The times., 1901-04-08
A REVIEW or THE RACING
Tie First Nine Days Of the Sport
All That Could Be Desired.

what Is Promised Benning Patrons
This Week-A second Running Oi
Spring Handicap - Another Hunt
cr's StccpiechaSe - Entries Today.
A review of the racing for the first
nine days of the spring meeting at Ben
ming finds nothing to criticise. as it has
been SO far the most successful in the
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
strates that high class racing will be sup
ported in Washington and that the public
! desires it. Such 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-
er il rains or shines.
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
I spared no expense in catering to the
( wishes of its patrons. LiberaIty in
purses has brought the best class of
. horses to the track, and fair treatment
has made owners and trainers look to
Nsracr ln rfr
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 I'm and out
running. No matter whether the fields
are large or small, or whether it is
small purse, a handicap or a 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
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 viii 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 many Of the horses We're not |
properly seasoned or ready for bruisine
race. Now it is different-they are all
ready, and it should be 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 Saturday race is to take up 4
penalty of five pounds. All the horses
hat did not finish first, second, or third
viii be allowed fifteen pounds, and horses
hat were entered and did not start will
AIRY same weight as they were allotted
hen.
The Jockey Club has added to the sub
icription fees which 90 To the winner a
,urse Of 500 and q piece of plate of the
'alue Of 800. There are good cards every
lay for the six remaining days and the
)nblic should not fail 10 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 a good one. Of
Fhich the feature is the Easter Monday
'teeplechase at two miles and half |
n il are entered the weIl-known steeple-
hasers, Lady Dainty. Queenship. Con- |
lover, Prince Meias. and Bacchanal.