New-York tribune., 1918-07-28
Spur Captures
Feature Race
AtEmpiireCity
Takes $4,000 Yonkers Hand
icap-Ute Gets $4,000
E,astview Stakes
BY w. ]. Macbeth

horses attracted bumper crowd which
sweated and sweltered in its fight TO
hand its money to the shrewd layers
and the promoters as well. And James
Butler finally had the satisfaction of
seeing his colors fash home to victory
in one of said features, thereby not
only saving the life and honor of
Trainer John Whalen. but the lions
share of the $4,000 purse as we'll.
Spur, the five -year-old black horse OF
the main mogul of the Yonkers merry
go-roand, a grand old performer which
never had quite lived up 10 his reputa-
tion in his several former starts this
season, won the Yonkers Handicap at
mile and a sixteenth in real, old
fashioned Spur style. The son OF King
James, admirably handled by Jockey G..
Byrne, hoofed the distance in AS is.
which was just three ffths second
slower than the record performance
of H. P. Whitney's Borrow at the
same track in 1914.
Spurs great run through the stretch,
and especially through the final six
teenth, was one of the most sensation
ally thrilling spectacles of the entire
meeting, which has been one of thrills
OF various sizes and denominations.
Spur Once a Bad Fifth
AS the field of seven swung round
the final turn for the short dash over
looked very much as if Mr. Butler
would have to wait indefinitely for the
pleasure of seeing his white and
cherry silks in the van at the spot
which counts most in the settling of
wagers based on equine speed. For at
that stage of the procession the gal
liant Spur was bad fifth, some six or
seven lengths behind St. Isidore and
Tom McTaggart, fighting head to head
now for the lead And Mr.. Butler does
not intend to send his horses to the
Spa.
But just about this time the plucky
little Byrne decided to see if Spur had
not left in him just one more of those
finishes for which he was noted in for
mer campaigns Byrne began to ride
with whip and hand and heel. He
gathered old Spur right up into his
arms and led him down for such a
sprint as looked absolutely hopeless at
the beginning.
Spur was up and after the chal-
lengers like q rocket But he had to
come wide, and so made no appreciable
gain until the pacemakers had swung
we'll into the short stretch. At the
mile he was still fifth, though he had
greatly improved his chances, for here
st. lsidore had faltered and Tom Nc
Taggart was beginning to display evi-
dences of leg WEAKNESS from his early
effort.
First Five Bunched
The first five contenders strung
across the track were well punched.
Spur, in fifth position, was not more
than three lengths behind Tom McTag
gart, which had raced St Isdore INTO
submission meanwhile. Byrne had him
free now where the issue hung square
ly on speed and stamina
Spur finally managed, under Byrne's
strong ride. to get up in time to beat
Tom McTaggart in the last strides by
scant neck. 1t was popular victory.
too, for others besides Messrs. Butler
and Whalen. but those who had sup
ported the chances of Tom McTaggart
had reason to feel piqued. Troise
failed TO do justice to the chances OF
Tom McTaggart.
Truth is. Troise did not appear to try
to hold ms fine advantage through the
final sixteenth. He did not go to bat
until Spur had collared his mount.
That Tom McTaggart had the speed
was evidenced by the fact that once
stirred up he hung on gamely TO the
very end. A spirited ride might easily
have frustrated Spurs great finish, gal
liant as it proved.
Say Orders Were Ignored
1t was said after the race that Troisc
absolutely dsregarded stable inStruc-
tions. He had hecn told. so the story
goes, to lay off the early pace and wait
to the near turn to make has run. In
stead he chased right after st. lsidore,
the favorlte and the pacemaker. all OF
the way. Along the backstretch and
far turn the pair. running almost to-
gether, were several lengths in front
of the rest OF the bunch.
Even despite this early, punch de
stroying effort, however. Mcraggart
should have won with his great ad-
vantage az the head of the stretch had
Troise proven half as Interested or
plGcky as mis- mount. St isldore. the
public choice, so soon as II Was learned
that Roamcr, shipped 10 Saratoga. had
been scratched, had absolutely no ex-
cuse. save. perhaps, that Of too heavy
an impost. St lsidore stopped almost
TO walk after the first mile
Now, the Youkers Handicap. from p
none tary viewpoint, was not the real
feature Of the afternoon. The East
View Stakes. Of $5,000, fer two year
'4ho, was supposed u bt hlt li't' ~
resistance. But. after ali. IL Is the
competition that makes morse race,
and the East View Stakes developed
very little of that
Ute Canters to Victory
This was next thing TO a walk-over
for John Sanford's Ute Little George
Walls laid off the early pace OF the
prime tAvorit". Lord Brighton, TO the
head Of the stretch. Then he stepped
IIgnt out to the front, drew sway 20 tho
easiest imaginable sort Of lead and
cantercd IN to victory, three lengths L.
the good.
Lord Brighton. which appears 20 be
an ln-and-cutor. was evidently taking q
day off, as he lost all interest once Ute
looked him squareiy in the eye. Why,
even Chasseur. an added starter.
finished iiye lengths ahead Of the
favoritc.
Taken by and large. it was a pretty
far sort of an afternoon for Friend
Layer A. is customary on all holiday
occasions, when tho muitiiudes frht for
an opportunity to change money. the
boohies gave them selves none the worse
Of the odds. and only one fasorite stood
up during the six trials. Ensor showed
the way all the way with African Ar
row III the second. az mile and sew
enty yards.
Walls Gets Days Honors
Little Walls earned TIE riding honors
Of the day. lie scored with Ute in she
East View and landed Tho fF.A a. .