The times., 1897-04-18
BENHINIG1's Gates OPEN
Five Good Races Inaugurate the
Jockey Clubs Season.
SOCIETY WAS OUT In FORCE
Morris Cherry Picker Won the
Arlington Doggett Carried
Big Weight TO Victory Forget
First Over the Sticks-Atfendauce
Large and Betting Very Lively.

Eastern racing had great start yes
terday with the opening day at Benning
The clouds of the morning had disappeared
and the sun shone out clear and bright
Everything about the track was as fresh
and neat as paint and spring weather
could make it,
The crowd was Iargs, numbering prob
ably over fifteen hundred people, among
whom there were u Hbe Ial proportion OF
ladies. The card had filled well and the
events, while none OF them were very
elasely contested, Were Interesting, es-
peciaug the first and second. The hurdle
race always popular feature, gave q
pretty exhibition of clever I1ding and good
jumping. Forget and Thackeray taking
two of the jumps side by side.
Everything was conducted with the
greatest smoothness and proInptness
There were no annoying delays at the
post, and the two heaviest played horses
OF the day won
TWO fayorites, two second choices, and
an outsider got the money, and the talent
probably came out little to the good.
The track dried out rapidly under the
high wind, and while not fast, was in
first rate racing shape.
Toward evening it grew quite cold, and
coat collars went up. In the grand
stand it was rather uncomfortably chilly
just before the last race.
Betting WAS carried on as heretofore
Those who wanted TO bet the caSh-and
had the cash-turn ed it over lO the book
makers assistant, who took the name of
the bettor and notified him where a set
Element would be made with the winners
in town in the evening. There were ten
or twelve boollies on, and the speculation
was pretty lively. 1t was mostly con-
fined to the local talent, as the big bet
tors are waiting for a better line on the
horses here before going in heavy.
The announcement was made that there
would be recalls from breakaways. This
prevented the possibility OF very bad
starts, by permitting the starter to re-
call the field even after the barrier had
gone up. The starting maching was used
in all the races today and worked per-
fectly.
About town In the morning the only
good thing was Doggett to win the
second race. 'a
OF the thirteen carded in the first race,
Gee Gee, which was entered in the fourth
also, and Old 9Saugus were scratched.
Speculation opened up with Harrington and
Billali equal faverites at to l. Quite
play set in on Maud Adams, bringing her
price from to A to /, but before post
time she had receded to her original
price These three got nearly all the play,
the rest going back.
Littlefield breeZed Billah through the
stretc hbeforet the race, and her performance
seemed SO good that he closed the actual
favorite at 1 to 8.
Maud Adams delayed the start, and there
was one breakaway. When the field fin
ally got off, Mistral was in the lead
with Tenderness second, and the rest well
up, with the exception OF Billal1, Maud
Adams showed in front for a moment going
around the turn, but soon dropped back.
Prompt then got ont of the ruck, came
through in the stretch and won rather
handiiy from Tenderness. which horse
was second throughout. Billalt got off
last, and was badly handled. He finished
third
The second looked a sure thing for Dog
gett, in spite OF his heavy impost of 12o