Evening star., 1938-11-20
BY ROBERT HENRY,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

MONTPELIER. Va, Nov. 19.-De-
spite a wind-swept rain, over 1000
horse lovers witnessed the fifth an
nual Montpelier Hunt Race meet
here today as H. E. Talbott's rugged
Big Rebel galloped of with the sec
ond running of the featured Noel
Laing steeplechase handicap, named
in honor of the great trainer and
rider who died in the spring of 1881
while at the peak Of brilliant ca
reer.
The flve-race card which brought
to a close the 1893 hunt-race sea.
son, proved thrilling in every de-
tail. Long shots and favorites wor
to keep the drenched spectators or
their toes trying to figure what was
going to happen next and causec
more than one to wonder out loue
why they had not carried along ar
extra raincoat or why there was NJ
covered grandstand to shelter then
from the cantankerous elements.
The Montpelier Cup. secondar,
feature. proved the most startling
upset of the afternoon when j. Free
Adams Briar Blue. q l0-l snot
came from far back to prove nancy
winner. after the odds-on choice
Sleievereigh, tossed his rider at ths
third fence.
Big Rebel Surprises.
Ten thoroughbreds went postwarc
for the main event. 2'2 miles over
brush. with Mrs. Marion du POM
SCOTS aged runner. Wild Son. 5.
to-2 choice. Despite top weight o.
l53 pounds. the black horse. whlcr
only recently returned to the racing
wars after a 2-year lay-oH to cap
ture his second Master of Foxhound'
Steeplechase at Pimlico. was backee
with confidence by the majority o.
the wagering fraternity. !.
However, when it came time u
bring home the proverbial bacon I
was not the peoples choice, but
neglected outsider that easily sno"
ed the rest . fancy piece OF run
ming. That was Big Rebel. Inc a
year-old son of Sir Andrew, which
lost the Glenwood National at MID
dleburg a week ago only because
his rider went around the last )uml
while two lengths on top. neVel
missed a trick today as Leslie wal
ton drove him to the front early
STAYED off repeated challenges iron
wild Son and drew out to win D!
The favorite, apparently in TOT
shape after his easy victory II
Maryland, just was not sooe
enough. and after making severa
rms at the winner finally folded uI
to finish far back.
Our Manager, another horse tne
nublic overlooked, fooled every ON
bv closing huge gap III tne las
half mile to pass five horses IN TN
last so yards to gain place nonols
Court Time, also coming up 1ast
managed to gain third place.
Briar Blue Gives 'Em Blues.
The Montpelier Cup. two mile:
over brush, added to the blues Oh 'ne
crowd when the favorite again 100.
II on the chin, as Briar Blue proved
much the superior to his flve oppo-
nents. The favorite, Slieverelgh, an
other Scott entry, lost Jockey Ion,
Robey at the third Jump, uaileo
the field for mile, finally workeo
his wav to the front and pulled ul
right At the judges stand. However
the omcials decided it would nave
heen more appropriate had he re-
tanned his rider and refused 'o
grant him the victory.
Mrs. Lewis A. Parks gray runner
Roval Thomas, and Mrs. Jane =
Bassett's War Port battled Tor tne
lead and set a rapid pace for the
first mile and half. At this polnt
Robev gave Briar Blue his head
quickly picked up the pacesetters
and drew out to a handy triumph
war Port managed to keep gong
long enough to hold OIL Royal
Thomas for the second money with
the rest of the field scattered faI
behind.
The first race. a 1ia-mile affair
over hurdles, went to the 5-to-1
shot, Singing Water. Swimalong
backed into favoritism, gave his ad-
mirers little to cheer about as he
failed to cut any figure in the
running, finishing way back.
Singing Water Scores.
Mrs. Scott's Hop, racy looking
son of the Man o War stallion
Dress Parade, went out in front anc
appeared to have things his own
way, As none of the rest coule
get near him for the first mile
However. his early efforts tolc
heavily IN the closing 2 furlong.
and Ed Jennings drove Singing
Water around him around the las'