The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

|
With splendid weather. an exceptionally
good card. a fairly fast track and a crowd
/ Of nearly fifteen thousand people present.
the spring meeting OF the Washington
Jockey Club closed at the Benniug course
| yesterday afternoon. II was the largest
and most notable assemblage ever gathered
at the track, and It stamped approval on
the meeting and augured success for those
! to come. Washington society was presen:
/ in great numbers. and the private boxes
; were crowded with prominent folk. The
graudstand was bright with the glitter Of
Easter bOnnets. while the lawns walks
club house. betting ring. and paddock We're
black with humanity. Three races on the
fiat and three over the jumps furnished a
splendid afternoons sport. and with such
programme every day, the local organiza-
tion could coin money
/ The lelds were rather slim in several Of
/ the events owing to numerous scratches,
but the best Of the contestants started and
/ furnished excitement enough to satisfy
anybody The layers of odds reaped a rich
harvest Of get away money, as the IA
yorites went to the bad in four of the six
races while the talent took comfort in
dreams of what they would do in the fall,
as the bugler mournfuiiy sounded taps and
the boards bearing the names Of the
jockeys were taken down and slowed away
| for the summer
Chnrcntus' Good Race.
Aside from the jumping races, the Ben
ming handicap was the event in which in
ming centred.-and the great crowd yelled
itself hoarse when Charentus lowered the
colors Of the great mare Imp and won by
several lengths It was splendid con-
test all through and was a three-horse
race until the turn into the stretch. lmp's
defeat may be attributed to Jockey Clay in
a measure as he made too much use OF
the mare by trying to set the pace on the
back stretch and the weight told when
the-ftnal efort came in the run for the
wire. The twenty pounds difference told
with both horses when Charentus made
Imp and Boney Boy look as though they
were standing still and won by a good
three lengths Boney Boy wrested the
place from the fayorite in the last jump
There were Blk starters in the hurdle I
handicap and AIcFonsO was never danger I
Gus. Governor Griggs ran his own race (
and beat Cousin jess by several lengths, /
with the famed former 100-to-1 shot a 4
bad third.
The steeplechases caused great delight /
and hubbub in the grandstand and were
well contested and exciting. There were
six starters in the Hunters Steeplechase
with Hfgbie and Young Exile even favor
ties at to /. Emory fell on the first
round but his rider. Dayton, was not in
jured. Diver set the pace for time but
gave way to Higbie who, after running
himself out allowed Young Exile to take
the lead and win by several lengths. Mr..
Taylor rode a splendid race on the win
ner.
Jockey Dunlap Suspended.
ST. Samuel seemed to have been held
back by his rider. Jockey Dunlap. who
was later suspended indefinitely by the
judges. and his case referred to the
Stceplechase Association.
The five starters in the handicap steeple-
chase seemed to lack schooling. with the
exception Of Nestor who made a runaway
race of it. and was never in trouble Baby
Bill. a heavily backed favorite at even
money. ran a poor race. He seemed short
Waterman fell early in the contest but
lid not iHjure his rider Jockey Sheedy.
Tentore acted like a goat, and refused to
AXE the first jump. although charged at it
several times by Jockey Dayton. large
amount Of money was burned on Baby Bill.
who was played as a sure thing but came
u a bad second. with Kaiser. a short half
nile behind. third.
Lady Lindsey paid those who pinned
their faith TO her in the first race and
beat SDeedmas by a head. Sir Christopher,
the favorite. was a good third
There was some trouble Tor The je..e-. on
in the last race. as kimmage ran neck
and neck with him TO the wire, When he
Bradley horse won by nose. 1t WIS a
grand race. with a field Of nine s,5rtera.
Charley Moore, an outsider. was q good
bird.
The meeting which has just closed W S
he most successful in the history o. TIE
Jockey Club. II was success
ul financially and socially. The attendance
was remarkable for thus early in Jhe
season. and the character Of those @-O
attended was first class. Then again lie
racing was clean throughout. without
scandal Of any sort. and in each AMI ever.
event the best horse won.
Demand Hieh-CIass Racing.
The attendance yesterday aud thas #
he previous Saturday shows that Wash
ngton viii support high-class rIGrg.
There are only two things needed to bring
ne crowds, good horses ana good We9the'.
nd these combined helped to m1Sa he {
!euniug spring meeting suec -2 III. There
vas not hitch Throughout. no fault hni-
ng Of any kind perfect order on every &
art of the track. and both losers and IL
erS went away satisfied u
But now that he Bennng spring meet "a
ng is over and everybody satisfied. The q
ublic for enjoyable and exciting sport. !
nd the Washington Jockey Club for its .
naucial success. it is up TO the Jockey ID
Tub to realize the future of the Ben %
ing track for it has d future. and a grand %
ne. Ii has been plainly demonstrated that o.
he track can be made a paying institu- "
ion, if liberal policy il, mapped out and
dhered to.
What Owners Want.