New-York tribune., 1919-06-21
George Starr Defeats
Peter Piper in Hercules
lightweight Handicap
By w. J. Macbeth

The thoroughbred competitions were
only side issue to the entertainment
at the Jamaica racetrack yesterday
afternoon. Four favorites won, and yet
the big crowd went home more dis
gruntled and unhappy than on any
previous day Of this tempestuous East
ern turf season. The reason of it all
was a soaking-a literal, liberal, triple
ply soaking such as perhaps no other
race crowd ever experienced
Take it from one who forgot to take
his gumbpota, that cloudburst and
near-cyclone that hit the Metropolitan
Jockey Clubs merry go-round just be-
fore the horses paraded for the closing
race was one that will live forever in
the memory Of the survivors. 1t didn't
rain. The bottom fell right out Of the
aerial sea. There was such a volume
Of falling water that save for the
brilliant electric display it was almost
pitch dark when the horses were at
the post. One could scarcely see across
the track. The last race, save for a
few yards at the start and finish, was
a closed secret to all but the contest
ing horses and jockeys.
Reckless Souls Wade or Swim
For almost half an hour after the
finish the downpour continued. The
low, bricked runways of the exits to
the trains were soon filled knee deep
with water. The subway under the
tracks was flooded waist deep, and still
rising when the Ppkertons closed II
to traffic. The reckless souls waded
dandies, not to mention the countless
hundreds of ladies, couldn't very well
afford to take such desperate measures
They had to huddle up in the drench-
ing downpour when trapped by the
ceascless tide behind until some work
men knocked down section of the
fence. The crowd then had to file
some quarter of a mile to the street
crossing and double back to the train
platforms all through pelting rain
Only the wise ones who saw the deluge
coming and forestalled it by hurrying
to the train got home with a dry stitch
OF clothing. And they got home late
to boot.
Of certainty the big crowd paid
dearly for its day of favorites And
it had its spills-other than weather.
too. The Grcentree Stables Peter
Piper, as fancied and odds-on as ever
pranced to the post had to take sec
ond money in the Hercules lightweight
Handicap, despite the most valiant eff
forts of Johnny LOTUS. Wilfred
Viau's George Starr, which ran like a
goat on his previous outing, decided
to be good for Hummer He caught
Peter Piper tiring in the final furlong
and gave him good beating.
Till we'll into the stretch it looked
as if Peter. which Lotus got we'll out
in front after coming through close
quarters directly after the start,
might romp in. But his heavy impost
told in the pinch. 1t was never be-
lieved Peters heart was as big as his
stomach.
The last race, with it's spectacular
setting was only two peeps-the first
at the start and the second at the
finish. This was a case of hearing a
race-not seeing it. A few strides and
the field was lost in the darkness.
Nothing more of interest till a great
splashing was heard sixteenth from
home. None in the stand could make
affidavit as to the finish The Judges
placed them Lucullte (odds-on
favorite), Crimper and Thunderclap.
There was no such thing as distin-
gushing forms, colors or saddle num-
bers in the rain and darkness.
Starter Mars Cassidy came in for
terrible panning in the first race, when