The Washington times., 1902-03-27
The Weather Conditions
Tempt Many to Visit
Benning Track,
SOCIETY LENDS It's SUPPORT
Favorites With Ease Garry
Off Four Races on Card.
TRITON KILLED BY BULLET.
Broke Hind Leg in Maiden Event and Was
Shot-Goughacre Stable on Form Car
ried Plenty of Money-Poor Class of
Horses.

1t is always an off-day at the race
course after an opening, and this was
the case at Benning yesterday. Still, the
crowd that went to the track was much
larger than was to be reasonably expect
ed. and indicates that Washington people
have become fond OF the sport.
Indeed, the conditions at the course are
such as to tempt many who have hereto
fore held aIoof from attending the races.
The increased price of admission seems
to have had little bad effect upon the, at
tendance, and it is quite likely that the
higher cost of entrance will prove ben
eft in the end by eliminating an unde
sirable class of persons.
There was a noticeable increase in the
fair sex, which indicates that the efforts
OF the club officials to induce them to pat
ronize the sport. and thus lend tone to
it, have met with success.
e Society Turns Out.
The social element OF Washington has
been liberal in its patronage, and the
club house yesterday was again comforta-
bly, filled with a number OF men and
vcmen prominent in the social life OF
Washington.
The local contingent of racegoers was
considerably augmented by the arrival OF
a crowd of Gothamites 1t will be hard
to distinguish between New Workers and
. Washingtonians before the week is out.
The poor card offered had its effect in
more ways than one. Persons who go to
the races for the sole purpose of seeing
, the horses run do not care TO witness
. races with only a few unevenly matched
horses in them, and those who attend for
the purpose of wooing the tickle goddess
are not quick to wager their greenbacks
upon horses that have no definite class.
Therefore the attendance was much
better than the conditions warranted, but
there was a marked difference between
the enthusiasm yesterday and that OF
Tuesday. Speculation was brisk, although
only three of the books which drew in on
the opening day were missing.
Regulars Always Play.
There are, however, very few races -un
that will not offer some inducement to
the regular. Your habitue of the turf
would feel lost If he did not have wager
down On every race of the day. Conse-
quently, the speculation was not at all
dull and the pavilion between races pre-
scented busy appearance.
-Four out of the six fayorites rewarded
the faithful After slight rebuff in the
first event that distinctive factor of the
running turf known as the talent"
started in to do up their sworn enemies.
They landed on every winner but one
thereafter but inasmuch three of the
four were at odds-on only the players
with bankrolls got the big money.
The bookmakers contend that it is the
81 bettor who makes their business a
thriving one, and If that is the case. the
majority Of bettors present yesterday fail
ed to carry away much OF the wealth from
the strong boxes Of the layers.
Finishes Were Easy
So far as the racing went, there was
nothing out of the ordinary to cause the
crowd to become wildly enthusiastic. Al!
of the finishes were tame. and the win
ners in most cases could be picked some
time before they reached the wire.
The one incident of the day that
caused futter of excitement was the
breaking down of Triton in the maiden
race. The horse had just begun to move
up and take an interest in the race. when
he staggered and the jockey quickly dis
mounted. Upon examination it was found
that the horse had broken his left hind
leg and he was dragged OF the track and
bullet ended his existence.
There is one less to lose on" said a
thOughtless wag.
II IS doubtful if all the horses entered
with the possible exception of those that
started in the two-year-old race, would
bring much more than a hundred dollars
apiece if put up at auction. SO the quality
Of the starters can be fancied.
In the first event six all-aged horses
that had never won $500 struggled to the
post. The Goughacre stable established
such a reputation on the opening day
that the talent at once selected its entry
and Roma was pouncod upon as a good
thing. But Wyndham Walden had been
waiting for two years to land a purse
with Obliged and he saw his opportunity
yesterday. The flly outran her field in
the stretch and won easily. Neither Roma
nor Quixada was any TOO well ridden by
their jockeys, however or the finish might
have been closer.
Railbirds Numerous.