New-York tribune., 1918-06-06
F Flittergold Defeats Favorite
in Little Neck
Handicap
By w. |. Macbeth

By w. ]. Macbeth
There was just enough balance to
yesterdays racing card at Belmont
Park to give everybody, including the
layers, both a few thrills and few
qualms before the threatened shower
rolled up to chase the lingerers to the
last trains. The favorites came home
often enough in front to keep the pub
lie in good humor. while on occasion
an outsider scored to give the lucky
ones an opportunity to vent their lung
power.
One Of the very best things of the
metropolitan season was cut loose in
the third race in w. A. CANDLES five
year-old bay geldng Hubbub, with
which Jockey j. Bell scored SO handily
that he threatened to spread-eagle the
field at one stage of the journey. Hub
bub, which ran some very fine and con-
sistent races this winter and spring at
the New Orleans. Hot Springs and
Maryland tracks, was the medium of a
rather heavy plunge by those in the
know.
The gelding, which had won his last
race over the mile and seventy yards
course at Pimlico from such we'll
known performers as Dundreary,
Greetings and Golden Glow, had been
especially prepared for this particular
event at mile against field of per
haps slightly higher class. He had
been prepped, too, in a manner to
fool the railbirds and clockers, so that
the very best odds against his chances
for victory might obtain.
While the wiseacres slept securely
under the opinion that Hubbub was
resting up in his stall, because he was
never seen in the daylight workouts
the gelding was being secretly pre-
pared for the first available soft spot
by taking his exercises at night. lie
showed such speed in these workouts,
too, that everybody connected with the
stable and few of the friends of same
were wise to the melon cutting.
Hubbub Causes a Stir
Hubbub created little of that stuff
he is supposed to represent once ne
found himself off over the mile route
for the occasion which had cost him
so many sleeplcss nights. His owner
didn't have to substantiate his name
at all. 1t wasn't a gamble. 1t was a
cinch.
Jockey Bell, from q good position
not far from the rail, was away wing
ing. He shot past Goldcrest Boy,
which broke in front, as if the latter
were hitched, and in the first hundred d
yards opened up gap Of several
lengths. At the quarter Bell had his
mount against the rail, three good
lengths ahead of the nearest in pur-
suit. Of in front Bell decided, doubt
less, to give his mount his head, take
the shortest route home and leave it
all to the gelding, which had been
trained to find his way home even III
the dark.
From the start it was simply a
question of the boy keeping the saddle.
Hubbub was full Of running. When
he hit the stretch he had the race we'll
in hand. Sky Pilot, outrun in the early
stages of the race, closed very fast
through the stretch, though he was tir-
ing at the end and had to be ridden
out to save the place position from G.
M. Miller.
The latter, after interference which
left him away back when the field
srtaightened for the run home, made
up lot of ground in the final run
and closed very strong. The Belgian
II. displayed a fine early foot, but
stopped at the end of seven furlongs.
Favorite Loses Star Race
The fourth race, the Little Neck
Handicap, at a mile and a sixteenth,
which was featured as the stellar at
traction of the afternoon. witnessed
the defeat of r. T. Wilson, jr.'s
Straight Forward. which was favorite
for the event. This handicap was run
by the Potomac Stables Flittergold
mainly because of the fact that Schut-
finger displayed horse sense in his
horsemanship, while Johnny McTag-
CART rode the usual "McTaggart-
aboard-a -favorite" race.
McTaggart, off in front and on the rail
with Straight Forward, rated his
mount poorly. He took up almost i'm
mediately to let Damrosch and Ed
Roche race themselves out. First thing
he knew he was away back and in q
pocket. Twice, on the backstretch.
when he was finally able to work free
after going around at the stretch turn
he was too far back to overhaul Flit-
tergold.
The latter, meanwhile, had been vel
rated by Scauttnger and was ready fel
the real test when the proper oppor
tunity came Flittergold lay behine
the pace to the head of the stretch
where he soon raced Damrosch and Ec
Roche into submission. The horse was
firing fast under Schuttinger in the
last sixteenth, but tas boy knows how
to get the most out of firing mount
He rode a gallant finish while McTag
gart, as usual in his Eighty way, ar
rived just bit too late.
The stecplechase went to King Simon
largely because he was more fortunate
in his racing associates than New
Haven. Jockey Haynes, with the King
really won the race; or rather Bergen
threw it away with New Haven. This
latter was pounds the better and the
race always lay between the two
Bergen was of absolutely no assistance
to his mount either at the obstacles or
on the fat. No weaker finish ever was
seen.
Dunboyne Wins First
Dunboyne won the first race, over the
five furlongs straight, under stiff ride
by Byrne. The Clark colt, away we'll
made all the early running and stood
the final drive gamely. Grimalkin
raced all over the track under Buxton
at the start, but closed with tre-
mendous rush and would have won in
q few more strides. Indeed, it looked
as ii Grimalkin might aave gotten up
in the last hundred yards had not Dun
boyne swerved slightly and interfered d