Evening star., 1896-11-27
FINE SPORT AT BENNING.
A Pluckily Ridden and Well-COn
tested SteeDlechaRe

A Pluckily Ridden and Well-COn-
tested Steeplechase.
The racing at the Benning track yester-
day will long be recalled as furnishing
about the best sport seen on a local course.
The crowd was one of the largest ever
seen on a track in this neighborhood, COM
pairing favorably with those seen in the
best days Of the old Ivy City track. The
character Of the crowd was that seldom
seen on a race track during the last sever
al years, the undesirable element being
conSpicuoIsly absent, and the number of
ladies' being the largest attending such an
occasion for many years. 1t was an ideal
racing day. the track and weather being
perfect. and as five favorites won out of
six races, 1t was q profitable day for the
public.
The feature. perhaps, Of the days sport
was the last race. pink coat steeplechase,
of about three miles. for gentlemen riders
1t was beautiful contest. and the gentle
man jocks participating demonstrated that
they can give the professionals cards and
spades and beating. But three horses
started. Trillion, ridden by Mr. VIII c.
Hayes of the Meadowbrook Hunt of New
York; De Garnette ridden by Mr.. Nichols
Of the Elk Ridge hunt of Maryland, and
Nadjie. ridden by Mr.. R. Horner Of the
same hunt. The horses started in front
OF the grand stand. and, after twice cir
cling the jumps in the infield, they passed
out into the field across the back stretch.
where they did the two jumps there and
then entered the track at the last turn,
going over a hurdle just after passing the
three-quarter pole 1t was soon seen that
Trillion was the best horse in the race and
he practically led from start to finish.
But in going over the jump in front of the
ladies' stand the second time Trillion stum-
bled and his rider lost his stirrup, not re-
gaining it until the big water jump had
been passed. 1t was then that De Gar
nette passed Trillion or a moment or two.
But Mr.. Hayes almost Immediately placed
his mount In front again, and at the last
jump in the far field De Garnette stumbled
badly, throwing his rider Almost every
out OF 1t: but Mr.. Nichols never lost hold
of the reins, and, remounting at once, he
set trail for Trillion and also for Nadife,
the latter having passed De Garnette when
he met his mishap. The fall had. however,
done De Garnette no harm, and by the
even terms with Nadjie. They took the
hurdle in the track together, and then
Nadjie was left behind in every jump. But
De Garnette, despite the vigorous riding of
Mr.. Nichols was too far behind to make 1t
race for Trillion. and the latter won.
teen or twenty between the second and
third horse. Time, 6:31 3-5. three fifths of
a second behind the track record.
Premier. at to 1. won the third race. at
a mile, by a neck, from Septour, the even
money favorite, Marshall, at to /, being
The fourth event was also at five furlongs,
and Zanone, the to favori.e, beat
Wordsworth, at 30 and 40 to 1, by head !;
Harrington, at to 1, two lengths back.
Time, 1:03 The fifth race was at a mile
and a quarter. and Maurice, at to 5, beat
Volley, at 10 to l, by length and half,
he being three lengths in front of King
stone, al 5 to /. Time, 2:l1 %