New-York tribune., 1919-07-13

saw G. ID. Widener's imported Laniu
to win the $1,000 Empire City Hand
card, in the fast time Of 1:51 as fl
seconds away from the track and st
1t was but one example of many in
the vindication of form. Fayorites won
four of the six events; in the other two
almost equally favored second choices
took the brackets. And nothing cali
be fairer than that.
The patrons were not only enter
tanned by a programme of exceptionally
spirited racing. but delighted as we'll
with the improvements that had been
made to the racing plant. The whole
establishment was dressed and trimmed
with copious coats of paint. The roof
of the main grandstand had been ex
tended some fifteen feet IN front, so
as to add protection in the stormiest
of weather, for which this particular
track is famous.
Make Many improvements
The club house was found to be re-
modelled and enlarged, with far greater
yeranda space added and covered run
way between clubhouse and grandstand
with a glass side facing the track. New
entrances bad been provided for the
main driveways and also to the club
house and grandstand
Chris Fitzgerald has made Of the En-
pire City racing plant one as attractive
to the eye as AQueduct. The improve
ment, If the opinion of the horsemen
count for aught, has been extended to
The track, which originally was built
for harness horses and provided with a
hard bottom that proved severe on the
hoofs and legs OF the participating
thoroughbreds.
james Butler, the chief mogul Of the
Empire City Racing Association, as a
general rule is always able to root at
least one of his thoroughbreds home to
victory on opening day, but yesterday
proved IN exception Mr.. Butler keeps
;sps:rs especially Tor the winning of the
Empire City Handicap. The six-year-
cid bay horse gave q great account of
himself III his iirsc out and if Pickens,
the horse Mr. Butler might have had a
chance to enthuse over the feature as
we'll as over the crowd.
LAS the race was run-and it was
run just to suit the favorite-Spur
was lucky TO finish third. The Butler
horse, which was thrown in at the
light weight of iii pounds, was made
altogether too much use of by Pick
ems through the FIRST six furlongs
DE had not enough racing under his
belt to stand the wicked pace and sur
vsve, and when he hit the short
stretch he foldod-that's all.
Early Pace Reats Spur
G. ". Lofts Tippity Witchet cooked
Spurs goose. Tippity and Spur went
away il a mad dash for position at the
girst turn as ii in five furlongs
sprint. They raced head and head
around the first bent, lengths ahead
oT the struggling field, and up to the
bacl. stretch as if Old Nick himself
were at their heels.
Lotus came on with Lanius in the
haekstrotch and placed him nicely in
Thru position, permitting Kelsey and
fickens to kill off their mounts. At
the end OF six furlongs Tippity Witch
80 was done. LOTUS then set to
work with Lanius and soon put the
tlnlng Spur away.
However, new menace hove up
from the rear in c. M. Garrison's Be
Frank, which, slow to begin, came with
great rush through the last furlong.
LOTUS scented this dangs1 just in
time and went to work with the whip
f.s the sixteenth. Be Frank was run
ring over the favorite at the end
hut Lanlus managed to last as re-
suit of Johnny's desperate finish Be
rank would have won in ten more
yards.
LOTUS won the Katonah High.
weight Handicap at about six fur
longs with Sam Hildreth's Out the
Way. Johnny took no chances with
his windbroken mount and rode him
out, making a runaway Of it from
start 10 finish. Out the Way and
rcser Piper opened equal choices, but
:, strong play sent Peter favorite to
the post
Powers Draws Suspension
Vincent Powers, the steeplechase
jockey, had the leg up on Peter. He
was caught mapping and eliminated al
the start Trying to make up his dis.
advantage. Powers rode roughly
Shrough the backstretch and drew q
I'VE days suspension for foul work.
The general public was lucky te
cash in on Paddy Whack, favorite OF
the mile and seventy yards, fifth
LOFTY Vandlver tip-soed the field am
had the race won sixteenth from
nome. But little Vida, who was look
ing around to his right, was unawar.
OF Paddy Whack's presence on the raj
and all too late sensed the danger
Dottie Vandiver should have won a,
she pleased 9"
That perenpial favorite, Hank O'Day
was iuii OF a lot OF things, principalH
running. and galloped home an eas,
victor in the Briarcliff, at a mile an,
seventy yards. g. W. Lofts Ormbe
won the opening sprint of five and
aaif furlongs. Romany, perhaps tn
pest backed thoroughbred Of the after
noon, won the closing dash of five fur
longs, outgaming End Man in the rn,
through the stretch.
marry Payne Whitney has decide,
to campaign his string at Empire CT,
instead OF shipping to SARATOGA n
originally announced. ="