New-York tribune., 1920-06-30
ExterninatOr
Sets U p New
Track Record
Kilmer Celding Wins Handi-
cap at / LILO Miles in
1:44 After Great Race
By w. |. Macbeth

Willis Sharpe Kilmer's Extermi-
nator, as honest race horse as there
is in training, set new track record
for mile and a sixteenth in winning
the Luke Blackburn Handicap, the
feature of yesterdays racing program
at the Aqueduct track The five-year-
old gelding, which is always at his
best over adistance Of ground, raced
the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44 fat
the last mile in 1887 fat-under par
ticularly clever and sensible handling
on the part of Andy Schuttinger.
This sterling. performance shaded
by one fftAg-second the old track
mark for th@ distance, which was set
at 1:44 1-5 II September l6, 1918, by
Sam HildrM's Corn Tassel, then
owned by R. 7. Wilson jr.
ExterminatoE's record breaking per-
formance was q much more commend
able performance than that of Corn
Tassel as fouF-year-old. Corn Tas-
sci carried only 100 pounds; Extimi-
nator shouldered the heavy impost of
1875 pounds. Corn Tassel raced under
ideal conditions. A half gale was
blowing directly in the faces of the
horses through the long stretch yes
terday, and it was in the stretch that
Extlminator raced to victory.
The finish of this Luke Blackburn
was one thatno one privileged to see
it will soon forget. 1t was one of the
very best horse races of the season.
Though Sam Hildreth scratched Falor,
and H. P Whitney scratched Bayard,
leaving only five contenders, there
was still plenty of speed and plenty
of balance represented.
Favorite Finished Third
Harry Payne Whitney's Wildair, the
only three-year-old represented, was
again made favorite, though he had
disappointed in both of his races since
following the lace of Man o War in
the Belmont. Though beaten, he
justified the high regard in which he
was held. So close was the finish
that one blanket would pretty nearly
have covered Extiminator, J. E.
Widener's Naturalist and Wildair
(Which finished in the order named)
at the end.
These three had the race to them
selves from start to finish. Extermin-
ator, always slow beginner, actually
broke in front of the other two. But
Turner made good use of Naturalist S
we'll known early foot and crowded him
right out to the front. Wildair was
on top of the Rabelais gelding in a
flash and the two began game of
cutthroat that lasted right to the wire.
1t appeared to many that Turner
made a big misake with Naturalist in
cutting outsuch a pace as might be
expected in dash of six fur:ongs.
Certainly he played right into Extern
inator's hands by trying to race Wild
air into the ground The duel left
the Widener and Whitney horses spent
and realing before the final furlong
pole was reached.
Fast as he is Wildair could not keep
foot with Naturalist, which for seven
furlongs ran like clock work-an
es,venly pace as well could be imagined.
schuttinger wisely sidestepped that
ator in hand and let the others draw
away from him. Rounding the bend
Naturalist was a good length in front
Of Wildair, which in turn was four or
five lengths in front Of Exterminator.
Gruelling Drive in Stretch
Strengthened for the run home
with his whip and the game gelding
responded heartily. Inch by inch he
cut down the Disadvantage on the
pacemakers. Wildair fought so gal
lantly in the run home that he got up
almost on even terms with Naturalist,
which hugged the rail too closely to
let anything through. Exterminator
came to the outside.
1t was inside the sixteenth pole that
Turner got up with Hummer, who rode
Wildair this time. The three were
practically on even terms a hundred
yards from the wire. Wildair was
caught between Naturalist and Ex-
terminator fifty yards from the finish
and Hummer was forced to pull up,
but the Whitney three-year-old was
beaten at the time. Extermnator out
gained Naturalist in phipping finish,
Another finish, quite as thrilling
marked the sixth race, five furlongs
sprint which brought out eleven prett ;
fair two-year- olds. f. r. Wilson S
Dimmesdale, the odds on favorite. got
up just in time to beat the Quincy
Stables Brigadier General a scant
snout on the post. Dimmesdale, pinched
off shortly after the start. closed with
great gameness on the rail and proved
himself one Of the very best two-year-
olds seen this season