The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-01
DEChDrBR'S GREAT RACE
Looked Hopelessly Beaten. But Is
Grandly Ridden.
The Four Starters Run Over the
Route EIanLe.ed TO the Wire-LOng
Shots in the First and Fifth Events
Dump the TaIent-Only Two Fav-
critics Won-Results and Entries.

A fair-sized crowd journeyed to Benning
yesterday and Notwithstanding that the
weather was cold and chilly. and the
grandstand little bit uncomfortable for
its occupants, they were amply rewarded
by seeing well contested races and close
finishes. This was especially true of the
last race on the card, handicap al a mile
and an eighth and while there were only
four starters it was a splendid race, the
best ever seen at Benning-or for that
matter, anywhere else. The finish was
SO close that not until the numbers were
hung up could the onlookers tell who was
the victor. Decanter was given the de-
cision and grandly earned it. A blanket
would have covered all four at the finish
and the fight down the stretch will long
be remembered by horsemen and the pub
lie as the gamest and closest finish be-
tween four horses ever witnessed. 1t is
a great compliment tc the Handicapped,
W. S. Vosburg, that by an adjustment of
weights he could bring those four horses
SO close together. as he made it possible
for any one Of them to win. Decanter
ran grand race after looking hopelessly
beaten. He finished gamely and was
grandly ridden.
The day opened with an upset for the
talent and the players of long shots had
their inning. as Island Prince quoted at
so to ] in the betting won easily. Then
again in the fifth the winner turned up in
an outsider. Ellen B.. quoted at 80 to l.
SO that long-shot players were decidedly
in it. Only two pronounced favorites won
Sir Fitzhugh and Queen Carniya1-for
while Decanter was favorite at to 5.
there was just as heavy a play on Charen-
tus at 4 to 5-both opening at even
money. There was also heavy play on
A1sike for the place. and as Decanter and
Alsike finished first and second. it is
doubtful if the bookies quit winner to the
race, as it broke badly for them. Thirty
two books weighed in, and had all the
business they could attend to. and in bal
ancing accounts of the days results the
balance must be on their side.
The card for today, winding up the sec
ond week of the meeting, is good one,
and has as special features steeplechase
at two and one-half miles the December
special at one and one-half miles, and
handicap at one mile and 100 yards. in
which are entered such good horses as
McMeekin. kinnikinic. Carbuncle, and
several others. Following are the results
and entries for today:
Results mt RenninS.
First race-For three-year-olds and up
ward; selling; six furlongs.-Island Prince
(Fftzgerald). 80 TO and 10 to i, won;
Evelyn Byrd (Kitson), to i and 6 to 5,
second: Lexington Pirate MILLER, 2 to
and to 5. third. Time LII LIS. Miss
Mitchell, Cgrasaljo. Charles Estes, Impair
tial, Give and Take. Covaza Charawind.
Staten Island. and Allaire also ran. Good
start. Island Prince. Lexington Pirate and
Miss Mitchell were first TO show. running
in the order named. A general closing up
In the stretch. Prince still maiEfainins mis-
lead and in a driving finish won by half
length. Evelyn Byrd second. length in
front of Lexington Pirate. third. Miss
Mitchell fourth. Carasaljo fifth-the rest
strung out. Island Prince opened at 20 TO
] in the betting closing at 80 to l.
Second race-For two-year-old maiden
fllies and geidings; five furlongs.-Jils
Greenwood fBffen), ) to / and TO s. won;
Provost fRichardsl. TO / and to 1. sec
end: Curtesy tWalters). 20 to / and 6 TO
]. third Time, Eli %. Golden Bay. In