New-York tribune., 1918-05-28
Three-Year-Old
Wins Classic at
Belmont Park
Great Crowd Sees Imported
Colt Defeat Roamer
and Old Koenig
By w. ]. Macbeth

colt, romped home to victory for
Jockey L. McAtee over the mile kite
course at the Belmont Park spring
opening yesterday afternoon in the
Metropolitan Handicap, one of the
richest and most highly regarded
fixtures of the Eastern racing sea-
son. The stout-hearted French coft.
game and irresistible as the fighting
sons of his native land, covered the
distance in the remarkably fast time
Of 1888 3-5, which compares most
favorably with the average time for
this particular classic.
Trompe La Mort, an outsider In the
betting, was forced to beat a high-
class field in order to carry the silks
Of the young Philadelphia sportsman
to victory. Omar Khayyam. wilfred
viau's gallant four-year-old; Roamer.
Andrew Miiler's aged bay eelding, the
hero Of many a classic strife; Old
Koenig and Priscilla Mullens were but
. few Of the notables that took th.
dust from the spurning hoofs Of Mr.
Widener's imported thoroughbred. In
deed, Omar Khayyam and Roamer the
most favored Of the field, figured little
in the running of this feature. Al
least Omar never figured. Roamer
threatened for a while and even led
the first three quarters of the way.
But youth simply had to be served.
This was the first time three-year-
ola has ever won the Metropolitan
Handicap, at least under existing con-
dltions. James R. Keene's Sysonby, a
three-year- and O. L. Richards's
Race King (four) raced to dead heat
in 1:4l 3-5 back in 1905, the first time
the classic was contested at Belmont
Park. That was the closest a three
year-od had ever come to the glory
and riches of the stake until Mr.. Wide,
ner's Trompe La Mort had his f;nc
yesterday afternoon.
Great Crowd at Track
The finest racing crowd of the sea-
son ana one OF the largest that had
attended the picturesque course since
the halcyon days before the anti-bet-
ting law of 1907 took some of the edge
OIL enthusiasm, was on hand to wei
come the thoroughbreds to the most
popular course of the East, Various
estimates placed the attendance at
from twelve to fifteen thousand. So
ciety was we'll represented. The ca
paclty of the clubhouse was taxed
the grandstand generously filled and
the lawns before both clubhouse and
stand packed densely
. by the time the Metropolitan Han
oicap held was called to the post the
vast throng had been worked un to
concert pitch. The afternoon had heen
tremendous success SO far. Abadane.
Iavorlte of the opening event, had been
beaten out by Sunfish II, but gave so
good account of himself as to leave
lew regrets. Favorites stood up noblv
IA the next two, one of them a Jump
ing ing race at that-the New York
;S,.es,piechase, ;,s,p big enough feature in
''sell Tor almost any racing card.
Layers and takers of odds had been
.us. olt disturbed in their calcula
.ons, II IS true, when it was learned
tnat ". +. Applegate's Jack Hare, jr..
an aaa oeen scratched in the premier
.nree-year-od had much the best
cnance If a three-year- ever was to
WIN the classic. With the elimination
q, ul JACK Hare, jr., the name of Omar
nnsyyam naturally became more and
more prominent.
Omar Quoted at Evens
III rlsad mad been rumored that Omar
alaaasyam' III Vlau's sterling four-year-
U;iL o;a was not just right. The sharps
f,,eu Fa out to the paddock to have look
race was finished. Omar did lool, ;nst
Urine drawn and light to those who
nsew MN at his best. But the LAYERS
y. ouas' who had seen this fine chest
aut W.! triumph over all weights and CON
shao .,ons so often, were taking no undue
tnances. Omar was quoted at no bet-
than evens in the opening betting
to me aged Roamer had his following.
.oo. NO But Trombe La Mort was not
d;ooKed: In spite of somewhat
inppo'ntihg inv -. race over the heavy 60
hvs a. Jamaica, when he was beaten
ro,t ni5'es' many thought the Widener
in the ao an excellent chance to finish
nr... ~ .ne money at least. He was in
ptteeev light compared to the rest evan
weight. 'iee pounds over
Omar Khayyam drew the position
with the aged Roamer next ~ 49,
ana Hank ODay the Other s;d. ".n ~
noamer. The Widener colt was % on +ha
..eme ..uSe outside. BY this time so
Traus Tums play had been made on
op orompe La Mort that the price on
"a. ~ ~ hhayyam had receded from even
20 ~ to and on Roamer from Ok -
:. 70 3 to l. Trompe La Morte ~ ~
ne lne other hand, had been knocked
0o~n from 20 to / to 10 to /
On to Perfect Start
tremais al'er Mars Cassidy, who had his
h;r,a.'s h;unes with the congested fields. did
occss;nr ll p'1ud u,a Tor this most important
sne eight were in perfect alienmer.
ana on, every. one was ready. Omar IS
slow breaker, fact that did not en-
nance the advantage Of his position.