The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-19
SNOW HALqS THE HORSES
Little Training Done at the Ben
ming Track Since the Storm.
The Lay-OT Not Likely to Work n
Serious Drawback - Arrivals Last
Wcek-Many Expected From New
Orleans shortly - The Entries Tor
the Spring Hunters Steepicchnse.

The storm of last week has caused much
havoc with the track at the Benning race
course and the horses Quartered there
have not been able to get much training
to fit them for the spring meeting of the
Washington Jockey Club, which opens on
April 2. II is not likely that this lay-off
will have any bad effect on them, however.
it may set them back a few days. and as
every day counts now, the horsemen are
praying for thaw.
There were very few arrivals within the
past week, but now that the Crescent City
Jockey Club has closed down, ii is expect
ed that a great many of the New orleans
horses will arrive here within the next
week or ten days. Every stall on the track
will be occupied while stalls outside OF it
will be letting at a premium.
Washingtonians have always taken keen
interest in steeplechase racing. and the
sport at the coming spring meeting should
be more interesting than ever before. To
comply with the rules of the Steeplechase
Association the Washington Jockey Cub
has had to rebuild all the jumps TO GER
tain height and width, and they are now
much higher and more formidable than be-
fore The rule comes under the head OF
section 4, and reads as follows:
In all steeplechase courses there shall
be at least six fences in every mile. There
shall be water jump at least twelve feet
wide and two feet deep, TO be guarded by
fence not less than two feet in perpen-
dicular height. There shall be in each
course at least two jumps, as follows
Ditch five feet wide and two feet deep,
which ditch shall be guarded on the TAX
ing-off side by a single rail, and on the
landing side there shall be fence of not
less than four feet six inches in height,
and II OF brushwood or gorse not less than
three feet in width. The minimum per
pendicular height of all other jumps shall
not be less than four feet six inches, and
the minimum width three feet The rails
or boards protecting fence shall not be
less than three feet in perpendicular
height on the take-off side, except at the
water jumps
From the foregoing rule il will be read
lily seen that IL will not be easy TO get
over those jumps. and horse must be
good one to clear them. These races
should be very interesting and exciting,
and there will be no lack of entries, as
there are more steeplechasers and hurd-
lers now In training at Benning, and of a
better class, than were ever brought to-
getheE at any one meeting there.
All the horses quartered at Benning are
in good condition. many of them close up
10 a race, and with good weather every
one of them will be fitted TO the hour when
the meeting opens Previous TO the storm
one or TWO horses showed very fast work
and should win the first time out. Speed
mas. trained by Peter Sire. worked three
quarters very handily in 1:19, and Beau
Ideal five furlongs in i:04 l2-
The track SUPERINTENDENT James Lee,
has hppp CerjOueIv Ill Threatened with
pneumonia. He is now better, and it is
hoped viii he able to be about in few
days.
Mars Cassidy has returned from his trip
TO New Orleans. and will be ready TO drop
the flag when the horses line up two weeks
from today
The entries for the Spring Hunters Stee-
plechase were posted yesterday and are as
follows:
II Rozicr Dnlsuey enters ochiltree. by ochil-
Tree or Galore dam Imp. Hester
Em6ss
J. u. Rail. RILEY. by Monticello smart Girl.
T. . HAYES. Taghairno. by imp. Inverness |
" c. Hlye-. Champion. by Imp Cayalier-Nay
J. u. nooe. Becky Holie, by Tdstan-Poc..
J. I. LareonD IT,, Jseobel, by Jacobite-
". h. Leyering. Young Exile. by Exile-Fidele
A G. Marshall, La Touraine, by Yucalan-
Margaret
]. Bepry NcCauley, sackett by Bersan-Cath-
eriUe &
T. Nelson Page, Hobson. sire and dam half bred
I. A. y. Portman. Shandy Can, sire and dam
half bred
c. ". Smith. Mr.. Fore Paw, by St Carolus-
Queen 81 the Forest
+. L. smith, Dive, by Clear the way-Di
FoIBoH.
Paid forfeit, one each. Chevy Chase Club, f
X. SALISBURY. and E. l. Smith.