The times., 1899-04-04
-FOUR FAVORI4ES
COME In WINNERS
Opening Day of the Races at
Benning.
kirg Thistle. at II to |, Wins the
Arlington Stake.
Era
Baby Bill Carries on the Easter
StcepIcchnsea Henors-Entries

The opening day of the fourth spring
meeting of the Washington Jockey Club
was decided success, The attendance
was good, the weather ideal, and the sport
as good as could be desired.
Four favorites and a II to / shot came
under the wire winners. The talent was
out in force and the bookies got all the
worst of the days business although in
the second race King Thistle's victory
over the Morris stable entries caused joy
in the camp of the bookies.
The work OF Mars Cassidy in starting
the bangtalls was highly commended and
it was indeed worthy of all praise.
The running of the Easter Steepiechase
was productive of much excitement Nine
horses got away at the drop of the flag,
but before the fun course had been cover
ed only five were left to battle for honors
in the stretch. Four jockeys were thrown
by the stumbling of their mounts, but all
escaped injury save Chandler, who re-
ceived cut over the eye and badly
bruised arm as the result of the fall of
Radnor ii at the second jump.
The first race was six-furlong dash for
three-year- and upward. Eight horse;
went TO the post, Prestidigitatriee baing
the favcrite at to 5. Gen. Mart Gary was
the second choice at 3 TO 2. Roysterer an 1
Charentus found a few hackers at to l.
Danforth faced the starter tie to /. At
the fall Of the flag DanfOrth, with SLACK
up, took the lead and held it until well
into the stretch, when the Morris fiily,
Prestidigitatrice, forged to the front ard
passed under the wire first in 1.16, 70 lowed
by Danforth, Gen. Mart Gary. Char, n us
Roysterer, DR.. Parker, Ben Viking, and
Filament in the order named.
The Arlington stake, for two-yearo. dds,
was the second race, and brought out
field of six starters. The entry CT the
Morris table-Prestdigitator and Pr m
rose Day-ruled favorites at the prohibi-
tive odds of ! to 4. King Thistle, at Il to
l, with McGlone in the saddle, to-k the
lead at the start, and held it to the finish,
winning in 0.502-5, with The Bobby, at
l. TO l, second, and Prestidigitator, with
Littlefeld up, third, followed by Primrose
Day, Matte Bazaar, and Cupidity. The pre-
vious winners of this event were: 1896,
Walden Sons Successful, time. 0:50;
1897, A. II. & D. H. Morris Cherry Picker,
time, 81 rs; 1898, A. H. & D. H. Morris
Prestidigitatrice, 0:50.
The third race was the Easter Steeple-
Nine jumpers entered the lists, in which
Baby Bill ruled the favorite at even money.
Decapod and Quillian were well backed at
to /. Vanity Fair found some admirers
at 10 to ]. Last Fellow at 20 to l tempted
some, and Varsouvienne Radnor H. Hes
perian and Red Hackle were posted at 30 to
l. After one break the horses got away
with Baby Bill in the lead by nose from
Red Hackle, followed by Radnor H. Vanity
IF0fV- Twill
souvienne, and Hesperian in the order
named AT the second jump Radnor II
fell and threw Jockey Chandler heavily to
the ground. The horses continued over
the course in the order named until
the fourth jump was reached, when Last
fellow stumbled and Jockey Pierce got
shaking up. At the water jump the horses
were in the same order and at that point
Eesperian fell and sent Jockey Ray sprawl
ing. Then came the dash into the stretch
with Baby Bill leading, Red Hackle sec
ond, and Deeapod, Vanity Fair, Triliion,
and Varsouvienne following. Next to the
last jump Decapod, who was gaining and
looked like a winner, stumbled and fell.
Then came the dash down the stretch. Red
Hackle hung TO Baby Bills flank. but was
unable to gain any advantage and Baby
Bill came in winner with Red Hackle Sec
ond, and Vanity Fair third. The time was
4:l9. The previous winners of this event
were: 1896 Ed Wain's Mars Chan, time,
4:20 1-5; 1897, f., r. & T. Hitchcock's
Peconic, time, All; 1898, Ed Waln's Mars
Chan, time. 4:25.
The fourth raca was for maiden two-year-
olds and five colts went to the post Con-
testor and Specific ruled favorites at even
money, with Peeler second choice at to /.
Prestige found some hackers at to l. and
Monometallist was the outsider at 20 to
l.. Contestor, with Littlefeld up. took
the lead at the start with Specific, Pres
tige. Peeler, and Monometallist following
in the order named The horses came into
the stretch without changing positions and
Contestor won handily in 0:51, with Spe-
cific second, and Prestige third.
The closing event of the day was a SELL
ing race for three year-olds and upwards,
one mile and forty yards Nosey ruled a
hot favorite at 3 10 5. Sensational was
backed at TO l, and Judge Magee at :
to l. Planitan found a few takers at 10 to
!, and Premier was at 20 to l. The horses
got away with Premier in the lead close
iy followed by Nosey, with the others well
punched. AT the half Nosey was in the
lead with Sensational second, Judge Magee
third, and Plantain and Premier hopeless
ly beaten. Hewitt piloted Nosey in a win
ner by two lengths in AS with Sensa-
tional second and Judge Magee third.
Summary.
First race-for three-year r-olds and upward.
Six furlonGs:
Prestdgtatrice (1), odom. om............. sto
Danforth uls). SIack................. % 10
General Mart Gary O0D. OLeary.... ) to-
Time, l;lG Charenius, Roys;crer, Dr. Parker,
Ben Viking. and Filament also ran
Second race-The Arlington; for two-ycar-oIds
Half-mile:
King Thistle 900. McCann. - to1
The Bobby Q09), o'Leary- - 10 /
Prestdgitatur 0l2). Littlefeld. ......... | tn4
Time. 0:5O 2.5. Primrusa DaN Mallir Razar