The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-15
is
EASY VICTOR IN
THE EXCELSIOR
J. f. Widener's Erratic
Gelding Leads Home High
Class Field at Jamaica.
STAR MASTER Is SECOND
Bonnie Mary Is Beaten on the
Post by Toujours in Rose
dale Stakes.
By HENRY ". KING.

naturalist the imported gelding be-
longing to Joseph L. Widener. spread
a canopy of gloom over more than $4,000
racegoers at the Jamaica track yester-
day afternoon.
Paradoxical as II may seem. the gloom
came with his victory rather than defeat.
As he ambled home ahead OF seven OF
the best handicap horses in training, in
Guiding Corn Tassel, winner OF the recent
Suburban. and the once mighty Roamer.
in the Excelsior Handicap, there was
not cheer to greet him nor did he
receive word of praise, even though
he equalled the track record of 1:45 rs
for mile and a sixteenth.
Almost every one OF the big crowd
present knows him as an exceptionally
fast and courageous horse. but they also
know that he is one of the most erratic
and sour tempered thoroughbreds on the
American turf. When he feels like run
ming there are few II any horses which
can beat him. but no one. not even his
owner or trainer. has any idea when he
Is going to do his best.
Because he Is such an uncertain fell
low he is virtually an outcast. He Is
held in such Ill repute that even Mr.
Widener did not visit the course to see
him race.
All Feared Naturalist.
Although the thousands pinned their
faith and wagers on Star Master
Roamer. Corn Tassel. Fairy Wand. Ex-
terminator. Boniface and Thunderclap
there we're few who were confident their
choice would win. All feared Natural
list and wished that he was out OF the
race. That erratic Naturalist will win
this race IL he decides to run" was heard
ait over the course, and because OF his
NJ a
wagers placed on the result Thousands
wouldn't play such an I'll tempered
horse and they wouldn't wager against
him. If the thoroughbred had been able
to talk he would have gone to the post
ar odds on favorite for he would have
tcld the crowd that he was going to do
his best and that would have been
synonymous with victory.
When he got to The barrier horsemen
who have watched his antics for three
years saw that he was eager TO race
hut It was then too late to bet on him
for without a moments delay Mars Cas-
sidy sent the field away on its journey
AT the first turn the race was
as good as over Naturalist was in
front and racing along under a
stout pull at terrific pace. In
the run down the hong backhtretch
Roamer challenged and SO did Star
Master, but their efforts TO get within
striking distance OF the erratic fellow
went for naught. Naturalist was out to
win and without apparent effort in
creased his lead with every bound.
Around the bend and into the home
stretch he stepped along at a steady.
even stride without apparent effort. while
all of his opponents were staggering
from the effects of trying to keep up
with him.
Half way down the homestretch Fair
brother began to ease Naturalist up, but
Star Master made another bold chal-
lenge and Fairbrother was compelled to
give his charge free rein again in order
to get him home a length in front. Star
Master was second, a length in front OF
Poniface, which came with a rush in the
final furlong and took the third end OF
the purse.
Corn Tassel Poorly Ridden.
At Boniface's saddle girths finished
Corn Tassel, the stout hearted selding
belonging to r. T. Wilson. He had done
his best but a poor ride by Ensor and
lis pounds proved too much for him.
Behind Corn Tassel, Willis Sharp Kill
mer's Exterminator. which won the
Kentucky Derby last year. finished and
still further back tottered in the re-
tired horse. Roamer showed none of
his former greatness. He was beaten
before three-quarters OF a mile had been
covered. At the end he was almost
staggering from fatigue. He is not the
Roamer OF old, not even a relic OF his
former self.
The track mark Naturalist equalled
was established by Roamer in 1917 and
equalled last year by John Sanford s
George Smith.
Bonnie Mary IL Defeated.
The victory of Naturalist was not the
only shock the crowd received during the
day. In tho Rosedale Stakes Bonnie
Mary. the great Ally which carried p.
A. Clark's colors to victory in the Fash
ion and the Juvenile, was beaten. She
was nipped on the post by J. w Nc
Clelland's Toujours.
While the race showed that Toujours
is a much better filly than she was con-
sidered 10 be, II did not detract from
Bonnie MRry's greatness She was
nearly blinded in one eye during the con-
test, but despite this painful injury
raced on courageously and was beaten
only in the very last jump.
Bonnie Mary was fractions at the post
and unseated Ensor, but she got away
we'll and sped to tho front. followed by
Joe Marrone's speedy Marie Antoinette.
Round the bend Bonnie Mary shook of
the Marrone Ally without doing her best
While under a snug pull entering the
homestretch she attempted to run out
In an effort to keep her In Ensor struck
her over the head with his whip several
| times. One of the blows hit her in the
eye and cut II badly. She continued To
step along at fast pace and a furlonR
from home looked like an easy winner
At that point Toujours challenged and
under a vigorous ride by schuttinxer
gained rapidly. Before Ensor was aware
Of It she was at Bonnie Mary's sad.
die girths During the final sixteenth ot
a mile II was a nip and tuck struggle, In
which Schuttinger outrode Ensor and 20,
his mount home in front by the proven.
, bal whisker.
Jockey Is Reprimanded.
After the race William Hogan, trainer
OF Bonnie Mary, severely reprima nded
the Jockey for his weak finish and for
striking the flly in the eye The lad
took the reprimand to heart and cried
like a baby He was nervous and veal
from taking of ten pounds In training
in the morning and the rebuke made him
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