The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-11
THE RACERS AT BENNING.
Heavy Track Has Retarded Work
Among the Mnidens.

! The weather was so unpleasant and dis
agreeable yesterday and the track rather
heavy from the rain of Saturday that very
few horses were asked TO do anything
more than jogging or cantering. All the
horses at Benning are well advanced in
their training, and if the meeting was
called tomorrow there would be found
plenty of horses fit and ready to face the
starter. The enforced idleness of the last
three months, or since the close of the
fall meeting, has left the horsemen anx-
ious to open the seasons campaign, and
pull down some of the liberal purses hung
up by the jockey club. The meeting cam
not commence any too soon for many of
them, as the expense of keeping horses
through the winter months, with no OPP
portunity of earning any money until the
racing season opens, finds them at this
stage with depleted pocketbooks.
The two-year-olds at the track are very
promising, and on looks and breeding
some of them may cut a figure in the turf
been exceptionally good. and If they only
run up to IL, ought to win races, but there
has been nothing phenomenal shown yet.
AT this season of the year 1t is nothing
unusual to hear Of startling performances
b. this two-year-old or that three-year-
old. but in most cases such performances
are mere pipe dreams, and the circulator
of them only awakens when the horses
are beaten in races a second or two slower
than the touted horses worked In.
The setting afioat of such dreams is
a good thing for the pencilers, as it
makes it quick and a sure way to sep
aTate the spectators from their bank
rolls. The work of a horse in the early
morning, while it may furnish a line to
go on, Is not always to be taken for
granted as an infallible guide that the
horse will show as good performance in
a race; and this is especially true of
maidens, whose first performance in
race is at best predetermined.
of the three-year-olds at the track,
they are too well known to The Times
readers to call for any special mention;
but by all odds, the best looking three
year-old, and. probably. one of the best
in training, East or West, is Dublin, of
the Goughacres stable, trained by Fred
W. Presgrave- He is a grand mover, and
is entered in many valuable stakes. His
races last season We're of the highest
class and stamped him as a stake horse
He won the Foam Stakes quite handily
beating such good ones as Sweet Laven-
der, LOngshoreman, Contend, Lief Prince
The Rhymer, and, but for bad racing
luck, would have won the Great Eastern
Handicap, where he was only beaten a
head by Beau Gallant, to whom he was
cOnceding six pounds.
All the stables at the track are filled
or awaiting the arrivals Of those who
have already engaged them and apDli-
cants for stall-room are turned away by
scores every day.
Thomas Healey has arrived with
string of five, as follows: Honolulua, two
year-old bay coli by Star Ruby-Baby:
Warm Time, two-year-old brown colt by
July-Altadema; unnamed, two-year-Old
chestnut FLY by Hanover Princess Jean.
and two three-year-olds, Far Sight and
Cherry Wil1.
Patrol Judge Hall, William Karrick
(Owner Of I1trusiVe) and Jockey Mitchell ]
are to be here in a few days. and have
engaged rooms at the Hotel oxford.