The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-24
RACES AT BENNING {
TO START TOMORROW
Arrangements Complete for
Successful DasheS Over
the Turf.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE
Large String of Horses at the Track As
surfing Splendid Fields for Various
Spurts-New Arrivals - Difference of
Opinion Over Raise in Prices.

Delightful weather and the prospect of
seeing the horses work for future events
to be run of at the coming spring meet
ing attracted large crowds to the Ben
ming track yesterday. A more enjoyable
day could not have been selected, and
those who made the trip were amply re-
paid. as many fast trials were shown.
Every stable on the grounds was repre- =
scented. and while no phenomenal time
vas made. il was fast enough to convince
anyone that the horses at Benning are
not near SO backward as trainers would
have you believe. There are so many
horses on the grounds OF such good quail
ity and class that large fields are assured.
With continuance of fine weather
there is not a particle of doubt about the
success of the meeting as it promises to
be the greatest in years. The Jockey
Club has spared no expense to make its
racing plant The equal of any in the
country. and visitors to Benning will lind
the best equipped track south OF New
York
Everything down to the minutest de-
tail is In readiness. The grounds and
surroundings are looking very pretty, the
track is in splendid condition and trans
portation to and from the track is very
good.
There will be six races daily. the first
race starting promptly at 3 o'clock.
The action of the Washington Jockey
Club IN raising the price of admission to
SL50 and creating 50-cent field is wide
ly commented on. and has in no small
measure disturbed the members OF the
Metropolitan Turf Association.
There arc many arguments for and
against the 50-cent field. but il is only
in the nature of an experiment. If it fails
to accomplish the object for which it
was intended. it will be abolished.
The prime object desircd is to relieve
the congestion in the betting ring. and
make it possible for heavy investors to
place their money without the difficulty
hitherto experienced when the ring is
crowded. Nobody will gainsay that the
small 'piker' has an equal right With a
plunger. but it is also a fact that it is
the small players who crowd around the
bookmakers. and stand there watching the
fluctuations in prices, if itheyl were
rooted IN =
They refuse to move. making 1t almost
impossible for other investors to get to
the books. If they would put down their
money and go. all would be wen, but this
is exactly what they will not do.
If the 50-cent field will do away with
this, 1t will be something very much to
be desired. while at the same time It
gives the small investor chance to run
a 'shoestring into a bank roll.' and con-
slider himself a genuine sport. 1t is here
where he belongs and from this stand
point it is good thing.
The objection mada by the members Of
the ". T. A. is that the taking away OF
the dollar and two-Gollar plays from them
takes away the easy. soft money. and
they are left with nothing TO handle but
the hard, or wise money. Without The
''piker," or soft-money play. they claim.
II is impossible to round out book. and
this is just what particularly disturbs
them.
The Washington Jockey Club. in raising
the price of adnii. on, is not aiming 10
increase its revenue. but in the hope that
it will add to the comfort OF its patrons
and place where they belong certain
class of spectators who while they have
equal rights. are better by themselves.
The experiment has been tried at other
tracks with great success. and there is
really no reason why it should not be
successful mere. Should it fail it will he
no discredt to the Jockey Club. which is
sincere in its desire to please its patrons
and those whose every wish is to serve
them. II is not what satisfies the Metro
pOiitan Turf Association but what pleases
the Benning patrons. who, after all, are
the real supporters of the track.
Arrivals at Benning.
Wyndham Walden stable. Mddleburg.
Md. IN Walden. owner and trainerp.
Blue Delft. Oh. T.. 2year- old, by Orna-
ment-Mary VI.
Enchance. br. +, 2-year-old by Galore
Edith.
First Chord, b. c.. 2-year-old, by Ben
Strome-Last Ban.
Juggernaut ch. c., 2-year- old by Star
Ruby-TOUrney.
Red knight. ch. c.. year-old, by
Knight of Ellerslie-Belle DAILY.
Merry Sister. oh. T.. 2-year-old, by The
Friar-Merryone
The Hoyden. b. f.. 3-year- old; Dolce far
Niente, oh. c. 3-year-old; Obliged. ch. f.,
4-year-old.
Fred Littlefeld. Middleburg. Md, owner
and trainer.
Fair Edna. oh. f.. 2-year- old by The |
Friar-Ollie Vie.
Tickle Merle b. T., 2-year- old. by Mars
CLYDE III.
Mount Hope. br c.. 2-year- old, BY Sill |
yer Fox-Cherite.
Midtown Stable - Charles Healey, |
trainer.
Termless. Essene Playlike.
Garry Butler. owner and trainer.
Ninonia, 3-year-old. and Inklings.
Charles Reynolds, trainer.
Gold Fox. Eloin, and WOodchuck
William French. owner and trainer.
Wundcrlich Beggar Lady, and FlOrad
These last three have been racing at ]
New Orleans
James Mclaughlin announces the re- |
tirement for good of First Whip ana |
Charentus. This is a severe loss to Mr.. |
as they were both grand |
race horses. and this season looked very /
promising.
Following are the weights for the Chevy |
Chase Hunt Annual Steeplechase fer |
Hunters. TO be run at Benning March 81; |
Frederick l.. Huidekoper's b. &. Twi-
light, 6, 16S pounds.
Reed Knoxs b. &. Royal Stag. s, 163
pounds.
J. Van Ness Phillips b. g. Hari Kari. 6.
161 pounds.
Clarence Moore's b. g. Masterpiece. 6.
lj5 pounds.
James Kerr's b. m. lie Noon, 6. 1856
pounds. O.
Clarence Moores ch. G.. The Hawk. 6.
1ij pounds.
A. A. Snyders ch. &. Rooster, 6, rs
pounds.