Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-26
SOE SMILED HIS SWEETEST So There Was Another Big
 Crowd at the Races. BIG PUSH TO PLACE MONEY Buck Knight, Tartarian, Ganer and Mermaid Reward Their Backers-Good Riding
 by Warren and Murphy

The attendance at the race track yes terday afternoon, thanks to Old Sol, was on a parity with that of last week and quite as much enthusiasm prevailed.
 The betting ring, as usual, was packed with plungers, and it was a push and scramble to place money on favorites, second choices and long shots. The fa- vorites having won in the first and sec and events, the lines behind the booking stands after the official results were pro- claimed were long, and smiling faces were to be seen all down the length of them. while here and there among the plungers could be seen men who were kicking themselves for not t-playing the favorites heavier, even at short odds.
 Not so, however, in the third and fourth events&as long shots won out, and they were not played very heavily, though Gainer, the winner of the third event. at to 1 and to for the place, had considerable backing.
 Bridgets finish in the fourth event was the feature of the day, winning from Queen Bess bJ a length. This was not only a surprise to the talent, but the bookies as well. as her price at the open ing was to 1, and she closed 20 to l. This was regarded by the judges the greatest finish of the meeting, and War ren deserved credit for his excellent work in the saddle.
 The game with the bookes was good all around, and no kick was heard in that direction.
 The ladies were out in great numbers during the afternoon, and many of them who make it rule to play long shots came out away ahead on Bridget the 20 to 1 shot.
 Primrose & Vests minstrels were on the grounds as guests of the Jockey club and enjoyed the sport hugely. Some of them invested in bits of pasteboard and took the results, whether good or bad, with becoming grace.
 The pickaninny band. in bright blue uniforms, discoursed music between the races, which was greatly enjoyed.
 The Results.
 Buck Knight was cineh favorite in the first event at even money, closing at 8 to 5.
 Ettarre was second choice at 3 to l. and even money for the place, but fail ed to land better than third.
 Though at the post five minutes the start was good, and Barney Aaron, Jr., the hybrid, led, with the favorite head away. He kept right there all the way around into the lane. and was here one and a half lengths away, coming with a vengeance. It was no go, how ever, as he tired badly in the stretch, and Buck Knight, in drive, won by a half length. with Raffie Boy, at long odds and 5 to 1 for the place, second.
 
 second race at prohibitive odds. The start was good, though Tartarian got away seventh. He failed to show better than third in the stretch, but the plucky 1rishman. Murphy. drove him away from Bertrand, winning almost under the wire by half a length. Lo- retta had the favorte on the rail at the last eighth, but he pushed through.
 Gather fooled them all in the third race. Tennyson II was the good thing 9 0 but J1Rx rnrII6 could do no better than land him second.
 Bartender got away at the drop Of the flag, with the favorite in fourth place. But at the three-quarter pole the poet was leading by one and half~fengths. In the stretch he still led by two lengths from the mixologist. but it was all over at the wire, as Murphy again rode like a veteran and in hard drive brought Gainer in winner by head.
 The fourth race went to Bridget at 20 to l, with few takers. Queen Bess was the favorite, but couldn't do a thing. She never showed better than second, where she remained until after the swing into the lane, and there dropped back to fourth place. Jamboree got the place from Tranby by a head.
 Mermaid came to the rescue in the final heat and saved the talent from com plete annihilation, though marked up at 8 to and to 5, and to for the place. Rosallnd III was second choice and also proved true to her friends.
 Burley Leaf led the race to the half post and fell back to third place. Rosa lind leading, with the favorite fourth. Mermaid crept up gradually and in the stretched showed second but by driving gave the pack clear view of neat set of hoofs and won from Rosalind III by three-qusrters of a length.
 Today's Entries.
 The entries for today's races as fol- lows:
 First Race. Five FurIongs, Selling. 45 Rosalind Ill.,. ........ ......... 92 AZ. Bertrand .................s ........ 97 32 Albert Sidney ............ .... .109