The morning times., 1896-04-12

In less than week the old familiar cry
They're off, They're off!'' viii once
more be heard at the Benning race course.
When Starter Tom Flynn steps into the
stand at the five-furlong pole next Sat
urday and drops the bunting on the open
ing scramble of the Washington Jockey
Clubs spring meeting of 1886 he Will have
ushered in what promises to be not only
the most successful meeting ever held
at Benning, but the most glorious years
racing that the American turf has wit
messed since the palmy days of Jerome
Park.
After an idlcness, to a certain degree
enforced, of nearly three years the beau
tiful course Will wake to Il new life. Once
again will the grand stand, the lawn and
the club house teen with crowds OF lovers
of the sport OF kings"
But withal there Will be a something lack
Ing. 1t will be those same ''bookics,' ut
whose expense the cold bottles were
purchased, and at first they will be missed.
Clean, legitimate, healthy, sport WI
be the first and foremost aim of the officials
of the club. Racing conducted on purely
sporting lines by body OF honorable, repu-
table and distinguished citizens is ideal
racing, and the Benning meeting promises
TO be such.
The very names OF the officers of the
meeting guarantee its respectabiIty. Mr..
C. Mcdowell will preside in the stand
Thomas NJ. Draney will offiCiate as timer
and II. G. Crickmore will be the clerk of
the course and scales; W. S. Vosburg is
the official Handicapped and Messrs. S. S.
Howlaud, Jesse Brown and r. A. Swigert
are the stewards of the meeting. All of
these gentlemen are known in connection
with racing. Mr.. Draney in particular is
well known in local circles.
Indeed, meeting at Benning without
representative of the Draney family would
not seem natural. Founded by the late F.
nj. Draney, who, up to the time of his
death, held the position OF president, and
owned controlling interest in the stock,
both father and son have been potent factors
in the control of the Washington Jockey
Club.
GOOD RAILROAD ACCOMMODATES
Special trains will be run at 2 and 2:3O
p. m. direct to the track over the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad. The train leaving
the Union depot in Baltimore will alsoStop
at the course. In addition to this omni-
BUSES can be taken at the terminus OF tie
Columbia cable cars which run to Fifteenth
and II streets northeast.
Many OF the old timers will hardly recog
niZe the track and buildings. Improvements
have been made with q hand that spared
neither expense nor pains. The club house
HAS Dttu Tue STttnu SCdnu reno
| waited, the old paddock torn down anda new
| one erected, many new stables built and
| last but not by any means least a ladies
| club house erected. ThisatLer is novelty
| in Its way and should prove a great
| success. Admission will be by Invitation
only.
There was fear for a time that thehorses
quartered at the track would not be in
racing condition by the opening day, but
that fear has gra dually disappeared Many
! OF them were backward, but d run of good
weather will give them plenty of chan to
] get into shape. There is no lack ofmaterial
on hand, every stall at Banning being filled
| and at least hundred horses Quartered at
| Ivy City.
TRACK IN GOOD SHAPE.
Yesterday the track was in better con
| dition than it has been during the past
! week and whenthe Benning track is goodit
| is probably as fast as any in the country
Some horses from nearly all OF the stables
did fast work during the day.
| The most impressive work yet seen was
| that done by NJ. f. Stephenson's four-year-
old colt Hanwell, 10y Hanover-Attraction.
| This is one Of Trainer DeCker's charges
| and being entered in the first fixed event
| of the meeting, the Blue and Gray Handi-
| cap, IS naturally the center of attra ction.
| With good sized boy on his back yester-
! day he stepped off three quarters, the
Blue and Grey distance, in 1:19. This
| looks as If he had the race at his mercy
| Another Blue and Grey candidate that
was worked yesterday was Virginia"
Bradley's Mrs. Stuart. Her performance
was hardly up to that Of Hanwen. although