New-York tribune., 1919-07-22
Shoal, Winner
OF Sprigs htful,
Is Disqualified
Only Three Juveniles Take
Part i'll Feature Event,
Romany Proves the Best
By w. J. Macbeth

If our friend, st. Swithn, keeps up
his crouch much longer the directors
OF the Empire City Racing Association
might make hit by turning the track
into an aquarium and racng catfish
over the various distances now as
signed to the thoroughbreds One
could scarcely call yesterdays compe-
,itions Of alleged speed racing by any
stretch of the imagination. At best it
was wading. There is no footing left
whatever
Even in going to the post the thor
oughbreds were in danger of miring
and more than one favorite was
begged" at the start between tho
glue and Mars Cassidy's impatient
Indifference. St Swithin's crouch has
nothing on that of Cassidy as the mer-
ry raindrops pitter, patter down.
1t has come to be the practice of
issue possible where they believe they
have no ace in the hole. Wholesale
scratching has marred the racing of
all the metropolitan tracks this season.
BUT it remained for yesterday to de-
qeop the highwater mark of the evil.
In the first race field Of nineteen was
scratched down to a puny four; and
the four eventually left possessed abso-
iutely nothing whatever of class.
Fifteen scratches out of nineteen
named overnight seems an insult to an
intelligent public.
Big Crowd Disappointed
Ten thousand went up to Empire
City yesterday afternoon expecting
some sort of competition. In two Of
She races three horses only went to the
post. In two others only four faced
the starter. There might have been
some excuse for the Indifference of
horsemen toward the sporting public
had it been a case of unexpected rain.
But every horseman knew when he
made his nominations Saturday after
noon just what sort Of track he could
expect Monday.
Such trainers and owners as Sam
flidreth and N. r Bronner undoubted-
II were mostly to blame for the record
amount Of scratching in the opening
event. In this selling race at q mile
and seventy yards such good horses as
Hlldreth's Poacher and Bronner's Lu-
clus were entered under valuations Of
$500 each A cheaper lot of horses
We're, many of them, entered at figures
as high as $1,000. And the skates, not
beng able to concede the implicated
weight, had to scratch as a matter Of
self preservation. Means should be
found IN some way to protect the small
horse owner against the rich one who
takes advantage of such races to ex-
rloit good thoroughbreds for betting
purposes. In the end Poacher and Lu-
cius both were scratched, but by that
time most of the field had been chased
n ha to
The Sprightful Selling Stakes for
$4,000 for two-year- olds, at about six
furlonss, was the feature race OF yes
terday's programme. 1t proved one Of
the most disappointing contests of the
year. &. ". Formans ShNl. ridden
by {. Hummer, was disqualified, after
winning by a length from r. H. McC
Potter's Romany. The disqualification
was merlted, as we'll as the five days
suspension the stewards handed
Hummer
Only three of the juveniles answered
the bugle- shoal, Romany and the
Quincy Sable's American Boy. Lovely
and Hackamore were scratched. For
time II was as stirring struggle as
ever was witnessed anywhere The |
tnree broke together and raced nose
10 nose up the backstretch and around |
The turn. Swinging into the stretch
Snoal, from the outside position. |
crossed over and shut off Romany
then bored still further in and made |
american Boy take up sharply
Patrol Judge Reports Foul
McAtee did not ride the last-men-
2oned race out after the accident, but |
Fairorother came on with Romany !,
after Strengthening him out, and was
1ennihg over Shoal at the end. One
oi tne patrol Judges reported the foul |
% eae stewards before Fairbrother |
ana McAtee went to lodge claims
neir subsequent appearance was per
'unctorv formality.
me hllisdale Handicap, at about six |
rsS,,o}ngs' was won by G. W. Forman's |
5 icH!'sn, hummer having the mount. |
d p',s'ne the actual running of IN,
ssent the race certainly looked queer"
1icAiisn opened an to 8 favorite, but
vent soaring to 16 to 5, with scarcely |
penny Of support. Crystal Ford was
rrT1I'''"ered down from to ! to 9 to l. |
m ne price on Youneed also went kiting. |
There were whispers amonc ~
~Ise ones that Ticklish was an the |
car But Ticklish just romped home
1 a5 ne should, with Youneed second. |
Cmne tne medium of the big plunge
~.!slai ford, never Was able to work |
& sp decent gallop and finished in the
r.
Mos until the very last race did the
rs.sNey 1aYorite get down in front |
,sa ne Play made Dream Of the valley |
e.. Nv plolic choice for the closing dash !
q. se,.a% about Blk furlongs. Cassidy pre- |
~ f''.so .sa THIS one with ali the money |
v.Ha' ins sEart He gave Dream Of the |
ss"ey bust at the barrier while |
Is - ieN L. Glorieuv, that opened |
bsssife, flat-footcd and hopclegsly |
ss' eh IRON the start
A.4.nnia. the favorite, safe Ip'tS ali tbs ne,u a
e@r.1s e~roasn the opening heat az a mile and |
b.,niy b.., Yards Kelsey's foolish ride
SooIj,bl4;y si Dayoue M N the mile second He.
gaefe ., in France in. head. TO- head duel duel:
.wrn n5 men5 away vide at the stretch |
rail- rail- ana t Let Frogtown through on the |
tre,oa ,foJxto"n: On which there was
At ,ssHehdous play, was as good az left
ans. a. ms post, but, profitiny BY Kelsey's %
NS' made good the disadva