New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

The attendance at the Empire CityS
track yesterday was the greatest testi-
monial ever paid the thoroughbred
sport in these parts. Though it rained
torrents almost continuously from
o'clock on, one of the very biggest
crowds of the meeting was on hand.
There was not shelter for all. Thou
sands had to stand under the dripping
caves, or even on the flood-swept lawn
itself, to get fleeing glimpses of the
competitions. For nearly an hour after
the first bugle call Jerome Avenue was
blocked by the auto traffic in late ar
rivals.
The track the day before was bad
enough. Yesterdays food simply sank
it entirely. Water inches deep lay
clear across the course, which was the
most treacherous that can be imagined.
1t was a case of wade, swim or sink.
None but the most pronounced muoders
had a ghost of chance. The top soil
had washed away in places, leaving
dangerous holes, which put almost as
great a premium on blind luck as upon
good craftsmanship. One can easily
realize, then, why the fields were so
limited generally.
Be Frank Was Scratched
Doubtless it was because of the
treacherous condition of the track that
30 few high class thoroughbreds were
named overnight for yesterdays two
important stake engagements. When
Be Frank was scratched from the En-
pire City Derby great deal OF the IN.
49, until i'm
left only r. L. Gerry's Balustrade to
fight it out with the Hildreth Stable.
Hildreth, who had three of his thor,
Brighton. But this left the wonderful
Purchase and the high class Cirrus to
take Balustrade between them, so the
best the layers would offer on the Hill
dreth entry was l to 2U.
It was a bad betting proposition, OF
course. and most of the speculation in
dulred in had to do with the matter of
Balustrade's ability to beat out Cirrus
for the place Quite a few of the reg
MARS took a chance at to ON the
outsider doing just that thing. And
he did.
Jockey L. Fator took Cirrus out to
race Balustrade into the ground, but
killed his own mount in the attempt
Seven furlongs cooked the goose OF
Cirrus.
Willie Knapp meanwhile had lain IL
behind Balustrade with Purchase. Com
ing into the stretch turn he gave the
prospective champion his head ant
Purchase came away as he pleased t.
win in a common gallDp. Those wht
watched the race closely, however, no
ticed that Purchase was not nearly 81
full of running as he was the day h
humbled Sir Barton.
LOTUS Rides Royal Duck
Johnny LOTUS, whose recent ride o
Sun Briar is still being investigated b
the stewards, was up on G. D. Wide
ner's two-year-old brown gelding, tn
favorite in the Whirl. Royal Due
turned out to be humming bird. TIL
gelding couldn't swim half as fast a
his name might imply. After a slug
gsh start. he moved up fast aroun
the turn, then folded again.
Fator, on the other hand, got Ca
mandate off winging, and in the fir
quarter opened up q commanding lea
He was never threatened thereaft,
and won in a common canter, TO,
lengths ahead of Feodor. This la
one, which was second choice, w;
quite as big a disappointment as Roy
Duck.
1t was another day of disaster
form. The only tavorlte co win w
Purchase, and his price was so sho
that not even the suckers would fall.
started with the defeat Of Star Real
by osgood, in the opening dash at abo
six furlongs. Tailor Maid, another OF
slider, got the big money in the mile a
sixteenth second event.
Carroll, who rode Lucius, beat t
favorite right at the start when after
fair enough break he took up to la
and was forced to race around the fie
Lucius was running over Tailor Ma
at the end
The regulars had sick headaches
the finish of the mile-and-seventy-yar
fifth. Snapdragon IL was anchored
the weight and outrun so far before
stretch that he never had a chance
get up. Gamecock raced Daydue in
submission in the first six furlongs, tn
drew off to an easy victory