The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03
OPENING DAY At BENNING
The Racing Season Inaugurated by
the Washington Jockey Club.
Eight Thousand People Witness
Some Exciting sport-Boney Boy
Beats Imp in the Hnndicap-Cos-
mopoIitan Takes the Maiden Steep
Iechase-Ninncrs of Other Events.

The largest crowd ever present on an
opening day of a spring meeting in the
District, and one of the largest ever seen
al the Benning course, was in attendance
at the inauguration of the racing season
in the East on the handsome grounds OF
the Washington Jockey Club yesterday
afternoon. With a clear sky and a dash
OF sunshine. fairly fast track, and a
splendid programme, those who were pres
ent enjoyed one of the best days Of sport
ever given on the Eastern circuit. Proba-
bly, 5000 people massed in the walks, the
pavilion. the grandstand and the betting
ring. and eheered Jockey Mitchell when
Boney Boy showed the crack mare Imp his
heels. and in a sensational finish captured
the First Benning Handicap. and applauded
Jockey o'Leary when the judges presented
him the silver tankard as the rider win
ming the first contest on an Eastern track
In 1909.
Make Up of the Crowd
Everybody seemed to be there The
famed turfnien from every city and every
track mingled with the portly local mer-
chant. the Government clerk, and the leg
sslator while the great grandstand was
filed to oyerfowing with Washington So
ciety folk, especially those of the fair sex,
who daintily applauded or sighed as their
iavorite won OF lost 1t was the Mardi
Gras OF the bangtails, and from the fast
horses themselves to diamond horseshoe
pins and dainty whip pendants everything
smacked OF the clatter of hoofs and the
JOYS OF the turf. Not one Objectionable
feature occurred 10 mar the real pleasure
OF the day.
Deceived by Imp.
1t was a sad day for fsvorites. Outsiders
captured three of the five events The
odds while liberal, were not great, how
ever. and no eoups of the MeFonso order
served to Jar the Joy of the bookmakers
The talent was hard hit on Imp. Thou
sands of dollars went up on the black mare
at odds of from to TO 3 to 3. 4 very
very few Of the pikers managed to get
money down on Boney Boy at to l. but
these few either went by form or chance
and were made happy. In the first event
General Mart Gary had things 20 himself
opening at to l. Fake, at 3 to l. captured
the second event. Cosmopolitan. at 10 5
ran a lone race in the steeplechase. while
Asquith at to 5, had no trouble in the
closing contest.
AAt sStthttAAAt&9Ss VI No~Aoe5 NNA AAt Gc-
light of the grandstand, and was an excit-
ing contest. Cosmopolitan, the favorite,
had the race all the way. Loyelorn fell on
the last round while taking a stiff jump
throwing Jockey Carson and giving him o
severe shaking UP. Tamor. who was an
easy second. fell on the last jump, before
entering the stretch. His jockey, E. Coch-
ran, was not injured. Rifer, Conflicting
Evidence. and La Russo were scratched.
The scratches in the other events were
Coralis and Lady Lindsey. In the FIRST;
Lady Lindsey. Cupidity, Prince OF VERONA.
Kentucky Colonel. Knight Of the Carter.
Robert Metcalf. Sidney Lucas, Gen Mart
Gary, and Golden Rattle, in the fourth.
Twenty-Five bookmakers We're in the
betting ring. Among those nov at the