New-York tribune., 1916-06-25
Friar Rock Tiun1phs
in Brooklyn Handicap

out through the chute and around the
turns toward the long stretch in which
the eventual struggle for mastery wa:
to take place. Slumber ii, Short Grass
Roamer. Achievement, Churchill and
Sand Marsh, which finished in the or
der named behind Friar Rock and Pen
nant, never relinquished for an eightletr
part of second their efforts 70 seize
and hold the leadership of that illus
trious band of thoroughbreds. But
Pennant had the speed and Friar Rock
the perseverance, so the rest were
forced to acknowledge defeat.
Sand Marsh, Slumber II, Churchill
and Pennant elected TO take the leading
positions as the barrier was sprung
They tore away together like quartet
of antelopes, with Achievement, trlsr
Rock, Roamer and Short Grass in the
role of relentless huntsmen. FOR q
half mile this order OF things obtained
save for the fact that Pennant moVeo
up beside Sand Marsh and began inc
process Of killing off the famous Rose
speeder.
At the top Of the long, sun-swep'
stretch Pennant asserted himself, leap
ING into the lead as Sand Marsh and
Churchill fell back, giving way "a
4
the straightaway together, the Belmont
champion on the outside. Slumber II
held tenaciously TO Pennant's fanks
Tommy McTaggart putting up superb
exhibition Of horsemanship on the Tai
bott entry. 1t looked then as though
Pennant and Sumber IL would finish
one-two, unless Roamer made one OF
his oldtime finishes.
,-...nI Nf Andrew MflleT'a Qrnp-
gelding it was August Belmont's three.
year-old which responded to the call OF
his. rider for a winning spurt. Dashlne
madly down the middle of the course,
Friar Rock left Roamer behind. caught
Slumber II at the last pole, Pennant at
the ffty-yard mark and threw himseli
across the finish line in front OF them
all. -,
In the meantime Short Grass, OF
which morse much was expected once
the stretch was reached. Strengthened
himself out and sailed after Roamer'
finally passing him in the final stages
of the Journey and seizing fourth
place. Roamcr wa. fifth, followed
some distance back by Achievement,
Churchill and the weary, weary Sand
Marsh.
nua Inc great IAtN was "OHf Nf"N
with il n prize Of $3.50, this being
IN. winners share of the $4,000 guar
anteed by the Queens County Jockey
Club
Many Good Races.
Although the five other events on
the opening day card must OF neces-
sity pale into insignificance before
such a thrilling running OF the Brook
lyn Handicap, the fact remains that
each one of them was full Of sensa-
tions and might easily have com
manded a column or so of comment
on I'm ordinary racing day.
The two-mile steeplechase. for ex-
ample. was one of the prettiest con-
tests ever staged over the brush and
turf. OF the eleven jumping thor
oughbreds which started in the event
nine tore down the stretch in fairly
cohesive bunch at the finish. One Of
the other two took a tumble at the
last obstacle, and Zellwood, ever an
erratic performer. refused TO attempt
the tenth barricade.
Dixon Park, owned by j. +. Flani-
gan, jr.. won the event by reason OF
his ability to sprint at the end, Abdon
being three lengths behind him and
q scant length ahead of H Bart, which
romped in third.
A total of ffty-fve thoroughbreds
made their bows TO the big throng
during the course Of the afternoon,
Top o. tn Morning defeating a field
Of ton in :he opener, Dixon Park win
ming from another half-score in the
steeplechase, Tumbler taking the
measure of five two-year-olds in the
Hudson Stake. Friar Rock romping
home ahead OF seven in the Brooklyn,
Kilkenny Boy easily the best Of still
another ten in the fifth, and Passing
Fancy vanquishing seven in the sixth
and final race Of the day.
What with sunshine and balmy
hreezes. thrills and sensations galore.
splendidly managed transportation
facilities, exceptionally good music by
Lander's Band and S great n running
Of the B-ooklyn Is has ever been wit
messed. the big crowd which assembled d
20 enjoy the opening of the 1916 rae
ing season al Aqueduct departed in
the full knowledge that each had been
an integer in what will long be known
as "the Great Dav" OF the Queens
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