New-York tribune., 1921-09-05
Fall Handicap
Heads Belmont
Racing To-day
usHighweight at Three
quarters of Mile Attracts
Field of Twelve Horses
By w. ]. Macbeth

There have been so many upsets on
the metropolitan turf this season that
students of form are dizzily running
around in circles, wondering where
they will get off eventually. Surprise
followed surprise with such startling
regularity the initiated had become
super-suspicious before Touch Me Not
made joke of Grey Lag in Saturdays
Lawrence Realization at a mile and
ve-sixteenths.
The Greentrae Stables colt, which
took down the s17,s50 which went to
the winner, proved himself q real thor
cughbred by the manner in which he
won. He set the pace all the way and
ran we'll within himself, having plerty
IN reserve at the end. Though Grey
Lag was charging down on the victor at
the end, there is little doubt Touch Me
Not could have improved the time he
showed for the route, and this time
was second only to the record estab-
nshed by the great and only Man o.
War one year previously.
The fact that Touch Me Not can
assures for the remainder of the Bel
mont meeting some interesting com
petions yet to be decided. There are
two distance races yet to be decided,
and in both Of which Grey Lag is
likely to have an opportunity to prove
whether or not his defeat of Saturday
was a huke.
Two-Mile Gold Cup Race
THaro ir fhn Ta.xo,x CJ,L =
the Autumn Gold Cup. each at two
miles, IN which the older divisions of
the horses will be admitted on a
welght-for-age proposition. Such
horses as Exterminator, Bellsolar,
Smoke Screen, Mad Halter, Yellow
Hand and the like will assure fields
of the kind that contested over long
routes in the old days
In the opinion of NEST horsemen,
prior to the running of the last Law
renee Realization, Grey Lag was en-
titled to the three-year-old champion
ship of the year. In the estimation of
many competent judges he was very liz
tie short in class to the Man o. War
of 1921. Certainly his race of Satur-
day did not stamp him as such. But
1t Is possible sande was too confident
with his mount. He evidently expected
Touch Me Not to come back from the
terrific pace he set, and when he
grasped the truth it was too late to
save the day.
Certainly Grey Lag was running
over the winner at the end and he
seemed horse that had plenty in re-
se:vc and that had not given of his
very best all the way 1t must be re-
membered, too, that Grey Lag seemed
somewhat sore in the paddock and in
going to the post. During the running
OF his race at Devonshire, Windsor. in
which he took the measure of Black
Servant in q $4,000 stake, The great
colt bruised heel and had to be laid
up temporarily. 1t is possible he did
not have the proper training to do
himself justice in such Il race as
Touch Me Not asked of him in the
Lawrence Realization.
A Fine Futurity Field
The Jockey Club Cup and the Fu
turity, to be decided next Saturday
afternoon, will feature this weeks
racing. The F'uturity is one of the
most open races of it's glowing history
Neither Norwich, admittedly the best
two-vear-old colt of the wear, nor Miss
Joy, the best flly, is eligible.
Their absence is bound to assure a
high class and we'll balanced field of
youngsters that have raced more or
less in and out all season, but which
have shown winning performances of
occasion. My Play, the full brother of
Man o. War; John E. Madden's Dead
lock, G. A. Cochran's June Grass, the
Greentree Stables Sedge and John San
ford's Snoh y are only few that have
been pointed particularly for this rich
prize.
Labor Day always has been one of
the red letter days in racing on the
metropolitan circuit, and preparations
have been made for this afternoon
against such a record attendance as
turned out at Belmont Park on Memo
rial Day. Judged purely from the
standpoint of stake class the card is
nothing to brag about, but the nonlina-
tions are more plentiful than usual,
and unless there is a great deal Of
scratching interesting fields should go
to the post.
The feature of the program will be
the Fall lightweight Handicap for all
ages at three quarters of mile, for
which no less than dozen have been
named overnight The secondary feat
ure is the Broad Hollow Handicap
Steeplechase.