The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-08
A REVIEW OF THE RACING
The First Nine Days Of the Sport
All That Could Be Desired.

what Is Promised Benning Patrons
This Week-A Second Running of
| Spring Handicap Another Hunt
cr's StccpIcchase - Entries To-day.
A review of the racing for the first
nine days of the spring meeting at Ben
ming finds nothing to criticse, as it has
! been so far the most successful in the
I history of the Washington Jockey Club;
and this success has been achieved under
adverse circumstances. The attendance
has been little short of phenomenal, con-
! sidering the weather, and plainly demon
/ stfates that high class racing will be sup
| ported in Washington and that the public
| desires il. Such a crowd as was seen
at the track Saturday was beyond eXpec-
| tatiors, as a more disaGreeable day for
] racing could not have been experienced.
| The crowds were there just the same,
| and that fact fatty Contradicts the argu-
! ment often made that Washingtonians
are a fair weather people and will not
/ patrCniZe racing unless the weather con-
ditions are favorable. There may have
been some foundation for such an argu-
ment in years past, but it is entirely diff
ferent now. and the crowds attend wheth
!
The cause is easily explained. The
public wants high-class racing; that they
will sustain. and that the Washington
Jockey Club gives them. The club has
spared no expense in catering to the
wishes of its patrons. Liberality in
purses has brought the best class of
horses to the track, and fair treatment
has made owners and trainers look to
Benning as one track on the circuit
where it is both pleasant and profitable
TO race. 1t is also the one track in the
whole circuit where consistency in form
predominates. The percentage of win
ming favorites is greater at Benning than
on any other track in the country, East
or West. This in itself speaks volumes,
and goes to show that the officials are
always on the alert and that owners and
trainers have a wholesome dread of at
tempting what is termed lin and out
running. No matter whether the fields
are large or small, or whether it is a
small purse, a handicap, or stake, the
struggle for victory is just the same,
contested every inch of the way from the
start to the wire. The public knows this
and fully appreciates it-and to this
knowledge more than to anything else
can be attributed the large attendance
every day, regardless of the weather.
The programme for the last six days
of the meeting is fully as attractive as
was that of the past nine days, and has
equally as good features. There are races |
to suit every oWner-conditional, purse, !
and selling races, handicap hurdle, and |
steeplechase events-in fact such a pro- |
gramme as would be difficult TO improve. |
There will be six races every day this |
week, winding up on Saturday next with |
the second running of the Benning spring |
handicap al seven furlongs. The first run
ming of this event was on the opening day |
of the meeting. and was won by Knight |
of Rhodes. Should this horse start Sat
urday he will have to carry ten pounds
more than he carried then, making his
weight 125 pounds. As the starters in the
first running are almost certain to start
in the second, with several others added
who originally subscribed, the field should
be large and the race a grand one.
Another thing to be remembered in con-
nection with this race is that at the first
meeting MAN. of the horses We're not |
properly seasoned or ready for a bruisinc
race. Now it is different-they are ali
ready, and it should be a struggle from
the fall of the flag. In addition to this
event the Washington Jockey Club has
decided to reproduce the Hunters Steeple-
,hase, run off Saturday, and won by Last
Cord. Practically the same conditions
govern the race. excepting that the win
ler of Saturdays race is to take up =
penalty Of five pounds. All the horses
hat did not finish first, second, or third
will be allowed fifteen pounds and horses
hat We're entered and did not start will |
AIRY same weight as they were allotted
hen.
The Jockey Club has added to the sub
'cription fees which go to the winner a |
purse Of 800 and a piece of plate of the
1alue of 800. There are good cards every !
lay for the six remaining days and the
public should not fail TO see the best |
'acing ever scheduled at this track. In |
his way alone can they show that they |
appreciate the efforts of the jockey club
n their endeavor to promote high class
acing.
The card for today is good one, of
which the feature is the Easter Monday |
Steepechase at two miles and a half |
IA it are entered the well-lSnown steeple-
.hascrs. Lady Dainty. Queenship. Con- |
lover. Prince Mtlas and Racchanal |