The New York herald., 1921-06-01
STROMBOLI RETURNS |
TO RACES AND WINS
Aged Gelding Runs as He Did
When He Earned Sobriqnet
Of Old Honesty.
BY HENRY ". KING.

"Old Honesty came back to the races
at Belmont Park yesterday afternoon
and ran as honestly as he did four or
rive years ago, when his fast and coura-
geous running earned hirl the admira-
ton OF all race goers. Officially he Is
known as StromboL, a son of Fair Play
and ST. Priscilla. He Is ow ten years
old, but despite his age he has lost none
of his courage and apparently none of
his old time speed. While owned by
August Belmont he was the idol of the
turf. He was loved by ali admirers or
an honest race horse In his day as Man
o. War was last season He always
did his best, and that almost always
was good enough TO win
Four years ago he injui ed one OF his
tendons and Mr.. Belmont was compelled
to throw him out of training. Later,
when he decided to give up the sport OF
racing, he sold him with mis- other stock
tc his trainer, Sam Hildreth. Under
this noted trainers care the bad leg
mended and he came back to training
this season apparently as fast and
courageous as ever.
Yesterday Hildreth entered him for
the third race, at one mile, against
some fast and classy young horses, but
despite his former record few racegoers
believed he would win. They could not
believe that at ten years o. age he could
regain much OF his forrer greatness.
But when It came to racing the old
fellow ran as he used TO. He sped
away from his field as soon as the bar
rier went up, stepped along at ter
rife pace without urging and galloped
home an easy victor by four lengths
Joseph e. Widener's Fair Gain was Sec
ond and Bridesman, third.
When the old fellow returned TO the
stand he received an ovation the like Of
which has not been accorded to any
thoroughbred since Man o. War quit rae
ing Even those who wagered against
him proclaimed him n wonderful and
courageous thoroughbred and Joined in
the applause.
Grey Lag at HIS Best.
The old fellow carried 1913 pounds.
gave weight tc all of his opponents and
covered the mile course On the main
track In the exceptionally fast time OF
/ 37 4-5, time few of the best and
strongest horses in training are able to
beat.
Grey Lag the star shoot colt which
Sam Hildreth bought from Max Hirsch
last season for $4,000 showed that he
is a high class colt and that he will
come pretty close to winning the historic
Withers stakes In the Freeport Handicap.
. ~"""~d ev"nc on the card. he carried
126 pounds, gave away the proverbialton
o. Wei.ht 10 mis- opponents ana galloped
to an easy victory. He didn't lead all
the way but that was because Sande
would not let him run his bust
until the turn into the home
stretch was reached. There Sande
game him free rein and the race was
as good as over. Grey Lag ran around
his field and took command in a few
jumps. Once in front he galloped the
remainder OF the way 20 score the easiest
kind of victory. e. A. Stoneham's Dry
Moon ran the best race OF his career and
finished second length and half In
front of George d. Widener's Messines
The race will do Grey Lag a lot OF good
and only great three year old will beat
him in the Withers. He Is bred TO run
distance, on the dam side being out or
Miss Minnie by Medd er while his second
dam. the imported Spectrum, Is by Or
vieto. He Is also In the Belmont and his
prospects of winning that historic classic
are not remote.