The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-27
ny HENRY v. KING.

| The Brook probably is the creates,
cross-eountry horse which has raced in
this country since the days of the i'm.
mortal Good and Plenty. Last year he
earned the championship and yesterday
afternoon at Belmont Park he took a
hrm grip on this years title. Carrying
the staggering impost OF 1877 pounds, he
defeated half dozen OF the best jump.
ers In training in the classic Interna.
tionsl steeplechase. He won the 81 200
purse by the small margin OF three parts
OF a length and at the end was doins
his mightiest, but the race was not run
to his liking and for him to win il under
the conditions stamped him as a won
derfully courageous and reliable horse
His forte In speed and he reyels be-
hind fast, steady pace. Yesterday the
pace was extremely slow and II was With
dirculty that Jockey Kennedy was able
TO Keep him In the rear during the early
part or the contest. BY being held in
check the brilliancy he usually displays
while clearing the obstacles was missing.
his jumping was labored and ne hesi-
tated before taking Off"
Inc International is a handicap at
two miles. 1t was inaugurated at Nor
ris Park In 1895, and since its inception
has attracted the best jumpers in the
country. Because the field was wet and
slippery on Saturday J. z. Grifffth. his
owrer. did not name him in the over
night entries. He Considered his horse
too valuable TO lose by falling on a
treacherous field and announced, that
The Brook would not start unies. the
held was dry and safe. b the time
Mr. Griffith reached the course yester-
DAY the sun and wind had worked won
ders with the course and the champion
was posted as added starter. Although
many considered the 1877 pounds too
much for any horse to carry to victory
through the field, The Brook was made
the favorite and heavily backed at s to 6.
Despite the slow pace the contest was
a thriller. None of the contestants came
to grief and for o mile and a half they
were punched so closely together that II
was any ones race. With Vincent
Powers holding him under choking
pull Tetan stepped along in front until
half a mile from home.
At that point Powers gave his charge
free rein and Tetan increased his speed
But as he bounded forward The Brook
began to make his run. The champion
picked up his field one by one and at the
last jump was on even terms with Tetan
and Babcock, which also was making a
determined bid for the lead. Over the
last obstacle the trio went almost
abreast.
All landed cleaniy and then followed
thrilling race to the judges. At the
final sixteenth pole the three were noses
apart Then The Brook began to draw
away and won by almost length
Babcock faltered in the last fifty yards
and finished four lengths behind Tetan.
The Brook is an imported gelding by
Troutbeck and Hattie. Last summer
al Saratoga Commander J. K. l.. Ross
tried to buy him. He sought out Mr..
Grifiith and asked him to put a price
on his horse.
I'm not a wealthy man." said Mr..
Griffith. but 1 like a good horse as
we'll as any man and I believe I can
afford to keep this one. Thanks for the
of1er. but won: SELL" During the
winter Mr.. Griffith was offered $4,000
for his champion. but even this big