New-York tribune., 1918-08-01
CMdgel Is FaU0rgd
To Win Big Classic
Field of Six Seek $4,000
Prize-Record Crowd
Expected at Spa

SARATOGA, N. Y, July 81.-One
month Of horse racing will be inaugu-
rated here with the opening o1
the picturesque Saratoga Racing AS
sociation grounds here tomorrow.
record crowd is looked for when the
sound Of the bugle announces the pa
rade of the horses to the post, as every
hotel and boarding house here is
crowded to its limit.
The weather man holds the whip hand
this evening. On his smile or scowl
will depend the result Of the big $4,000
Saratoga Handicap. Monday night it
rained, but the downpour was merely 8
blessing in disguise. The track was
thirsty and soon swallowed the water.
If no more rain falls the track will be
dry and fast
With fair weather and fast track,
all of the entrants named to start for
Cudgel, Priscilla Mullens, Roamer,
Fairy Wand, War Cloud and Bondage
but if it should rain, presto! there will
be change in the personnel of the
contestants.
Weather Factor
The prospects for fair or good
weather tomorrow are about fifty fifty.
Another threatened storm may come up
here at any moment. This is a peculi-
arity of the Spa. With rain, Roamer,
Cudgel and War Cloud will be alb
sentees at post time, and this will mean
that several "mudders" who are eligible
for the race will be brought out Of
their stables.
But under clear skies and fast
track all the horses named will face
the barrier. This will mean a horse
race in all that the term implies.
The entrants are the best horses in
training at the present time. Omar
khayyam is practically laid up with
a cracked hoof, and this narrows the
list of great horses down to Cudgel,
Roamer and War Cloud. In this trio
there is quality enough to spare, as
all are at the top notch Of their form.
new record is likely to be hung up
over the mile and quarter course
The Ross entry, Cudgel. and Pris-
gel is the foundation for this prefer
ence. The fact that he has won more
handicaps this season than any of the
other starters warrants his selection
He carries 133 pounds, top weight, but
as he is good weight carrier this inn
post is not beyond his strength.
He recently worked a mile in 1 38 3-5
and did it seemingly without great
effort on his part. Since his arrival
he has freshened up wonderfully and
he looks better than at any time this
year. He will be ridden by Johnny
Lyke, who has ridden him to victory
many times this season. Priscilla Null
lens, his stable mate, will be sent along
to help him in the matter of early
paces but mile and a quarter is q
trifie beyond her distance.
Roamer, with 129 pounds up, vies
with War Cloud, with 116 pounds. as
the second choice. Roamer is the
favorite among the fair devotees of the
turf. His long string of victories in
other years and the fact that he has
two triumphs to his credit for this
event make him popular.
War Cloud Liked
War Cloud, on the strength of his
recent defeat of Jack Hare, jr, and a
mile trial in 1888, is the colt most
favored by the majority of the turfmen
to win. He is fast and has always
shown a disposition to go journey.
Bondage is quoted at 10 to 1, and Fairy
Wand, the other starter, is the out
slider in the odds, at % to /.
Racegoers will find the track much
improved since last year. The top soil
of clay has been removed and a new
dressing of loan added. This has
made the track wonderfully fast and
safe.