The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-06
CLASSIC CHASE Is
TURF TRAVESTY
Only Three Horses Go to Post
and Stonewood Scores Hol-
low Victory.
GEORGE STAR A WINNER
Johnny LOTUS Lands Kim
Home in Front in the
Baldwin Handicap.
By HENRY ". KING.

By HENRY ". KING.
The Grand National steeplechase. one
OF the most coveted cross-eountry stakes
on the American turf, was decided at
Belmont Park yesterday. afternoon. 1t
was listed as a feature, but It came close
70 being a farce. Only three h2rses COM
peted. and two of them might Just AZ
we'll have remained in their stalls SO far
as their chance OF victory vas con-
derned
Joseph E. widepsrs stonewood won.
but his victory was a hollow one. Jo-
seph e. Daviss Melodrama and r. II.
Ahles's Wingoldpwere his only opponents
and they never we're In the hunt. Win
gold tired badly before half the distance
had been covered and came a cropper
over one Of the obstacles on the back
stretch, and Melodrama was so fatigued
that II was with difficulty that Jockey
Heating was able TO make him complete
the course. Twice during the last half
mile he refused to take" the obstacles,
and when he reached the Judges he was
in a state bordering on collapse.
The Grand National is an old stake,
having been first ru1~at Norris Park In
1889. 1t Is a test d three miles. and
since its inaugural 1t has always brought
together q big field OF good horses. Be
sides $4,000 purse a huge silver cup is
awarded to the victor.
For yesterdays race more than a score
Of Jumpers had been nominated. but only
those mentioned above were in condition
10 cover the long route. 1t was a sad re-
hection of the owners and breeders OF
long distance horses and ample proof
that there Is dearth Of the cross-coun-
try horses in the country.
The Brook Withdrawn.
J E. Grifith's champion. The Brook,
and Mr.. Widener's Skibbereen were
among the overnight entries. but they
were withdrawn and Wingold added.
The presence Of Wingold had no terrors
for the men who lay the odds. They
knew that stonewood was the best of
the field and made him a prohibitive IA
vorite at 2 to 8.
stonewood led from start to finish
and was never in danger of defeat. For
a mile wingold chased at his heels. but
he was there simply on sufferance. When
Vincent Powers gave Stonewood a little
more rein beginning the second mile
Wingold attempted TO follow. The faster
pace tired him quickly, and after mar
rowly escaping trouble at two obsta cles
vent down over the third, throwing
Heating over his head. Neither Jockey
nor morse was injured.
With wingold out Stonewood cantered
the remainder of the way to win by more
than a furlons. Melodrama ran slowly
and jumped we'll until he reached the
first jump in the homestretch. There
he bolted and Nicklaps was compelled
10 take him back and send him at II a
second time. This time he cleared it,
but at the next and last jump he refused
again. NicSlaus kept him to his work
and succeeded in taking him over II and
home in time to earn the second prize.
George Starr Wins Stake.
The Baldwin lightweight Handicap
was the feature on the fat. II went 10
Wilfrid Viau's George Starr. with Johnny
Lotus in the saddle Under Loftus's
perfect handling George Starr showed a
vast improvement over his last start.
when he was guided by Hummer. He
broke on his toes, raced the fast Out the
Way into submission during the first
half mile and then went on and won
rather easily by length and half. a
sixteenth of mile from home George
Starr bolted across the track, but Lot. as
hit him a couple OF cracks over the neck
with his whip and got him Strengthened
out before his opponents got close to
him.
Jockey Heating was suspended until
July IS by the stewards OF the National
Steeplechase and Hunt Association at a
meeting held at the track. He was pun
shed for disobeyins riding instructions
while mounted on Rhomb in the steeple-
chase on wednesday. Heating was &C
cused Of holding Rhomb off the pace too
long.
Jockey Heating Suspended.
The stewards OF the Jockey Club also
held a meeting. They appointed James
Mclaughlin patrol and paddock judge
and william Midgeley patrol Judge
Jockey Sande, who is under contrac'
% Commander ]. K. L. Ross, was sus
pended for sixty days. This action was
taken to conform with the recent ac-
ton taken by the Kentucky State Rae
ing Commission. While riding Millunaid
IN the Kentucky Oaks last Saturda )
sande was accused OF grabbing the
bride OF Lillian Shaw.
Natural Bridge, the three-year-old
solt which beat Roamer in the Douglas
ton Handicap on Wednesday. did no:
start for Latonia after his victory. WIZ
lam Karrick, his trainer was unable TO get
n car TO take him 10 the Kentucky track
The colt will compete at Belmont this
afternoon