The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-25
EXCELLENT CARD ASSURED
Fast Horses to Face the Flag the
Opening Day at Benning.
Speculation n> to the Winner of the
Spring Handicnp-A String OF Two
Eear-OIds From Whom Great
Things Are TO he Expected.

Spring Handicnp-A String OF Two
Sear-OIds From Whom Great
Things Are to he Expected
Fully thousand people were at the
Benning track yesterday, and from the
interest manifested one would think that
a race meeting was in progress This is
| a good indication of what the crowds
should be on the opening day Thursday
next, and If the weather continues as
fine as it is now, the grounds and grand
stand should be taxed to their utmost
capacity
Many of the prominent stables gave
their charges useful work yesterday. The
most pronounced was that of Sadie S.
from the stables of Sullivan, Harris, Nc
Govern & Hughes. She is very
handy filly and ran some grand races here
last fall. She has grown considerably
and will give a good account of herself
the first time of asking. Her work yes
terday was very good, the fly going six
furlongs in easy style in l:171k. Good work
was also shown by Revonah, from the
Goushacres Stable. She is right on edge
and ready for a brusing race. Give-and-
Take, from the Mapleton Stable, was
given good, useful prep, and is
much improved horse.
The absorbing topic among horsemen and
race track followers alike is, who will
win the Benning Spring Handicap at six
furlongs on the opening day? The con-
sensus of opinion among the talent is that
the actual contenders are Intrusive, Cha
rentus. knight of Rhodes and Speedmas
and that the winner should be looked for
among the quartette. There are some.
however, who claim that Intrusive will
not be first, second or third, basing their
opinions on the weight he carries, 121l5
pounds, and that the trip from New Or
leans here Is likely to affect his condi-
ton and that he does not like the Benning
track. Be that as it may. all agree that
it will be horse race from start to fin
ish, and that the winner will have to es-
tablish new record for six furlongs on
Benning track.
All the stables are crowded to their
utmost capacity and Superintendent Lee
is in a quandary how to accommodate the
horses that are arriving, and are to ar
rive every day. William Karrick, Frank
Regain, and H. Griffin arrived here
yesterday with eight each. Among them
are such well known performers as In
trusive, Sir Florian, Gertrude Elliott,
Tonicum, and Animosity. w. c. Fessen-
den brings the New Orleans Derby winner
Henry Clay Rye, and Pacemaker. r. w
Walden & Sons, including the A. ii. *
ID. H. Morris strings, are due to arrive
today, and there is considerable curiosity
to what they will bring out in the two
year-old division. 1t is no unusual thing
for the Walden and Morris stables to un-
cork some youngsters et the spring meet
ing here that make the other two-year-
ODDS at the track look cheap. He may
repeat past successes this season, but he
will have to face better ones at the COM
ing meeting than he has ever run up
against before.
Reynolds, Mackersy, Hogan, and Mike
Danaher are to arrive tomorrow, and have
between them sixteen horses, all recent
winners at New Orleans.
There will be no scarcity of horses At
least 400 are now stabbed on the grounds,
or in adjacent quarters on the outside.
and no spring meeting at Benning ever
opened with a more promising outlook.
There is both quantity and quality, and
the fields should be large and the races
well contested.
OF the track itself much can be said.
and that much in praise. Superintendent
Lee has been untiring in his efforts to
put it in the best possible condition, and
owners and trainers are unanimous in
saying that the Benning track is faster to-
day than they have ever known it. The
grounds. grandstand. pavilion, etc, are
in first-class shape-in fact, everything is
UP to the notch.
The Washington Jockey Club is to be
congratulated on the outlook for the
coming spring meeting, which r1romises
to be the most successful in its history
They have been, one and all, from the
President of the club down to the humb-
lest official. Jealous laborers for this
success, and to President Rowland more
than to any other is due the credit for
the high standing of the club today. His
faith in the possibilities of Bennng as
racing centre has never wavered, and
he has the satisfaction of realizing now
that it is the most successful of any
track south Of New York. The club has
aimed at and maintained the highest
standard of racing; its officials have been
ever on the alert to prevent turf scan
dals, ana the in and out running OF
horses has not been tolerated. In this
way are its patrons protected and all
who go to Benning are certain to see
high class. clean sport
If the officials are careful OF protecting
their patrons in the pavilion. they are
also just as careful of the welfare and
comfort of its patrons in the grand stand
No Objectionable characters are allowed
on the grounds, as the vigilant eyes of
Pinkerton's detective corps. aided by an
efficient squad of our own local force,
make it impossible for disreputable peo-,
pie to gain admission.
The meeting begins Thursday next
race starting promptly at o'clock
Jockeys Mitchell. Scherer. Booker and
w. II. Hayes arrived here Saturday, and
are quartered at the Hotel oxford.
NEW YORK, March 4.-The indica-
tons are that the exodus of New York
followers of racing to Benning for the
meeting which opens Thursday next will
be unusually large.
Under the existing conditions here
spectators cannot back the horses they
fancy. and they will be forced to go to
Benning.
Although interest in the sport has
steadily increased among the Washington
people in the past several years. the sup
port Of the metropolitan racing folk is
counted on to a great degree for sue
cess.
1t is expected that twenty-five or thirty
members of the Metropolitan Turf AS
sociation Will be in line and they antici-
pate plenty of business.
MATHEMATICS A BARRIER.