New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Hildreth Colt
NearRecOrd in
Classic at Spa
Conqueror of Sir Barton
Wins Easily in Opening
Feature; Roamer Out
By w. ]. Macbeth


SARATOGA, Aug. 1-sam c. Hill
dreths great three -year-old chestnut
colt Purchase, the only thoroughbred
Of his class that was able to stop
Commander ]. X. L. Ross's Sir Barton,
furnished another fitting argument at
tho opening of the August race meet
here to-day why he should be most
seriously considered when it comes
time to award the 1919 racing crowns.
Purchase, we'll ridden by the veteran
Willie Knapp, won the Saratoga handi
cap at mile and quarter in the
wonderful time Of 2:02 20.
This was within onc-ffth second of
the track record established by the
mighty Roamer in last years running
Of this same event. Clifford A. Coch-
rams Fairy Wand, which set the pace
to the stretch, lasted long enough to
save the place by neck from A. X.
Macomber's War Cloud, r. r. Wilson,
jr.'s Corn Tassel and the Ogden
Stables Beaverkill always were outrun.
Purchases fractional time follows:
0:24, 0:47, 1: 100 2-5, :12 2-5, 1925, 1887,
1:49 3-5, 2:02 2-5.
A tremendous crowd was on hand
to welcome the thoroughbred back to
the Spa. 1t was not a record crowd,
for not even all of the regulars had
yet arrived, but still the capacity of
the clubhouse and lawns was taxed to
the limit, while an overflow Of some
thousands crowded the field stand.
main grandstand. Tomorrow it is
expected the late arrivals will have to
take to the roof.
Typical Spa Gathering
Tho crowd was tvpical SARATOGA
gathering. Everybody who is anybody
is here; also about everybody that 10
nobody Society and the lower strata,
however, kept apart by the great bar
filthy lucre.
Great regret was expressed every
where that it was found necessary to
scyatch Andrew Millcr's grand old
campaigner Roamer, which holds the
record as we'll as three victories in tins
classic Roamer won first in 1915. He
repeated in 1917 and again last year.
His owner was hopeful OF making 1t
three in row before the old geldlng
bowed tendon in training the olher
day. But even with Roamer out Pur-
chase was up against field OF ciass,
Fairy Wand, to the outside, broke
first. and quickly crowded out to the
front, taking the rail before the first
turn. Buxton, with War Cloud, came
laundering next, with Purchase, Corn
Tassel and Beaverkill Tapped. lifting
the back stretch Knapp gave Purchase
his heat bit and the big chestnut
colt drew away from Beaverklll and
Corn Tassel.
About the half War Cloud moved up
on the pacemaker, but half way rouho
the far bend began to falter. 1t was
then Knapp decided to make his bid.
away like shot and raced right up TO
Fairy Wand. 1t was all over in mo-
ment. Inside the eighth pole Purchase
caught Fairy Wand and won as ne
pleased, The latter was stopping
badly at the end and barely managed
to save second money from War Cloud.
Miss Jemima at FROM
C. e. Rowe's Miss Jemima, which
made a most auspicious debut at En-
pire City last Saturday, proved her.
the season by winning the FLASH OF
$4,000, at five and half furlongs. IL.
p. Whitney's Wild Air and Commodore
J. X. L. Ross's King Thrush were sec
ond and third respectively: .,
Johnny Lotus raced right out with
Miss Jemima and opened up winning
lead at the start.
There was nothing in the field
capable Of making "The Queen of the
West" extend herself, with the pos
sible exception of Wild Air. Ambrose
ruined whatever chance the WhltneS
colt may have had by sheer careless
ness. He made TO move till hitting
the stretch, and then it was too late.
R. T. Wilson, jr.'s, Thistledown won
the fifth at a mile, though George W.
Lofts Gath was pounds the best. Gath
was the victim of one OF Kelsey,s s
most inefficient rides. T. ?. Thorne's
Evcrgay took the closing dash of five
and half furlongs. Harry. Payne
Whitneys Sammy, the favorlte, and
one of the most heavily played OF the
day, wouldn't run lick and hnlsheo
outside the money.
The crowd. which as usual was slow
to arrive, had pretty we'll settled by
the time the bugle called out the field
for the first race This event inau-
gurated the August classic or the
American turf in a manner to make
the multitude feel right at home. u
proved an upset, to put 1T terseiy; +,
A. Clarks Lion dor, which had had
a long rest and which races to ms
oest form on the lig ghtning fast track
here, simply galloped away from oam
Hildreth's Arrah Go On.
Upset in First Race
The Hildreths four year-old was al
odds-on favoritc, but he had no excuse
whatever. Fator got him away vel
enough and in the first sixteenth DIRE"
off to promising lead. Buddy Ensor
however, moved up with Lion dor be
fore the turn, shook off Arrah 90 Or
around the bend and won about as he
pleased with half dozen lengths tt
I spare Arrah Go On took the place as
easily. Sam Reh finished third be
cause of particularly weak ride that
j. Callahan furnished with Efficient
1t looked as if this boy was out for ar
afternoons gallop in the park. y
j. L. Widener's Doublet won tho