The New York herald., 1921-07-16
MUD RUNNERS SCORE
In RACES AT EMPIRE
SleivecOnard Beats Juveniles
in a GallOp-Walkover
for Royce Roofs.
BY HENRY v. KING.

In Sleiveconard. a two-year-old son
OF The Curragh and Danoscara, John
Sanford has a superior mud runner. He
proved this In the first race yesterday
afternoon at the Empire City track
when he galloped away from a quartet
of high class Juveniles. Just before the
time set for the first race there came
an electrical storm that turned day into
night. Rain fell in torrents, and in less
than fifteen minutes made the track a
veritable quagmire. SO severe was the
storm that the stewards postponed the
first race until $40 o'clock.
Through the sloppy going Sleiveconard
fairly flew. He ran the speedy Rose
Brigade into submission in the first
quarter of mile apd then galloped
into a big lead and under a stout pull
won by half dozen lengths. Rose
Brigade finished second, four lengths
ahead Of Missionary.
Sleiveconard had worked exception
ally we'll this spring, but in his races
ran as If green and qualifying for future
stakes. 1t was also known that he was
mudlark, for in Maryland he Is said
TO have stepped five furlongs in mud
ankle deep in SO seconds. Despite his
great private form he was at the good
odds OF to ], and went to the post
equal choice with Frank Taylor's Cydo-
mia. After he won veteran horsemen
proclaimed him the best young mud
runner shown this season.
The Gramatan Handicap, at one mile
and an eighth, was the feature Of an
ordinary card and il furnished no race
at all Three of the four starters were
scratched and Billy Gibsons Royce
Roofs had a walkover. 1t was the first
walkover of the year. and came as a
disappointment to the big crowd that
was present despite the inclement
weather Only four. Mad Halter, Thun-
perclap, Ballet Dancer and Royce Rools,
were named for the event. but because
OF the sloppy going all but Royce Rools
refused the issue.
Previous to the rain Willie Travers,
trainer OF Royce Rools, prayed for rain.
His charge is a well known mudlark
having beaten Cudgel, Omar Khayyam
and dozen other high class handicap
| horses over a sloppy track But when
the Withdrawals came Travers was much
| chagrined and regretted It had rained
at all. because he was of the opinion
Royce Roofs could have won over any
| kind Of a track
Royce Roofs didn't try to make n
speed test out of the walkover. Before
going to the post Travers gave Jockey
| Kennedy as many instructions as if he
were going out for the Suburban. He
told him to breeze the horse At c:14
clip and to keep in the middle Of the
track, so his charge wouldn't step in
washout near the rail. Kennedy
obeyed the instructions and came home
in 2:13 As
Alta Gal. Western filly, ran away
from big field of cheap Eastern young
sters in the final race. She is a daugh-
ter of Assagai and Misty Law and a real
good looking filly. In the West she ran
consistently we'll and finished amcng the
first three in her last half dozen starts.
T.. j. Kelly, her owner, and George
Land, her trainer were confident she
would win. They said she was su-
perior mud runner and that unless she
met with bad racing luck she would be
returned the winner.
She took the track at the start and
increased her lead with every bound un-
Ill at the end she was galloping four
lengths ahead of Stock Pin. which beat
Sling n length for second honors.
1t was the first victory of the season
for the West, but 1t was a profitable one
for all those who accepted the advice Of
her owner and trainer.
Sea Sinner. running in the colors of
T. II. Cross, romped off with the Edge
wood purse. Like Sleiveconard ne is a
superior mud runner. He took the lead
after short brush with Sunnyland and
splashed mud on his opponents until the
homestretch was reached. There George
Carroll gave him free rein and re
bounded so far ahead the mud from his
hoofs was unable to reach any of the
other contestants. Biff Bang, which was
second, ran very disappointing race.
He Is known TO be a good mudder and
had recently shown he was In good form.
Turnabout beat a big field of cheap
platers in the second race by half a
dozen lengths, and Bantry. ridden by
Butts Fairbrother, led home another
band Of platers in the fifth. "Pa" Daly's
meal ticket" Rockport took the second
end OF the purse neck in front of
Keliher.