken
tueky's blue grass. stalwart chestnut
colt, by Rock Sand and Fairy Gold.
was born. Yesterday afternoon at
Belmont Park, in the presence Of ap-
proximately 10000 American horse
lovers, this product Of one Of Ken
tucky's great breeding farms ran over
field of FIVE other thorouehbreds. in
GLIDING some Of the most famous speed
burners of the day. and annexed the
classical Suburban Handicap in such
comparatively easy fashion that the
hackers Of the other entrants in the
race are still wondering what struck
th.n.
Friar Rock was the name given 70
this sterling running mate Of the great
Stromboh, but Cinderella seems 70
suit better in so far as yesterdays tri-
umph is concerned. For while the rae
ing experts were sitting up nights fig
urinG whether or not II. c. Hallen-
beck's wonderful black. The Finn,
could take the measure Of Stromboli-
or what chance Emil Herz's importa-
ton, Short Grass. had of beating them
both-Friar Rock was sitting back in
the chimney corner, so 10 speak. alone
and neglected. To be sure. he was
known 10 be a great ruck runner-his
performance at Saratoga last year
proved that-but he was believed TO be
almost outclassed by the more prom
inent contenders for this years Sub
urban stake.
But the fairy who came TO the rescue
Of the fOrlorn Cinderella must have
been on the job again at Belmont yes
terday afternoon. Either that or the
students of form have been very lax
regarding the son of Rock Sand and
Fairy Gold. Whichever 10 was, Friar
Rock had little difficulty in taking
the measure Of the five much-touted
whizzers which were opposed TO him in
the twenty-ninth running Of the fam
Gus classic. BY doing so he won the
neat sum Of S345O for his owner and
carried the Belmont colors 10 a Sub
urban Handicap victory for the fourth
time since the stake was established,
in 1884. incidentally he was the third
three-year-old to annex the purse in
this event.
Almost Record Crowd.
Not since Memorial Day, 1907 when
10000 persons braved the rain 10 see
Colin, with Joe Notter up, win the Bel
mont Stake from Fair Play, ridden by
Eddie Dugan. have as many persons as
sembled at Belmont Park on one day as
were present yesterday when the bugle
announced the imminence Of the feat
ure race Of the afternoon The great
stand was packed full. the lawn in
front was "a conglOmerate Of human
forms IN summer suits and straw hats;
the clubhouse was crowded 10 overflow
ing, and more than 10000 persons were
gathered in the infeld 90 witness the
deciding Of the historic handicap.
The prospect of another trial be-
tween Stromboli and The Finn undoubt-
cdly attracted the majority of the So
600 yesterday. I'm fact, me great
throng could hardly believe its eyes
when the sextet of racers whirled into
the stretch, and II was seen that Friar
Rock not Strombol or The Finn, was
IN the lead. And when Friar Rock
showed no sign of giving over his hard
earned advantage, but continued on to
the winning post at the same terrific
pace which he had set from the start.
the stands did not know whether 10
cheer for the game little CINDERELLA of
the 1916 Suburban or weep for the
widely exploited pair which was fight
ing 1t out for third and fourth posi-
tons. respectively, some five lengths In
the rear.
II was no huky victory that Friar
rcrL -aaCv.v,ferLnI r.
thOrOughbreds have ever been condi-
toned before. the son Of Rock Sand and
Fairy Gold wasted no time in leaping
10 the front when Starter Mars Cassidy
sprung his well known barrier. With
Hauberk for a windshield Friar Rock
was of a good length ahead of the rest
of the field, Sharpshooter tagging in be-
hind and the supposed class Of the
race Stromboli. The Finn and Short
Grass bringing up the rear.
The Finn without Ambition.
For almost thrce-quarters Of a mile
this order was retained before HAYNES.
on Stromboh and Keogh. on Short
Grass. decided 20 move up. Schut-
finger was having trouble making The
Finn realize that he was actually rae.
ing. the black son Of Ogden evidently
being Of the opinion that he had done
his big days work when he annexed
the Metropolitan last Thursday. At
any rate. he never really got up.
On came Friar Rock running as
though Bcelzebub himself was close on
his heels. On came Stromboli and
Short Grass. each believing that he
could win tho race if only that front
horse would break under the strain of
that terrific pace. On came Sharp
shooter and The Finn, wondering why
they were not i'm the lead, instead Of
back ~ she ruck with the now-weary
HauAr which had helped the son of
RoCT Sas5a 20 his winning position.
It,Sas over IN less time than il
taE<T to tell IT, Short Grass made a
gallant effort 20 overtake the flying
Belmont chestnut. but 10 was in vain.
Friar Rock and Max Garner. who rode
him. we're out 10 win the 1916 Subur-
ban. and did not intend 10 allow any
English urstart 20 upset their SEIZED
ules. They flashed past the tower
lengths ahead Of Short Grass and Ed
die Keogh. while Haynes, on Strom-
boil. was beating of the belated chal-
lenge Of SchuttirCer and the aston
ished Finn and annexing third position.
Glass. true courage and expert horse
monship won the Suburban Handicap
for 1916. There was another race on
yesterdays programme which deserves
an equal il not. indeed, more i'm