New-York tribune., 1920-06-15


This performance set a new track
record for the distance. 1t did not
break the Excelsior Handicap record.
however. Back in 1918 when this
classic WAS decided at Belmont Park.
r F. Carman's -year-old Meridian
ealloped the distance in 1:.4 3-5, under
l2o pounds. Boniface carried III
pounds TO new Jamaica record.
That the good folks of New York
appreciate quantity as we'll as quality
in fields was proven beyond question
OF doubt by the fine attendance, which
broke all mid week records for the
course and which (barring the big noli-
days.. bettered any Monday gathering
Belmont Park has boasted this season
Overnight purses had been swellsd
BY bid-ups OF Saturday and the horse
men were not afraid to take a chance
with this incentive. The entries we're
particularly heavy in the overnight
nominations, and if there had not b3pn
generous scratching here and there.
certain fields would have been un-
wieldy. The scratching culled out the
dross and assured a balance that was
distinctly pleasing and which resulted
in some very entertaining trials of
speed.
Finish in Close Order
The Excelsior Handicap proved one
Of the very best hand.caps contested
so far al the metropolitan tracks this
season. 1t developed wat you might
call real blanket finish as Boniface,
Lanlus. Naturalist and Audacious-
which finished in the order named =
were not more than length apart at
the end of a gruelline finish.
To say that Boniface, game and
fleet as ne is TO remarkable degree
for his size, won the Excelsior Handi-
cap, would be doing Jockey Sande an
injustice. II was the rider who en-
ab.ed Guy Bedwell to saddle the win
ner. Sande. on any of the first four,
could have beaten the others and pos
have won more easily than he did with
Boaiface. This is said in no spirit to
detract from Ross's good horse
Bonl1ace deserves plenty of credit.
This year he has taken the place of
Cgdee.. which went wrong before Com
riander Ross paid $4,000 for Boniface
al S,.rs toga last year. Boniface so far
This season has Won his stable more
money than did Cudgel to date year
ago, though no horse in training in the
handicap division has had harder rae
ing or covered more territory than he.
His campaign to date has embraced
the tracks OF Maryland, Kentucky and
Canada we'll at those of the East.
The play in this mile and sixteenth
feature centered so heavily about G.
b. Widcner's Lanius and J. Z. Widener's
Naturalist that they went TO the post
equal favorites. with Boniface the third
choice. Boniface, which drew the ex-
treme outside, behaved very badly at
the post. but got Off fairly we'll. Sande
had 70 drive for the first turn n order
70 place his mount in a contending
position.
Pace Tells on Naturalist
Naturalist showed the way around
the first bend, closely followed by
Audacious and Lanius. On the back
stretch, however, j. E. Wideners old
campasner sulked q bit and dropped
back to fourth. Sande, meanwhile, was
able TO squeeze through with Boniface
TO the outside Of Lanius.
They went in this order half way
round the far turn. with Audacious
and Lanius fighting each other nose to
nose. Sandc had Boniface so placed
he could take advantage Of the first
sign Of waVering on the part of the
pacemakers. Swinging into the home
tdfn AudacIous faltered ever SO little,
ana lie fash Sande set Boniface
down He skinned through on the
raj inside audacious. then shot to the
OUTSIDE o. Lanius and the drive for
home was on.
Boniface won in record time because
Sande was able TO give his mount
pounds better Of a ride than Hummer
could SHOW with Lanius and hummer
Naturalist, which has been reused