New-York tribune., 1922-09-15

y
the Greentree Stable, richly deserved
the ovation rendered when he returned
to weigh out The grand acclaim ten
dered was not solely on account Of
the victory itself. even though this
stable happenee TO pe e popular and
heavily backed favorite. Followers of
the sport recognized the fact that q
good horse had won the richest fixture
of the Eastern steeplechase racing on
metropolitan tracks in by far the best
fencing competition of the year But
they recognized also that in winning
Vincent Powers, in his heyday the
premier artist of the field, had been
called upon to deliver one of the very
greatest masterpieces in horsemanship
OF his brilliant career.
The Brook Steeplechase Handicap,
which was first run in 1905, has listed
among its winners the names of the
most illustrious jumpers the East has
developed since that time. And to the
list now Is added Soumangha, prin-
cipally because of the rare generalship
and keen judgment of pace possessed
by the old mares trainer and rider.
The victory added $9,250 to the Payne
Whitney bank account, but that was a
mere nothing as compared to Mrs.
Whitney's delight with the $3.50 silver
cup that went to the winning owner.
Ovation for Mrs. Whitney
Racing folk were treated to the rare
spectacle of seeing a woman go up into
the stewards stand as the recipient of
presentation, and when this most es-
teemed, admired and respected owner,
accompanied by Joseph E. Widener,
came flushed down the little stairs she
was given an ovation that made the
reception to Powers seem tame by COM
parison.
All competitions are generously
strewn by "ifs" But for some eff" or
"but" any of the other three of the
first four to finish might have landed
the cup and the rich prize. Sea Skip
per, which set the pace almost the
entire distance, seemed a sure winner
coming to the last jump. Jockey D.
Byers made the mistake of looking over
his shoulder and allowed Powers to
sneak through on the inside of him
with Soumangha and take the lead.
Swcepment, the contender for two miles
and quarter, was made too much use
Of by "Specs" Crawford, who evidently
had instructions TO go out in front.
Sweepment in championship form al
ways ran best in front, and one might
say always ran in, front. Crawford
made three distinct runs with him, all
| in vain, to get the lead. But he could
not head Sea Skipper, and these runs
took so much out Of the lightweight
the gelding had little left when the
pinch came. Then there was Earlocker,
in form. One Of the outsiders, he was
simply running over his field through
the last quarter mile. But L. Cheyne
did just the opposite to Crawford. He
lay too far off the pace and did not
make his move in time.
Such race as the Brook of yester-
day goes far to revive interest in a
soul-stirring sport which unfortunate
ly, of late, seems falling into decay.
Not an idle second from start to finish!
The field of eight fenced perfectly and
ran we'll punched for nearly two miles.
Up to that time it seemed anybody's
race. In the early running there wasn't
much pace. Sea Skipper drew off to
the lead, closely pressed by Sweepment
Soumangha, under triple wraps, was
| among the best trailers
Powers Makes His Move
AS the field swept past the long stand
for the second time Powers, with Sou
mangha, and Williams, with Bullseye,
began to move up gradually. They had
sitions when the far field was reached
Here Peccant, the main reliance of the
Greentree, began to falter and fall
! back, despite the urging of Haynes
Soumangha soon took the fight out Of
Bullseye and went out after Sea Skip
per and Sweepment. About the same
time Cheyne moved fast from far back
| with Earlocker.
Soumangha, Sea Skipper and Sweep
! ment took the last fence almost abreast
and in order. The three were in the
air at one time. From there to the
/ finish it was a horse race in every
accepted sense of the word. Soumangha
drew off to almost lengths lead over
Sea Shipper, but fifty yards from the
finish he folded from sheer exhaustion
and only the skill of Powers. saved him
| then Powers simply lifted his mount
over the finish ahead of Sea Skipper as
Earlocker charged down just a few Sec
onds late.
| This great cross-country feature gave
| the form players their only opportunity
! to enthuse. The other five favorites
were bowled over like so many tin sol
diers. 1t was "long shot" day for a
certainty. Eddie Hummer won the
opening brush of sig and half fur
! longs with Orcus, 12-to-1 shot, sprint
ing into the lead shortly after the
| start and simply galloping the rest Of
| the way. Overtake, at to J., got the
| place. Sea Mint and Pastoral, equally
| favored at to 2, were third and
| fourth, respectively Sea Mint was off
| poorly from the rail position, was herd
ed in and never had a chance. Pastoral
tired as if short.
| Goaler. at is to /, traipsed down In
| front in the ile-and-a-sixteenth fifth
He came with rush through the
stretch and got up just in time to nose
out Billy Barton that had raced Whisk
| the heavily played favorite and pace
| maker, into submission.
Emotion Runs Dull Race
Emotion, the heavily played favorite
! of the Central Park Handicap at q
mile, ran very dull race to finish
third. 1t took the best both Prodigious
and Jockey A. Johnson had to run
down A. X. Macomber's Story Teller
30-to-i shot, that for time threat
ened to spread the field. Dicks
Daughter held the third race safe
throughout the ak furlongs. 1t is true
| Liawat went wide on the turn and
that Ducks and brakes finished out az
if he might have been the best after
he had been knocked back absolutely
last
The Rancocas Stables Curtis won
the closing dash of five and a half fur
longs. main course, from ine field
of twc-year-olds, with Jefferson I,iv-
ingston's Newmarket second and Fl. p.
Whitney's Flagstaff third This race
developed the most active market AZ
the afternoon uith etron, 49,. -