New-York tribune., 1919-05-18

was purchased at the dispersal sale
Of T. H. Cross. barred from the Pim-
lico track because of g. sensational
reversal of form on the part of this
particular gelding, proved himself a
thoroughbred of rare class in winning
the Kings County Handicap. Chris
Fitzgerald, representing Macomber,
bought the star of the Cross stable
70, s11,5o0. Royce Roofs won back for
his new patron practically half of the
purchase money, and if yesterdays
performance is to be taken as a cri-
terion it should not be long before
the gelding will have more than won
himself out.
Though Foreground, a stable mate
of Cudgel, as we'll as Wilfrid Viau's
pair, Westy Hogan and George Starr,
were scratched, there was plenty of
class among Royce Rools's seven COM
petitors He took these all in COM
manding fashion and finished an easy
winner we'll within himself. Had he
been extended to the very limit
though at no time was he able to
do any buggy y-riding-Royce Roofs
mlEUL nave luISdLeISQ me tIdCh rec
ord for the distance and for the event
as we'll.
Royce Roofs Leads
Buxton, who made the pace with
Royce Roofs all the way and who
sent the geldng along at his best
pace till we'll inside the sixteenth pole,
covered the journey in 1:45 40. This
was just two-ffths second off the rec
ord for the event and the track rec
ord for the distance as we'll. In 1910
Sam Hildreth's four-year- Fayette,
carrying ia pounds, raced to victory
in AS 20
Royce Rools's performance yester-
day was the greatest speed exhibition
ever seen in the Kings County outside
Fayette's victory. Indeed the Macom-
her gelding's time, all things consid-
cred, was perhaps better perform
ance than Fayette's record breaking
feat. Fayette set the record on a
lightning fast track; Royce Rools had
to plow his way through somewhat
heavy going. 1t is true Royce Roofs
carried only 11o pounds to ia for
Fayette, but trade conditions more
than made up for that divergence
A heavy shower broke just after the
hnish Of the second race. The first
squall did little more than lay the
dust Then the storm broke again
heavily, toning down to a penetrating
drizzie. By the time the feature was
called the track was not yet heavy,
but 1t was trife off, a second or so
at least
Is Second Choice
Royce Roofs, coupled with Star Mas
~r was second choice with the public,
which made heavy play on Cudgel,
winner Of the event in l as 1-5 a year
ago. The plunge on the Ross horse
probably was partially due to senti-
ment Johnny Lotus had the leg up on
'aogel, reliable old fellow on any kind
VI track Johnny has the happy faculty
VI winning stakes most every time he
mas even fair chance. His stake en-
saeements OF the past two weeks have
soded many thousands to the strong
Dox Of the Ross family.
Ano though the race enthusiasts re-
nsmDe!ed that 1t was in such sloppy
gong that Royce Roofs, over the same
Instance in the Pimlco Handicap,
sa'~ed up such good ones as Boniface,
onAf hhayyam, Westy Hogan and Fore
:spho and won almost as he pleased
''1 40 20, performance which, after
s"ef failures in joke fields, led to
s asoarmcnt by the Pimlico stew
s,us ana doubtless to his sale, to Mr..
aevmoer Yesterday, they also re-
@emoered that in LOTUS the reliable
suogei got back a good portion Of the
nel'y-swo pounds he conceded to
~vsse Koois. And they knew nothing
seaio better please Johnny Lotus
a1a 70 take the measure of anything
.ss -, happened to sport the Macomber
-DaSton. with Royce Roofs next to
s,afciap, on the rail, was away
e.sns on straggly, bad start.
'sei' IN the middle Of the pack, a
beginner, could not hold his early
ssh'age. The field generally got its
w earlier, and, outrun to the first
raa' Lotus had TO take the outside
s-as5' Willie Knapp, on Star Mas
the other Macomber horse, crowd
4ao with Royce Rools rounding the
- urn and the entry ran one, two
~'' tns backstretch
Cudgei Comes Up
1'i'ua' TO keep within striking dis
o' the pacemakers, moved
.aaxsi up ike rocke. around the
80 and before the half mile was
aeo had Tapped Star Master and
q within length and half Of
sesder, Royce Roofs. Down the
as'retch cudgei appeared we'll in
ao. The public expected Cudgel
ssa De able TO 90 out any time to
y when ready In the stretch
v1ad the far bend Cudgcl closed
Aeyes Roofs and a popular shout
nprcyai stirred the holiday crowd
i Is,'o. 1t died out TO buzz az
ssoss begsn to make his bid with
sznt Forward. Tho Wilson horse
&c the stragglers one by ono till
1a'ng into the stretch he had threat.
sesn LOTUS ret 10 work with his
On cudgel, whip horse. But