New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
SPUR Wins Feature
OfJnm1aicu CLOSING
Under Superior Handling s.
Year-Old Beats Cudgel in
Long Beach Handicap
By w. J. Macbeth

the owners colorS to victory in the Long
Beach Handicap, the feature race of the
closing day of the spring meeting Of
the Metropolitan Racing Association at
the Jamaica track yesterday afternoon.
Spur was admirably handled by Jockey
A. Schuttinger, or he might not have
won the major portion of the guaran-
teed cash prize of $4,000 for the mile
and furlong trial.
Commander J. X. L. Ross's four-year-
old bay colt Cudgel was beaten out Of
good chance through the apparently
indifferent horsemanship of L. L-yke in
this particular instance, despite the
fact that Spur covered tho distance in
the remarkable time of 1852 35, only
three-fifths of a second behind the
track record.
If the matter had been left to the
four-year-old son of Broomstick there
is very strong likelihood that Cudgel
would have shown his heels to Spur
in spite of the handicap favor enjoyed
by the Butler horse. Cudgel packed 1873
pounds to 122 for Spur, though the lat
ter is a fve-year-old and the former
but four. Cudgel felt in his youthful
vigor that youth could triumph over
difficulties and scampered away with
the barrier rise as if a feather instead
of 1873 pounds were on his back.
Evidently Lyke was fearful of taking
too much out of his mount st the start,
for after the turn into the backstretch
he reined in his pacemaker bit. At
the half he was breezing a scant half
length ahead of Flittergold, with Spur
in third place the same length behind
Schuttinger saw his chance and went
up to challenge Flittergold, Lyke pull
ing Cudgel back to third position.
Once in the lead, Schuttinger decided to
make the most OF his chance with Spur
He gave the horse his head, and, hug
ging the rail closely, took the shortest
possible route home.
Lyke Takes Long Way Around
Lyke, on the other hand, who had sac
rificed the short route when he sacri-
feed the lead, now started his drive on
the stretch turn. But he had to go
around Flittergold. and, whether by ac-
cident or design, certainly did give this
aged Hastings horse one wide berth
Cudgel lost a couple of unnecessary
lengths at least on this turn. Lyke
rode his best, once he hit the straight,
but Spur at This time was so far away
1t was hopeless chase
The stout-hearted Cudgel responded
nobly to the efforts of Lyke, and with
every spirited bound drew nearer Spur.
A hundred yards from the finish it
looked as it Cudgel might be able to get
up at last in spite Of the many diff
culties he had encountered. But Spur
resolutely answered Schuttinger's COM
mands, stood hard drive gamely and
flashed home winner by half a length" M
1t was generally conceded that the
race lay between Cudgel and Spur and
in the lay mind there was little to
choose between them. Cudgel. because
Of his impressive victory Of one week
before, seemed shade the more se-
riously regarded despite the generous
handicap he conceded to Spur. The
latter stake horse, as a rule, does not
season,
The aged Flittergold. however. had
more to say than most people imagined.
This was q 20-to-1 shot in field Of
five, better bet for show than either
OF the others to win. And show Fit
tergold did impressively. At the end
OF the mile Flittergold was four
lengths ahead Of Cudgel and only half
length behind Spur. Bondage, the
third choice, was only spectator.
Three Favorites Win.
This getaway from Jamaica was no
benefit for the layers. Three favor
ties won as well as q highly regarded
second choice: He viii, at ODDS on,
clnched the first race though McTag-
of the six-furlong sprint to make hin,
stand off the challenge Of Adele. an
outsider. In justice to He Will, how
ever, 1t should be noted that he pulled
up lame. He got away winginp for
Johnny and was never headed.
Earlocker was much the best Of the
iast race, a five-.furlong dash. Even
favorite with Duchess Lace, which was
never contender, this good one came
IKE thunderbolt through the stretch
and caught Marmite, a rank outsider.
which was threatening a runaway.
Flags, 1-to-3 favorite, soampered
home just about as he pleased in the
six-furlong fifth. James Buffers EN-
press set fast pace but died out a
furlong from home.
The most startling upset of the af-
ternoon occurred in the third race,
when Wllfred Viau's Westy Hogan fin-
lshed nowhere. Westy was coupled
with George Starr, and, of course, was
of tho stable, which was favorite.
Hogan began slowly, and never i'm
proved. G. w. Lofts Cum Sab ran
around the leaders and won with
plenty to spare.
SamPhre, n. L. wilson, Jr.'S, famous
four-year-old colt, has broken down
and will be retired to the stud in Ken
lucky. Campfire was the champion
two-year-old in 1916 and won s52 .0(l1
for his owner. Great things were az
pected Of him last season. but ha
proved a disappointment. and in the
opinion Of many racing sharps was NOT
able to go the distances.
Mr.. Wilson and Trainer Tom Healev.
however, had great faith in Campfire'
and hoped this season to prove him :
great stake horse. In his only start af
Jamaica, Campfire was beaten hadlv
But the other day he worked a miie
IN 1:41 and it was believed he had
come back.
Margaret l., four-year-old mara bv
Ballot out Of Miss Crittendan and =
sister of Lord Brighton, has been mr.
chased by George Smith. She will he
sent to the latter's breeding estab-
hshment in Kentucky.
William Martins Sunny slope IN.
thrce-year-old chestnut colt bv A..
tronomer out of Neva W., was scratches
from the second race because of az
rious injury. The colt cracked his
hoof and will be turned out.