The New York herald., 1922-09-15
Mrs. Payne Whitney's Entry
Wins Brook SteepLechaSe
Soumangha, After Great Ride by Vincent Powers
Captures Priced Stake at Belmont and Queen
Of Turf Gets Ovation From Crowd.
BY HENRY ". KING.

Mrs. Payne Whitney whom thousands
of racegoers as we'll as horsemen and
host OF her social friends affection
ately call the queen OF the turf expert
eneed one OF the happiest half hours OF
her turf career yesterday afternoon at
the Belmont Park track after her aged
mare Soumangha won the Brook Steeple-
chase. a rich and coveted stake.
Since Mrs. Whitney entered the ranks
of horse owners she has seen her pink
and black silks flash home In front nun
dreds of times in thrilling finishes But
seldom IL ever did she receive the thrills
that came to her when Soumangha won
yesterday. The old mare. aided by "a
million dollar ride" by Vincent Powers.
snatched victory from apparent defeat
in a sensational finish by length. Jo-
seph Z. Widener's Sea Skipper was sec
ond a similar distance in front OF Jo-
seph e. Daviss Earlocker.
AS Soumangha came bounding through
the final furlong from fourth place Mrs.
Whitney became as excited and as en-
thusiastic as any racegoer In the throng.
She called on her mare to go faster ana
called on Vincent Powers to ride little
harder, and when Soumangha won she
fairly bubbled over with JOY.
Mrs. Loft Also a Rooter.
While Mrs. whitney's mare was maxi
ing this great stretch run Mr.. Widener
and Mr.. Davis were enthusiastically
calling on their horses to go faster and
Mrs George w. Loft also was doing her
part to root" home her famous jumper
Sweepment. who also was keen con-
tender until the last fifty yards.
As Soumangha gained foot by foot on
the leaders Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Widener
showed keen disappointment, but an in
stant after the judges had been passed
their faces were wreathed with smiles.
Mrs whitney's horse had won. and to
them nothing could have been better
except victory for their own horses.
When the race was over Mrs. Whit
ney stood in her box like one stunned !;
she had been highly excited during the
contest. Now she was calm, as though
relaxing from the strain. But she didn't
remain quiet long, for Mr.. Widener. Mr..
Davis and a host OF friends in the Turf
and Field Club enclosure fairly ran to
her side. They heaped congratulations
on her, and then Mr.. Widener took her
arm and escorted her to the stewards
stand to receive the beautiful and val
liable cup which, with the $4,000 purse,
went to the winner. Mrs. Whitney was
reluctant to go into the stand. She pro-
tested against it. but Mr.. Widener was
obdurate and insisted. The fair owner
finally consented, and amid volumes of
applause she climbed the stairs to the
officials sanctum
August Belmont, chairman OF the
Jockey Club, welcomed her, and while
hundreds of ardent and enthusiastic low
ers of the thoroughbred cheered Mr.. Bel
mont presented her with the trophy.
'Jn saying that you have done more
than any one on the turf in recent years
to promote the giving of important
steeplechases of this character" said
Mr.. Belmont. Il am stating what / know
my fellow stewards unqualfedly in
dorse"
Mrs. Whitney is probably the first
woman to be called into the stewards
stand and apparently there was no one
in the throng who did not rejoice with
her.
The contest for the prize was a hum
mer. Veteran horsemen said they never
saw better one. 1t was a real horse
race all the way among the best chasers
In the country.
The chase was over the two and a
half mile course and eight tried and
true jumpers of stout heart went forth
to do battle In 1t. Sea Skipper. closely