Evening star., 1939-04-16
Faction Fighter Runs
Second With Stronq
Favorite Third
COG Bruyere's Late Bid
In Defense Of Title
Falls Far Short
BY ROBERT HENRY,
Star Stan Correspondent,

this afternoon When Mrs. turner
Wiltshire's Black Sweep, the long
est shot in the race, conquered
five other crack timber toppers in
the featured Middleburg Cup
Steeplechase before 1000 amazed
spectators. Six lengths behind in
second place came the Rokeby
Stables Faction Fighter, a half
length in front of the odds-on
favorite, Cog Bruyere, owned by
John Strabridge.
Backed only by few loyal local
fans who knew the big black
thoroughbred only as a family"
hunter and a recent point-to-point
race winner, Black Sweep showed
heretofore hidden quality when he
ran right along with the others for
two turns of the field and then re-
sponded gamely to the urging OF
19-year-old Louis Murdoch to show
up completely his select opponents.
The race, billed as the meeting
of champions, fully lived up to that
title when Cog Bruyere. 1888 leader;
Ostend, champion two years ago
and a former winner of the race,
and Faction Fighter, undefeated IN
two starts this spring, marched to
the post for the gruelling test. Al
though making his first start OF the
wear Coo Bruyere received heavy
backing despite rumors that he was
not quite ready for his best effort.
The big gray horse Jagged BEHIND
until the last mile and then closed
some. ground to press the tired
Faction Fighter at the end.
Terry's Winner Early PAGER.
The start was good and Terry's
Winner. owned by Theresa Schey,
went to the front under Henry
Frost, jr., who also trains MN:
Postman Home, running coupled
with Ostend as Mrs. Frank M.
Gould's entry, was in second place
followed by Faction Fighter. Black
Sweep held a good position ana was
running fourth under restraint as
the fel headed out into the country.
Ostend and the favorite were well
back.
The positions remained much IN
that order for almost miles, WIN
Sidney Waters on Faction Fighter
holding a tight rein. Although still
far back Coo Bruyere was jumping
better than the rest, and taking full
advantage of a few 'holes' which
had been made by Black Sweep and
Faction Fighter.
wi, nQrp.CPI.
ting efforts, Terry's Winner began
to come back to his field and then
Waters let out wrap on Faction
Fighter. The big Irish-bred horse,
striving to make it three straight
for Owner Paul Mellon in this race,
responded willingly and took the
lead. The crowd gave it to the
Rokeby hope right then and there,
as the only serious challenger, Coo
Bruyere, still was some distance
back.
Black Sweep Suddenly Conspicuous.
However, with about mile to go
Murdock began to cluck to his
mount, and after banging a still
fence so hard he almost went down,
the winner started to 60 to town.
Passing Terry's Winner and Post
man Home, Black Sweep suddenly
loomed up as real threat. Cog
Bruyere also made his move and
picked up tired runners while be-
ing kept on the outside.
Coming to the last fence the Wilt
shire colorbearer forged to the front
and had two lengths on the rest as
they started the drive home. Faction
Fighter, Postman Home and Cog
Bruyere were running in that order,
with the latter finally giving his
hackers a chance to cheer.
But it was the family hunter who
heightened his strides when the real
test came and he drew away from
the rest to be first home. Faction
Fighter, apparently not the horse
generally regarded, was driving hard
to stave off the courageous bid Of
Goa Bruyere. The others were far
back.
Owner Is Surprised.
Mai. Wiltshire, who gave the horse
to his wife after buying him at
Charles Town for a song three years
ago when he was Skin and bones,"
was the most surprised person in
the crowd. He explained that the
horse had proved failure as a
racer when running on the fiat
and that he bought him only be-
cause he figured he might make a
hunter. Maj. Wiltshire said the
horse would pass up the Maryland
Hunt Cup on April 20 but would
run him in the Virginia Gold Cup
at Warrenton May 6.
The Raymond Belmont Memorial,
secondary feature of the Grace card,
was riddled by eight scratches, leav-
ing only three to fight it out. Music
Mountain, owned by Mrs. Eva S.
Spilman and ridden by young John
Harrison, top ranking amateur rider
last year, lived up to his role OF
odds-on favorite when he put
away" Bunree Bay and Red Ned to
canter home an easy 4-length win
ner. Red Ned fell three fences from
the finish, but both he and his rider,
Richard Hamilton, escaped injury.
Bunree Bay made several attempts to
catch the winner in the last half
mile but was not good enough.
Mrs. j. C. Clarke's consistent win
ner, Little Cottage, broke the course
record for the about miles over
brush" when he won the Panther
Skin. Favored at 81 he finished
two lengths ahead of the second
choice, Rock Lion, owned by c.
Mahlon Kline, whose Silver Lance
won the first race. Little Cottage
was timed in 1858 1-5, as compared
to the previous record of 4:32 is.