AMERICAN RACING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 793, 25 August 1916, Page 5

AMERICAN RACING.

THE BROOKLYN DERBY

Though it has to be conducted without the added excitement of pool selling racing in the Eastern States of America is making a steady recovery from the set-back it received when betting was prohibited by law. As in the prosperous days of a decade ago, the August Belmont stable is again to the fore as a supplier of winners, and it has had a, wonderfully successful run in the" season now drawing to a close. Amongst its star performers are Friar Bock, a three-year-old son of Rock Band and Fairy Gold, who set the seal on his fame by appropriating the Brooklyn Derby, which is practically a handicap, towards the end of last, month. In describing the race, which is run over nine fur longs, a New York scribe says: —

"Not only did Friar Rock win the event, but he clipped three-quarters of a second off the track figures, and at the same time demonstrated that he is one of the best three-year-olds which has looked through a bridle in many years. While thoroughbreds of this age havo won the Brooklyn race before, it is the first time that a horse in this division has had the double honour of winning the Suburban and the Brooklyn in the same season.

"The occasion of Friar Rock's victory was the opening of racing at the Queens County Jockey Club course at Aqueduct. Twenty thousand persons crowded the grandstand and overflowed onto the lawns and into the paddock. Long before the last trains from Brooklyn and New York had unloaded every available seat had been taken, and the late arrivals were forced to stand or to j inmates of the Taurangi Dome have

"' wirn~SUCII" nursua ag-Mvunmci, » *rnnaut, Short Grass, Slumber 11., Friar Bock, and Churchill starting, the 27th anniversary of the Brooklyn event will long be remembered as one of the greatest contests between thoroughbreds since the inception of this important turf event in 18S7, when 25,000 persons were "thrilled by a nose-and-nose battle between Dry Monopole, Blue Wing, and Hidalgo, which finished in the order named.

"Eight horses faced the starter. Andrew Miller's four-year-old champion Ronmer carried top weight with 1311b, and had his old rider, Butwell, in the saddle. Pennant, winner of the Futurity in 1913, wdio was starting for the first time this season, carried the Whitney colours, with Joe Notter up. The soil of Peter Pan had an impost of 1231b and carried it like a veteran. Friar Rock was in light, with 1081b, and was ridden by young Haynes in masterly fashion. Roaraer was the favourite, being heavily played at 11 to 5, while the winner was a fairly long shot at f5 to 1.

'' The race started from a chute to the extreme right of the paddock, out of sight of the grandstand. While Friar Rock broke well, he was taken off the pace for the first seven furlongs. Schuttinger, with the imported Sand Marsh, was the first to show as they came out of the chute, with Slumber 11. following closely behind, although there was never daybght between them. Pennant was third, half a length in the rear. Notter Had the Whitney horse well in hand, with the winner behind Roamer and Achievement. The positions were maintained with very little change until the horses came into the stretch. The straight-away home at Aqueduct is 'hire eighths of a mile long. "11 was just after making the turn

■!-it Haynes, with Friar Rock, started his run. Sand Marsh was still in the iead, bur his early effort had been too much for him and the bearer of the white ami pink silks was tiring rapidly, wiih the result that he fell behind, and Pennant took the lead. Meanwhile Haynes started to urge Friar Rock, and ihe youngster responded with a will, and came up alongside of the Whitney horse.

"Thou the real race began. For almost a minute they came along stride for stride down the centre of the track. Haynes was working like a Trojan, and Friar Rock seemed to be revelling in the contest. The youngster was on his mettle, and gave as fine an exhibition of courage as has been seen in a thoroughbred in many a long day. "Step by step he started to drawaway as they neared the finish. Horse, and rider were straining every muscle. The crowd was wild with enthusiasm, and shouted and yelled to llaynes to come on. Fifty yards from the finish Friar Kock showed in front for the first time during the race. At first only a nose, the next few strides a head; finally he had a length on Pennant, to finish the race more than that distance ahead of the son of Peter Pan.

"The spectators had another opportunity to get enthusiastic when the time of Imiu SOsee fiat was placed upon the board and it was seen that Friar Rock had clipped nearly a second off the track record. Few horses and their riders have received such a reception as the Belmont entry and llaynes found waiting them when they returned to the judges' stand to report. The crowd stood up, and for a minute pandemonium reigned. Those acquainted with the chairman of the Jockey Club rushed to congratulate him. Meanwhile the spectators cheered themselves hoarse.

"It was a race long to bo remembered, and Friar Bock's victory in the Brooklyn Derby of 1910 will go down in llio annals of the turf as one of tlic greatest contests which lias ever been won by a three year-old, who has clearly demonstrated that ha is without a peer in his division."