The New York herald., 1922-05-24
BEATS MODO A HEAD
( I'm THRILLING FINISH
h
Two Colts Race Stride for
Stride for Seven and a Half
FurlOngs.
GREAT RIDE BY PONCE
Son Of Assagai Runs 1 1-16
Miles in 1 "A 4-5-Dun-
boyne Equals Record.
GREAT RIDE BY PONCE


BY HENRY ". KING.
There was what horsemen and poll
ticians call real horse race at the
Jamaica track yesterday afternoon. II
scame In the Southampton Handicap, a
three-year- event at one mile and
q sixteenth. In it two colts Modo and
Relay-ran head and head for seven
and half furlongs. Relay won the
$500 purse on the post by nose
after one of the gamest efforts dis
played by a thoroughbred in these
parts in several years. Twice during
the race he was apparently beaten but
each time his stout heart carried him
on, Under punishment of the whip
he bounded forward and struggled on
TO wear down the other stout hearted
colt and stick his nose in front of him
at the psychological instant-the Jump
DIN front OF the judges.
1t was hair raising. pulse quickening
hnish, with the better OF two fast and
courageous colts earning the decision.
in winning the race Relay stamped him
: self as a truly great colt one ranking
among the topnotch three-year-olds OF
I the year and only a niche or two behind
/ the mighty Norwich and John Sanford S
! new wonder colt Snob I'd.
To win the race from the fast and
brave Modo Relay was compelled 70
run tho distance in record time, IA 40,
equaling the figures established by Law
renee Waterbury's renowned Sennings
Park two weeks ago.
For his remarkable race Jockey Ponce
is entitled to a great deal of credit. lie
put up what all horsemen declared was
a mastery ride. His work was fault
less and his finish as strong as the kind
Johnny LOTUS used to exhibit when he
was at the zenith of his saddle riding
career. He outrode Pony McAtee, who
had the leg up on Modo. and as the race
was run he probably would have won
on either colt.
Relay Game and Fast.
Relay is owned by the quincy Stable
and trained by Jim Fitzsimmons. He is
by the imported Assagai and War Doll.
and was bred by Willis Sharpe kilmer
at Sunbriar Court, Binghamton. ". Y.
Fitzsimmons believed the colt was above
the ordinary and last fall-as two-year-
Old ne showed speed and class by win
ming the coveted Walden Stakes, at
one mile, from real good field, and
later running close second TO the pow
erful and old Audacious in a race al
Pimlico. But Fitzsimmons never had
any illusions about the colt. He was
not a champion last year in Fitz's opin-
f0n and he isn't one now either Fitz
says he's a good colt and that's all
When questioned about him yesterday
after his victory he said:
Hes a good, game colt--as game as
they make them. He also has speed.
He also can travel distance. But Snob
oan do all these things and more. Nor
vich can too. Relay is a little fellow,
compact and we'll made up, but Snob
I'd Is bigger and better. He's bulldog
and will improve"
Fitz tried to explain why Snob and
Norwich were better when he admitted
Relay might have as much speed, could
travel as far and was as courageous as
they, and wound up by saying they had
more substance and more Of that inde-
Enable class.
All horsemen who saw the race pro-
claimed Relay q great colt and as game
as thoroughbreds come. and the 10000
racegoers who watched him outgame
Modo in that long dive through the
stretch hailed him as a wonder colt
and gave him an ovation usually ac-
corded to the winner of a hissroic
stake.
Walter 8. vosburgh. the official ham
dcapper, didn't comment on the quail
ties of the colt because of his official
position, but he said that he was the
only small, compact Assagai colt he
had ever seen, and the best looking rela-
-. 20 ,Grxa inf hn 10 Cf ire
he had ever seen. War Doll. Relays s
dam. is a daughter OF the English horse
Sir Godfrey.
A Two Horse Race.
The race was a two horse affair all
th way. Modo outbroke his field and
gained two lengths in tire first couple
of jumps. Ponce got Relay running
quickly and slipped him ia on the rail
rounding the first turn and drove him n
neck in front OF Modo. From the bend
they Travelled as a pair. While running
down the long backstretch It seemed to
the crowd in the stands and on the lawn
as II Relay was out In front by himself.
Modo was at his side and measuring
strides with him.
Rounding the turn Relay slxmmed the
rail and shot his big neck In front and
lrAld II there for about fifty yards. Then
Modo began 10 creep up on him inch by
inch and when they turned Into the
homestretch they were on exactly even
terms again. Then when straightened
dut Modo under a strong hand ride by
McAtee forged ahead. He got his nose.
then his head and then his neck In front.
But Ponce gave Relay n taste OF his
whip and the son OF Assagai responded
and at the final eighth pole they wero
ON even terms. But again Modo began
IL go away. Inch by inch he gained
until he had his neck in front for a
second time
ro all except F'itzsimmons. who knew
his gameness. Relay was beaten. But
n he were beaten he was going TO die
fghtine, and as Ponce began 60 lay the
lash in what seemed desperation Relay
came on again The thousands present
had seen wonderful race thus far.
Now they were seeing a display of game
ness that only q thoroughbred possesses.
His bulldog courage seemed 90 appeal 20
them and a majority of those present,
including many who had wagered on
some other contestant, began 10 cheer.
As ne struggled on and began maiing z
IN the lost ground slowly but surely Il
seemed as IL every one In the throng ex-
capt the hackers OF Modo were calling
on him TO TO on and win.
At the fnal sixteenth pole his head
was at Modo's throatlatch. Both he and
Modo were giving UP every ounce they
possessed and the two Jockeys were
riding as II the Derby were at stake.
Seventy yards from the judges their