New-York tribune., 1918-06-18
Desolation and Woe Left in
Wake of George Smith
Surprising Victory
By w. J. Macbeth

A sour old horse and SOurer jockey
left a wake of desolation and woe in
the immediate vicinity Of the Jamaica
racetrack yesterday afternoon, when
John Sanford's black horse George
Smith won the Excelsior Handicap.
The Excelsior Handicap, at mile and
sixteenth, was the feature event of
the opening day of the second spring
meeting of the Metropolitan Jockey
Club at the merry-go-round named.
Nobody begrudged John Sanford a
victory. 1t was pretty near time this
game and gallant horseman got some
thing to pay the hay and oat bills.
And, Lord knows nobody begrudged
Jockey W. Kelsey the distintion Of
winning stake event. He is lucky
to sit on a horses back all the way
around any old kind Of course. But
George Smith! Lordy, Lordy!
No Boneyard Yet
Everybody thought that old crow
baiti consigned to the bone-yard @ons
and aons ago. 1t is true he was able
to kick up his heels as a colt (who Of
as couldntD, but there is drear,
dread chasm of last opportunity be-
tween colthood and gray hairs in any
No Mans Land of the animal kingdom,
and to layman George Smith was sup
posed to be dead as the proverbial
doornail.
When the railbirds and clockers
talked in husky whispers Of the Won
derful early morning performances of
this same George Smith within the last
two weeks, the wisenheimers turned
over for loud guffaw. And Kelsey!
Did you ever see him? AS much use
as third wheel to cart.
Sometimes they come back. And yes
terday, evidently, was George Smiths
day. Must have been for him to win
with Kelsey added to his 1T pounds
impost. For George Smith had to beat
a classy field Of racehorses to gain the
brackets in the Excelsior. He was up
to race, all right. He reeled off that
once before had this time been bet
tered, and only once again equalled, for
the event. The aged Roamer, which
finished second to George Smith yes
terday, notched the mark in winning
one year ago. R. F. Carman's Meridian
set the record at 1:44 3-5 in 1913.
Before we get down to She main de-
tails of the race let us turn back the
pages of history. Once before George
Smith seemed cheap at his weight in
gold. That was two years ago last
Derby, beating out by head A. K.
Macomber's wonderful imported Star
, Hawk.
Until yesterday George Smith seemed
content to rest on those laurels. He
became sulky and sour. He would not
behave at the post. He would not keep
his mind on his races. His ignominy
| eliminated in trip to the pasture
about year ago after George Smith
platter.
Field One of Glass
George Smith never looked through
bride at classier field than the one
he showed UP yesterday. There were
Commodore J. K. L. Ross's now dis
credited Cudgel, supposedly the best
horse in training when the bugle first
called them out to metropolitan strife;
the beloved Roamer, Spur, old Koenig,
Bolster. Drastic, Trophy, Corn Tassel,
Fairy Wand and Westy Hogan. added
by Wilfred Viau. Each of the eleven
high class thoroughbreds looked sleek
and fit as they danced up 70 the bar
rier in front of the lower grandstand.
OF the lot, perhaps, George Smith at
tracted least attention. His name was
known by his misdeeds.
Eleven of the best riders in the East
Kelsey always excepted) bestriding
this high-strung horsefiesh that repre-
sented kings ransom jockeyed for
the breaks at the start. Mars Cassidy
finally got them off in fine shape in al
most perfect alignment. Roamer might
have won the race had he been a bit
more sgile at the barriers spring. He
| got off somewhat slowly, and as he
/ held the next to rail position he found
himself shut off BY Spur and Westy
Hogan ere fifty yards had been raced.
+. Lotus was forced to take up and to 90
outside of Spur at the first turn.
Fairy Wand, quick breaker, mean
while had eased over from fourth po-
sition fast enough to take the rail as
the field swept round the first turn.
Ensor realized his best chance was to
run right away from there, so he pave
his mount her head. Old Koenip was
right at Fairy Wand's throat latch.
however. all .he way. They raced il
to the half, running like team. Then
Fairy Wand began to draw away.
! She had scant heads ADVANTAGE
when they swept by the half-mile pole
AT the three-quarters this had been in.
creased to half a length. George
Smith, meanwhile, had been making sn
ground on the run through the back.
stretch. he kept it UP all the way
around the second turn. As thay
Strengthened out toward the stretch
Smith was almost Tapped on Old
koenig, which in turn Tapped the fad.