New-York tribune., 1919-08-23
Poor Rides on
Opponents Win
For The Porter
Erickson and Fator Err
Often and LOTUS Is Pre-
sented With a Victory
By w. |. Macbeth


SARATOGA, Aug. 22.-The value Of
brains, especially as applied to horse
sense in jockeyship, was never more
iforcibly illustrated than in the Platts-
ourg Handicap at a mile, the feature
OF to-day's racing here. John F
Schorr's The Porter which packed TOP
weight in field of seven. won the hon
ors because of the fact that his rider
johnny Lotus, showed horse sense
The Porter didn't exactly win, though
he ran a crack mile-1:37 3-5. on dry-
lng-out track that was still a sec
ond show. Jockey H. Erickson pre-
sented Lotus and The Porter with all
Marshal's five-year-old Courtship.
which undoubtedly would have come
mighty close to the record if he had
been favored with the strength in the
saddle that he showed in the heart and
legs.
1t was an injustice against those who
fancled Marshall's horse that Court
ship had to be satisfied with second
money Courtship raced the life out
OF Sam Hildreth's game and speedy
Valor IN an exciting duel through the
stretch. And both of these ran MANY
lengths further than did The Porter.
And then again it must be admitted
that, greatly as Erickson abused Court
Shlp's chances, if it could be possible
Fator abused Valor's chances the more.
This boy. since the Empire meeting,
has gone from million-dollar rider
to hearse driver Perhaps he stood
out at Empire only because Of the fact
that so few of the GOOD jockeys or
riders that go as such were not in
silks at the Yonkers track
Many Errors by Fator
Fator made every possible mistake
that can be imagined He was Of lit
tie or no use to his mount in the
pinch. He rode apparently without
any fixed idea Of what he was about.
He displayed lack Of initiative He
would go up and then take back, pull
10 one side and then TO the other. He
finally decided to make his run about
midway round the far turn. After
that Erickson further complicated
Valors5 chances by carrying him wide
side fence of the stretch. it was this
nonsensical move that gave Lotus his
chance to skim through on the rail
and save half dozen lengths at least
Courtship had all the early speed, and
in the backstretch opened lead of a
couple of lengths The Porter, mean
while, was back with the bunch. Valor
moved up. then fell back, moved up
again, "a tered. Half way round the
far bend fator evidently made up his
mind to shoot for the pacemaker
He closed fast, and just as they were
about to come into the stretch was at
Courtship's saddle girths. Whether
Erickson thought to get better foot
ing, or whether he failed to keep his
head up, he at least failed to take the
turn properly He carried out three
quarters of the way to the outside
fence and carried Valor with him.
1t was just the chance Lotus had
hoped for. The Porter, top weight,
had been rated off the early pace.
Lotus sent him with a rush, skim
ming the rail and then started to ride
for home with everything he had. 1t
was a thrilling finish. valor and
Courtship, hooked up in their private
quarrel, failed to notice the new men
ace until The Porter had nailed them
at the furlong pole. Lotus got The
Porter home by length, though driv-
ing for all he was worth Courtship
beat Valor by head for the place.
Biggest Upset in Sixth
The sixth race proved the biggest
upset of the meeting. This was for
maiden -year-old FLIES The Casco
Stables Mile. Vivian, ridden by C. P
Miller an unknown, got her nose down
in front in stiff drive. She paid as
good as so for L. The Oneck Stables
Swirl was second. while Montford
Jones's May Alley, making her first ap-
pearance under silks, was third.
May Alley was 80 to 1 shot. This
one ran wonderful race, and might
indeed have got the big purse money
if Lunsford had got her away we'll.
lie was practically left at the post
and had to race all around the field
from an outside position. May Alley
was running over the others at the
end
The fifth race also was big sur
prise. c. H. Rossetter's Fait Accompli,
at 20 to 1, got the brackets. Willis
second and Raj PARIS Repeater was
under Robinson, and it did seem the
jockey didn't try very hard till he
got under the very noses Of the Of
ticals.
In the opening race, at a mile, for
three-year- and upward, E. NJ.
Yields Carpet Sweeper, d 10 to ! shot,
got the big money, and W. I. Wilkin-
sons War Rocket. the favorite, ran
unplaced. No favorite of this meeting
was better supported than War Rocket.
Clean Gone finished second and SEN
ator Crow third.
Bob Smiths old gelding Slippery
Elm, the odds-on favorite, made a
show of his field in the second, the
Pittstown Handicap, at mile. He
made every post a winning one and
was eased up at the end. Warsaw
was second and Sassin third. Willis
Sharpe Kilmer's Frogtown, which was
considered a good limb" proposition.
brought up the rear of the field of
four.