The Washington times., 1902-03-17
BENNING MAGNET
FOR FORM PLAYERS
Many Brave Inclement Wealth
er to Witness Trials.
NO SCARCITY OF JOCKEYS
improvements Made at Track-Covered
Board Walk From Road to Grand
Stand - Entries for Third Spring
Hunters Steeplechase in Today.

Despite the disagreeable weather yes
| terday hundreds OF people made the trip
| to the Benning track. under the impress
| sion that some OF the candidates for
| honors at the coming meeting would
| be put through some fast work. They
| were not disappointed. as several fairly
| good moves were made. and in each case
the horses showed up splendidly. Such
trials were given should set at rest all
talk about the backwardness of the Ben
ming horses. most of whom are well ad-
vanced in their training. and only need
few more works to put them on edge. 1t
is true but little If any fast time was
shown. vet 1t was good. useful exercise.
and fast enough to give fair line on the
condition of the horses.
McLaughlin's First Whip was sent a
mile in 1:49k and pulled up easy. I'm
masked. candidate for the Spring Hand
and looked as II he could go seconds fas.
ter. He will probably take the post
favorite in the handicap. and Mclaughlin
does not hesitate to say that he thinks
his chances for winning extremely good.
He Is accorded the post of honor by the
Handicapped. and carries the top weight,
but this should not stop him if he is in
condition. as class should carry him
through.
Slidell. another candidate for the Spring
Handicap. was given mile tryout in
1:5lh This is excellent work for a
three-year- old under the conditions. and
should he improve between now and the
opening day he has decided look-in.
Fast Work by Calgary.
The fastest work OF the day was made
with Calgary, a three year-ol colt by
Henry Young Alberta. He went the
three-quarter route in 1:19-the fastest
work OF the day. and so far the fastest
of the season. There are also some good
wo-year-olds at the track, which, on
looks and breeding. ought to develop into
grand racers. They are going fast, and
it is nothing unusual to see three fur
longs turned in 0:37 or better.
There will be no scarcity of jockeys at
the coming meeting, as all of the best
boys now riding at New Orleans will be
here. and several are already on the
ground. ". II. Blake. who met with sue
cess in the West and on the Canadian
circuit. is here. and will ride for Cooks 5
stable. of Toronto. He is one of the
most capable, if not the best, colored
riders on the turf. He was astride OF
winner of the New Years Handicap at
New Orleans the finish of which was
commented upon at the time the best
ever witnessed at the Crescent City
Jockey Club track. J. Booker is also
here to ride for F. C. Frisbie. Fred Cum
mings will ride for A. C. Snyder.
Others, like Odom. Burns, Slack Coch-
ran, Wonderly, WINFIELD, Thompson,
Brennan. Lyme. d. O'Connor. and Miles,
all have engagements during the coming
meeting. SO there will be no scarcity OF
good saddle captains.
The improvements at the track are so
extensive that it would almost take
column of itself to enunerate them The
new grandstand erected last fall has been
painted throughout, the betting pavilion
has been enlarged a bleacher grandstand
built in the field. to which the admission
is but 80 cents. The secretarys Office
has been enlarged; the jockeys room is
now one of the largest in the country,
and is connected with shower bath room.
New Board Walk.
The most noticeable improvement, now
ever, is a new covered boardwalk lead
ing from the Bennings road directly to
the grandstand. This will be appreciated
by the patrons Of the Jockey Club. es-
pecially on wet days, as they can leave
the stand and be protected on the way to
the cars. All these improvements en-
tailed a considerable outlay. which fur
nishes additional evidence that the Wash
ington Jockey Club does not hesitate to
expend money when the comfort of their
patrons is concerned.
Announcement is made that the entries
for the Third Spring Hunters Steeple-
chase to be run at the coming meeting
on April 5. closes today. The conditions
are as follows:
Steeplechase for hunters four years old
and upward. qualified under the rules of
the National Steeplechase and Hunt AS
sociation, or the Canadian Hunt Associa-
tior. BY subscription OF s15 each. play
or pay. the Washington Jockey Club to
add plate of the value of 800 and purse
of the value OF $i00. Distance about two
miles and half over the course of the
Washington Jockey Club.
The Chevy Chase Hunters Steeplechase
is for horses who have hunted with the
Chevy Chase Hunt Club in 1901 and 1902.
THE RACING CALENDAR,