The Washington times., 1901-11-12
THE FALL MEETING OPENS
First Day of Racing at Benning
~ Provides Excellent Sport.

The Track Fustcr Than Ever and
Record Broken-The Amazon wins
tbesGrnndstand Hnndicnp-A Long
shot Finishes First in Last Event
Probably the most auspicious opening
ever accorded a fresh season Of racing
in this city was that received by the
Washington Jockey Club yesterday after
noon. when the Bennins track, smart
with improvements. was thrown open to
the public for the initial event OF the
f1l meeting. The occasion was more
than notable succcss-tt was complete
trrlmph-ard the 5000 lovers of tie sport
of kings who journeycd home fr'm the
course last night were loud in rare praise
ana applause.
Nothing that could possibly have added
TO tho pleasure or comfort of the day
was lacking. Nature herself was mere
ths,r1 kind and the weather was ideal. The
six events on the card were all well con-
tested, and were exciting TO the highest
degree. The gathering in attendance was
,.nezef the most brilliant in seasons. Inc
great new iron grandstand had its ca
paSity tested for the first time, and rang
with cheers during the running Of the
handicap named in honor of the hand
some structure And as though all this
were not enough, the track itself was
faster than il has ever been considered
Before.
There was snap and vim about every
thing which bid fair TO assure the sue
cess of racing in Washington. Metropoh-
tan methods are everywhere in evidence
where makeshifts were to be had before.
The new Benning course is something
TO which the Capital can point with pride
ana the improvements maze are all OF
Esting character. The great crowds
which swarned through grandstand, bet
ting ring. clubhouse. ard paddock yester-
csfy saw and appreciated. and as a result
sighed with regret when the last race
fEId been run, and departed, vowlnS To
rttuh today.
III was a carnival of the bangtails, was
Yesterdays opening. i was delicious
round Of speedy thoroughbrecs, gay clad
Jockeys. well-groomed spectators, hahd-
sornclv gowned women, cheers, applause,
and laughter And through it all ran the
music IF pat:ering hoofs. Not single
objectionable feature occurred to mar the
Measure Of the occasion, while on the
other hand. something was constantly
transpiring to add to the delights of
perfect afternoon.
An washington seemed to be there, and
with him came his pretty consort The
,,,andstsud was brilliant with beautiful
costumes and smiling faces. In the cluD-
house the stand was massed with the
flower of local society, and no contingent
found more enjoyment in the day than
this. They came in coaches and auto
mobiles. by carriage and by train. The
rls- fTafF
them. and while the knowing males sized
up the points OF the quivering steed' fresh
from his warming-up canter the ladies'
pattcd and petted the handsome animals,
and laid their bets on shapely neck
or a sleek side or a weu-formed head. The
Opening day representation was Such as
te demonstrate that racing has become the
thing in Washington as in New York, and
each day Of the meeting viii see the club
house was well filed.
Bat in the masses in the grandstand
lay the interest of the afternoon Here
stlne i.50G men and women cheerod and
applauded or expectantly awaited during
the entire card. 1t was a typical Wash
iagton gathering, and good-natured ap-
probation marked every action. So well
did the local detectives, with the assist
ance of Pinkerton and his men, guard the
entrances. that not a single Objectionable
character secured admission. This same
policy will mark the entire meeting, and
the number of family parties present yes
terday demonstrated the confidence
placed in President Howland's commend
able decision.
1t was an afternoon of fast and clean
racing from the start in the first event,
a$l the strains Of THE Washington Jockey
Club March" died away. until the close
finish in the sixth event. when Cherished
nosed under the wire to the inspiring tri-
umphs Of "Toddy's Terrors" OF course.
the great event OF the day, to the major
fly of the grandstand occupants was the
steeplechase, which proved to be an eX-
citing contest. despite the fact that the
scratching Of two entries left but three
starters. II was a spectacular struggle
between Baby Bill and Boisterous for
nearly Lae whole two miles and a half
and the two-horse event brought forth
more genuine entertainment than has
many field Of ten jumpers. Cheesomite,
who refused the Jumps and came home
five minutes after the finish. received the
lions share Of the applause from the sym
pathetic spectators. and was given a
royal ovation.
Next in interest was the New Grand
stand Handicap. with nine starters. The
spectators simply went wild as the con-
tenders struggled through the cntir,
seven furlongs, and raced UP the stretch
The male contingent IN the grandstand
was frantic as The Amazon swept through
10 victory while the women screamed
with delight
The other events were Of a most salts
factory nature. The fields wer,- all large
and were composed Of good material II
tne balance OF the meeting is up to the
standard set yesterday. success Is as
sVIed. and this IN thu face OF the promise
on the part Of the officials that what Is
TO come VIII Dc even better than what
WAs offered on the opening day
The Washington Jockey Club is TO he
congratulated on the result Of the season
81 improvements, which show a lavish
expenditure Of care. brain work. and cash
As has been said. the new grandsjand is
a magnificent affair and all who attend
the meeting are assured Of plenty Of room
and surfeit of comforts. The clubhouse
has been neatly extended and new dining
rooms added. The public restaurants aud
bars are clean and inviting The grounds
around the grandstand have been well
cared for, and handsome plants M u the
hooks and corners. The paddock is
eqaipped with stalls for starters and 9TH
er coHVeniences.
The betting ring yesterday showed the
wisdom of having erected the large iron
structure. No less than forty members OF
the Metropolitan Turf Association had
books in the ring, and while all were lib
orally patronized there was plenty ol
t;ts .~ - I.S