The morning times., 1896-04-13
CROWDS VISIT BENNIHG
But Did Not See Much Foot
Work Done.
NAVARRO THE ATTRACTION
Everyone Wants to See the Brooklyn
Handicap FavorIte-BeIle washing
ton Does Fast Three-Quarters-
w. Z. Hurch Sends Augusta Belle
and Sue kittie Along for Mile.

Notwithstanding the beautiful day there
was q dcarth OF fast work at the Benning
track yesterday that was not at all salts
flying to the hundreds of visitors who
went out to the pretty little course with
the hope OF spotting out winner for the
coming meeting. Probably their presence
accounted for the lack of inclination upon
the part OF the trainers to show their
charges form.
From early morning until late evening
there was continuous inflow of visitors.
The chief aim and object of the majority
OF them appeared to be to get glimpse
of the great Navarro. If genial Johnny
Hyland were TO do nothing else but ex-
hibit this grand specimen of the Amer
lean tho rougbbred he would have his
hands full.
Tie bright sunshine, aided by the de-
lightiully cool spring breeze that blew
across the course, made it an ideal plac ce
for a Sundays outing, and those who
went were ioath to return to the city
The place was at its prettiest, the newly
painted grandstand, club house and ladies'
club house, the freshly-topped jumps on the
steeplechase course, and the magnificent
stretch OF smooth track, reaching back
TO the very edge of the woods skirting
the river, made sight picturesque i'll the
extreme.
READY FOR THE BELL.
Preparations for the meeting are rapidly
nearing completion and by Wednesday the
place should be ready for the first tap of
the bell. The lawns and flower beds
are all but finished and the new spring
grass is cropping up all over the place.
There has been one mistake made in
the otherwise complete arrangements.
1T is in placing the press stand. 1t has
been situated on the wrong side of the
judges stand, and unless 1t is shifted
the members of the press will entirely
lose sight OF the horses for the last couple
of jumps before they reach the wire.
owner trainer Jockey John McCafferty
is one OF the leading lights at Benning-
as he is, indeed, at any track where he
races-and unless all indications fail,
he will get some OF the early plums. As
usual. he has grand looking lot of two
ycaI-olds. and although they are not as
fit as the enterprising Westerner would
have them, they should give good ac-
count OF themselves after they have had
race or so.
FAST THREE QUARTERS.
Trainer Gilpin sent Mr.. Charlie Haven
ner's three-year-old fiily, Belle wash
ington, along for a three-quarters that
speaks very well for her chances in
The Federal, in which she is entered.
She broke at the half-mile, and striking
a clipping gait. went the first quarter
In 0:36. The half was reached iii 0;49 IL.
the five-eighths in 1:04, and she finished
the three quarters In 1:19 IA. When
the fast time for the first part OF the
Journey is taken into consideration, the
trial is a very creditable one.
The fastest mile that has yet been clipped
off was that done by w Z. Burch's pair,
Augusta Belle and Sue Kittie. The latter
finished somewhat in front of her stable
companion, with heavy boy in the saddle,
in 1:4S l-2. at this stage of the game this
is a good deal more than a fair perform
ance.
OPENING AT ELKToN.
After three months and half of enforced
idleness the outlaws again fell into line
Saturday, and invaded the quiet little town
OF Eikton, Nd, in droves. 1t was the open
ing day OF the Cecil County Jockey Club
ana from finaDcia point was pronounced
success.
mod pool rooms" and fly bets off the
ticker are good enough in their way
when the dead game sports" can get
nothing better, but the real old thing with
the bookes and the states was what the old
Virginia contingent have been hungering
for all winter, and they could not get to
ElktOn TaSt enough.
And for a wonder 1t was their day to
shine. The Alexander Island and st. Asaph
horses did themselves proud, and as good
things We're as plentiful as flies in summer
time, the nineteen pencilers that went
on were sorry looking lot at the close of
the day. Fagin, at TO 1; Speculation at
.twelyes, and Gonzales at threes,, all well
pIa ayed, were some of the good things
of the day.
That was q hot story that came down the
line yesterday about Ben Brush reeling off
a mile in 1863. We would like to-but we
can't, you know. There is q limit 10 every
thing.
SOME NEW ARRIVALS.
Congdon and Washburn are the latest ar
rivals among the Jockeys at the Benning
track. The former can ride on the Jockey
Club tracks, but Washburn is hustling for
license. He is good jockey and as he
was in the far West w hen the proclamation
wasissued allowing the outlaw boys tocome
into the fold, it seems trifle rough on
him to be barred out. He knew nothing of
the new order OF things until after he came
East and had ridden several times on out
Ii wed tracks.
The future bookmakers on the Brooklyn
Handicap have at last taken heed to the
roasting they received from the press for
the short prices they were laying and are
doing somewhat better by the public in
this respect. The latest books shows Henry
Navarro 4 to 1, while short time ago 5
to 2 was the best obtainable against him.
The price even now is ridiculously short
and yet the backer of the book kicks be-
cause he doen't get any trade.