The sun., 1917-07-14
SPUR CARRIES OFF
EMPIRE CITY STAKE
Defeats Borrow, ROamer and
Daddy's Choice in Sensa-
tional Style.

James Butler. the noted horseman.
had the most successful day OF his
career on the turf yesterday afternoon
at the Empire City track. Four times
horses carrying his famous white and
cherry silks flashed home in front. and
among his victors was his great bay
colt Spur
Spur won the Empire City Handicap,
the feature of the programme, In sensa-
tional style, defeating Harry Payne
Whitney's Borrow, Emil Herz's Daddy's
Choice and Andrew Millers Roamer,
which finished behind him in the order
named. His other winners were Ballad
in the first race, Counsel In the second
and Top Coat in the sixth.
Mr.. Butler owns the historic old track
in Yonkers. and to its opening yesterday
he invited all his friends. They came IN
droves. as did other racegoers, and
when the bugle called the horses to the
post for the first event the clubhouse
grand stand and lawn we're crowded IL
was estimated that more than lO'OOO
persons saw the contests. and majority
Of this number left the track at the end
Of the days sport loaded down with gold.
"TIps" on All His winners.
Mr.. Butler had played host as the role
is seldom played. He furnished them
with a spick and span grand stand and
clubhouse. a finely dressed lawn. an eN-
cellent programme and tips on his
four winners.
After Ballad had defeated quartet
Of selling platers over the one mlle
route and Counsel had led home nine
fairly good handicap horses the CROWD
received slight rebuff. for Mr. but
ler's chestnut gelding Poache. was oauIy
beaten in the Frivolity Stakes, the tniru
contest on the programme. Mr' eutler
was not enthusiastic over Poachers
chances and told his friends so. AS a
result only a few Of his ardent admirers
bet on him.
II was different in the big handicap.
"Spur will win," said Mr.. Butler. and
then went into detail telling why ne
would win. He likes the heavy going
| he's at home on the track he's In tlptop
condition. and I've engaged Willie
| Knapp to ride him. is the way he eN-
planned that his colt couldn't lose.
Spur won as was expected. but not un'
! I'll he had caused his hackers many anx'
! ious moments. on to a good start inc
quartet left the barrier on their toes
The lightly weighted Daddy's Choice
showed the best speed in the first high'
/ and rounding the first turn was In com
| mand But before he had reached tht
backstretch the mighty Roamer was a
! his side and Borrow only a snort dis
tance back When Strengthened out fo'
the run down the straightaway. Hoame'
! took command with Borrow at MS heels
Daddy's Choice found the pace too fas
! for him and quit, and Spur moved int'
third place.
SPUR Make. Great Run.
! All the way down the backstretch I
WAS a duel between the two old gelding
and when the next turn was reached
Roamer was half length ahead o
Borrow, with Spur three lengths bac'
and apparently beaten Around tn
bend and into the homestretch the tw'
geldings increased their lead on Mr.
Buffers colt TO Ave lengths.
A furlong from home Roamer faltere'
and Borrow sped along by himself It
the crowd Mr.. whitney's entry looke'
hike an easy winner. But they had no
dpured on what was to come. locke,
Knapp had reserved all his mount
speed and was steering him over the dr.
mart of the track, while his opponent
were ploughing through the heavy an
holding mud near the rail.
sixteenth of a mile from home tn
veteran jockey gave Spur his head an
hit him couple OF cidChS WIN ~
whip. Like a sprinter at the beginnin
OF a dash Spur sped after the trim
Borrow He gained rapidly with ever,
bound and few Jumps. from the judge
noked his nose in front. And then. a
though for good measure, sped on and a
the end was a length in front and goin
AWAY. Roamer tired badly in the fna
run and finished last
Mr. Butler was not represented in IN
flfth race. but in the sixth he sent To
Coat to oppose a select field of two-year
olds, including Malvolio, chestnut col
owned by Andrew Miller. Malvolio wa
reputed to be a world beater and wa
made an odds on favorite, but despit
this Mr.. Butler advised his friends I
play Top Coat Those who followed hi
! advice were we'll rewarded, for he wo
Mt the good odds OF 3h to l.
The Judges declared G. NJ, Miller fir
9 ished first in the fifth race, but vaE
q majority OF racegoers said The Grade
0 earned premier honors by half a lengtl
Q When the numbers were posted a crow
gathered around the stand and hisse
Q and hooted the decision.
The Summaries.
: F,r,t Race-selling; three year -olds. and NJ
l on. mile. purse $500 added.
Horse and VT. Jockey. CT. Pl, Fl
ballad iO9.........,Lyke ........ e5 IL !.
0nwa 1ol ,....... .Troise ....... 81 2l .
! IA Roche l04 ..... Rowan ...... n-o 80 81