The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-28
LADKN WINNER
 OVER EPINARD
Barely Noses Out French Champ In Interna-
 tiOnal Race
By Vic
AoUEDUCT RACE TRACK, NEW

AQUEDUCT RAGE TRACK, NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-In one of the most thrilling races of American turf his tory, Ladkin, Major August Belmont's brilliant 8 year old, by Fair Play-Dad- ing, ridden by Clarence Hummer, today won the second international special at a mile before crowd of 10000. The time was i :36 2-5 and the value to the winner $28,750.
 Epinard, continental champion, again finished second, this time by nose and coming fast, length ahead of Wise Counsellor, Kentucky colt, which conquered the French crack by mar row margin on Labor Day in the first special at six furlongs.
 Lost in the glamour of the contest among the three laders, was a struggle between Zev and My Own, high lights of last year, but dim today. Two lengths behind Wise Counsellor, Zev finished fourth, only a nose beyond his rival. Little Chief, the only other starter, trailed the field three lengths.
 Leads By Nose
 The Belmont colt flashed to the wire with just enough to win from the fly ing Frenchman which had gained two lengths in the final fifty yards and it seemed would have won in another stride. Epinards challenge came as Ladhn was shaking off Wise Counsel Tor after a two horse race from the quarter post, where Epinard was rid den into the rail and out of the race temporarily by Wise Counsellor.
 The incident at the quarter of q per feet spectacle.
 Epinard had broken away from his field and was off like certain winner in the first sixteenth. At the far turn Wise Counsellor and Ladkin came up and in passing, crowded Epinard to the fence. From there they went on, with Epinard struggling three lengths be- hind, to regain his stride
 Neck And Neck
 The contest went on without it's star, which flundered among the secondary group. Neck and neck, the scarlet blouse of Hummer and the white and red of O'Donnell bobbed on their straining mounts, two lengths ahead of the field, which already began to string out in the finishing order. At the half and into the third quarter the two 3 year olds raced, neither giving ground.
 Ladkin stuck his head in front at the last furlong post but the alert O'Donnell on Wise Counsellor picked up the distance and brought his own horse into the lead. In the terrific struggle which followed, both boys rode high, colored blouses flaming like Gypsy riders. Wise Counsellor cracked at the final sixteenth and Ladkin | yasped to continue, almost ridden into ground. Then from the outside, came another chestnut colt, running like moving statue in perfect rhythm.
 Epinard Gains
 "Epinard wins Epinard wins !" the | cheering stands shouted as a steady How of speed, increasing at every bound, brought him even with the fal- l -ering Wise Counsellor and on to the tail, then the flank of the tiring Lad kin. To the shoulders of his oppon- mt, Epinard crept and with another leap would have passed, but Haynes had delayed his spurt a fraction too ong and the French colt, acknowledged great, was beaten for the second time n America under conditions regarded IS far from establishing his true worth,
 When the horses were brought back Q the judges stand, it was Epinard hat received the greater tribute of the ,rowd, although the splendid Ladkin vas heartily cheered. Pierre Werthei- ner, owner of the French champion. went to Major Belmont's box to con the veteran horseman.
 CLASSY HORSES"
 PARIS, Sept. 27.-"Well, they must lave some pretty classy horses in Amer ca, was the comment of Paul | 'Yertheimer, when he was informed of lis brother Pierre's horse Epinard osing to Ladkin. A group of trainers md jockeys standing nearby, among hem William Duke, Bob Denman, Frank O'Neill and Guy Garner, were III agreed that Epinard's four year old form is not up to the form shown by he French champion as a three year old. One of them remarked and the others all assented:
 "I don't think there is a horse in the world that could have beaten Epinard ,ver mile this time last year."
 -&N
 GIBBONS VS. BURKE
 NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 27,- Frankie Edwards, local fight promo er, announced tonight he had sisned Tommy Gibbons of St. Paul and Mar, in Burke of New Orleans for A 1H- |