The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-05
'ROAMER Is BEATEN
BY NATURAL BRIDGE
Famous Champion Ealters
Near Finish of the Douglas
ton Handicap.
ny HENRY ". KING. =

me mighty Roamer was beaten by
Natural Bridge at Belmont Park yester-
DAY AFTERNOON. His defeat was The SEN
sation OF the year and IL cast a gloom
over the big crowd Of racegoers who love
really great thoroughbred. II was the
champions first appearance under silks
ana he ran a mighty fins race. but he
was tribe short and fnltered with VIC
tory within his grasp only a few lengths
from the finish line Ho was a prohibi-
i've favorite at TO and only a handful
Oh racegoers wagered on him.
His downfall yesterday came In the
Douglaston. handicap at one mile, a
distance which Is his forte. For more
than fortnight the old fellow has been
going great guns ~ his morning trials
ana a few days ago he worked so well
that Jack Goldsborougn. the noted tram
or. who took him from the selling
platter class and developed him into a
champion, decided to race him this week.
On Tuesday he entered him for the
Douglaston' and announced publicly that
his pet was in prime condition and
barring an accident would win.
Natural Bridge Needed Work. $
The men who lay the odds took his
TIP and made him a pr6hibitive favorite.
Most OF the other trainers took the tin.
TOO. and refused to send their charges
against him with the result that Omar
khayyam, Crimper, Mimic I'd and Over
mere were withdrawn. William Kar-
rick. trainer Of Natural Bridge, was
tempted to do the same thing with
Natural Bridge. He didn't believe his
colt had chance OF beating the aged
champion. but Natural Bridge needed
work and was left in. Mrs. L. A. Liv-
"
post, but he was sent forth with the OBJ
ject of earning third money and with
little or no hope OF beating either
Roamer or Natural Bridge.
At the barrier the trio behaved well,
but when the webbing went UP Natural
Bridge ''propped" while Roamer and
Henry G. sped away. This prop" cost
Natural Bridge at least three lengths,
but little Myers got him going quickly,
and before the first sixteenth of a mile
had been covered he was ahead of
Henry @. and two lengths behind
Roamer, Up the backstretch the cham
pion stepped along at a terrific pace, and
1t seemed as II he were going to hang
up another record as we'll as win the
purse. Rounding the bend he had In
creased his lead to four lengths without
being let down. and bounded into the
homestretch far ahead of his field.
Leading at Final Furlons.
At the final eighth pole he was still
galloping along with commanding lie All.
so far in front was he and so easy
was he swinging along that n majority
OF the crowd decided the race was over
and took their eyes of the contest But
an instant later loud cry, went up
from the few who were still watching
the race. 1t betokened something out
Of the ordinary and attracted the atten-
ton OF all to tho contest. Roamer was
staggering along with a short. choppy
stride while Natural Bridge was gain
ing on him with every stride There
was now less than a sixteenth Of a mile
TO go. Roamer Is a game horse and
the crowd knew II and refused to be-
licve he would be beaten. Jockey Schut-
finger realized his danger and piled the
whip on the old fellow with all his
strength. II aroused the aged gelding
to renewed effort. but only for an in
slant. Kramer had run his race. He
was not short OF work He was short
OF race and he quit As he stopped
almost TO walk Natural Bridge went on
and Won by a length Henry G.. was
never in the hunt and finished a poo
third. Natural Bridge covered the mile
In the fast time of :37 2-5
Roamer was not the only prohibitive
favorlte TO be beaten. In the last race
Harry Payne Whitney's good colt Wildair.
at to 5, was compelled to follow home
Raj PARIS Ralco Wildair finished half
length behind the winner and prob
ably would have won II he had not
swerved all over the track during the
FIRST half mile.
John E. Madden yesterday sold Domi-
nique. the Peter Ounce colt, to Samuel
Hihireth for price unnamed, but said
to be $4,000. Dominique is a two-year-
old and has won his only two starts
this season.
REACH SEMI-FINAL ROUND.
Players in Jersey State Champion