Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-27
TWO FAvORITES WON
McGrathiana Prince Lowers Track
Record at Benning.
The FIGHT OF FEATHERWEIGHfS
Saengerbunds Defeat Carroll In
stitute BowIers Three Straight.
S P RTS IN GEN Err AL

. L " IL > n Vt b N 4 II A Il
The bookmakers had all the better Of the
argument yesterday at the Benning races.
but two favorites finishing first and in both
these events other horses were so well
played as to offset materially the winnings
of the first choices. The betting talent
started the day by selecting McGrathiana
Prince to carry its money in the first race,
and the choice proved good one, as the
Oxnard gelding won the event without half
trying. In the second and third events the
betters went wrong, but in the fourth they
again landed a winner in Barouche. This
concluded the talents successful picking
on the day. good long shots taking the
purses in the fifth and sixth races.
The weather was so cold and raw that
many persons were kept away from the
track for fear of pneumonia. and as re-
suit the big grandstand was sparsely occu-
pied. Down in the betting ring. where the
wind was barred out, little attention was
paid to the atmosphere. and the usual
crowd Of betters was on hand. The wind
almost amounted to a gale out on the
meadows Of Benning, and the track, which
was a sea Of mud Monday. presented a
good appearance, the drying-out process
having been at work all Monday night and
yesterday morning. Most of the events on
yesterdays card were we'll contested and
furnished plenty of excitement
Scratching of ventoro.
The only incident of the day to mar the
sport in any way was the scratching of
Ventoro in the fifth race. The Oliver FLY
had evidently been prepared for killing"
but instead of scorching the bookmakers
the early betters on Ventoro were the only
LODI inf ba
dock as docile the proyerbial lamb, but
when the bugle sounded for the jockeys to
mount, she developed a sort of crazy fit
and came within an ace of killing little
Dreamer, who had the mount. A bucking
broncho a mild comparison to Ven
toro's antics, and after vain endeavor to
pacify her, her name was scratched from
the role of contenders. Under the rules of
the betting ring all bets made after the
Jockeys numbers have gone up must stand
and as consequence the early betters We're
hit very hard. A tip had become circu-
lated on Nentoro and when the figures
went up, giving as high as 80 to 1 against
her chances, there was mad rush to get
money down. The ''bookies" We're taken
by surprise, Nentoro not being classed with
such good ones in the race as Death, Kalif,
Alpaca and Federaiist. and had the at
tempted coup been successful. the layers
of odds would have been done to a turn.
Many of the betters We're not on speaking
terms with the rules and We're very indig
those in authority were consulted.
Vargrave's Exciting Finish.
The most exciting race Of the day was
the closing event. when Carbuncle, Ben
Battle. Alfred Vargrave and Handicapped
were thrown together. The owner of Nc
Meekin once more refused the contest and
this fine stake horse was scratched. The
public lit Carbuncle with rush, his
price being hammered down from 6 to ) to
l to =. The other horses were mostly
played by the class styled the ''pikers," or
small betters. Starter Cassidy got the four
horses off well and Pa Days horse i'm
mediately shot into the front, opening up
quite bit of daylight between himself and
the other contenders. Up the backstretch
fully twenty lengths behind. AS they
neared the turn into the stretch Redfern
hurried NarSrave, and the quartet swung
into the stretch in bunch. Carbuncle
then assumed the lead, but it was only for
couple of strides. as Vargrave continued
his rush and came home a full length to
the good. Vargraye's victory was a popu-
lar one, and the shouting was tremendous
as he swept by the judges stand. This
horses running is most remarkable He is
always trailer by many yards at the
start, but as a speedy inisher Vargrave is
was laid against him and his hackers were
jubilant over the result
Track Record Lowered.
The first race was a mile and three-auar-
tiers on the fiat, and only horses with stay
ing qualities were entered McGrathiana
Prince proved himself the best of the lot
by taking the lead at the start and
staying there until the end, winning by a
length or more Roysterer got second
money and Dick Furber was third Jim
Megibben, the second choice, was too heay-
lily weighted and faded away in the stretch.
Cost al,r hit
be gathered from the fact that he lowered
the track record 1 4-5 seconds for the dis
lance.
Cornwall was the good thing selected to
win the second event, he being an odds on
favorite, but he failed to land the money.
Geneseo. at to !. winning in splendid
style by half a length from Flying But
tress. Courtenay being third. Cornwall led
all the way to the stretch, but after the
highway was reached he failed to get a
call.
In the third race Brisk opened the favor
lite. but there was such a tremendous play
OH Charley Moore that the latter went to
the post the first choice. As good as ) to
could have been secured at first against
Moore, and this price was hammered down
in jiffy to 8 to 5. Brisks price went
back to 31a to /, but this didn't hurt his
going a Bit the veteran landing the race
by head after gallant struggle with
Charley Moore. who finished second
There was nothing to the fourth race
finishing in that position. beating Honolulu
by head. Andy Williams getting third
money. There was quite a big play on
Colonel Bill, but he failed to figure in the
running.
By George Mt go to L.
The days long shot bobbed up in the fifth
race in BY George. as good as 60 to 1 be-
ing laid against him. Shoreham was the
favorite and money went down on him in
thousand and five hundred at a time But
betting failed to land the winner ALPACA
led the field until the stretch was reached
when By George nosed into the argument
closely fallowed by Death and Shoreham
These three had a grand battle down the
stretch. but for the second time Redfern
was astride winner. and when the finish
was reached he had sent BY George to
the front by a head. Death got second
money and the favorite had TO be content
with third place. AS little Redfern was
also Alfred Vargrave and Brisk he had
the satisfaction of placing three victories
to his credit.
Summary.
First race, one and three-fourths miles i;
purse. s4o0-McGrathiana Prince, 124 QIei-