The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-26
ATTENDED BY Big THRONGS
Father Days Himself Wins
the Benning Spring
Handicap.
MUG FOR FIRST RACE WINNER
New Orleans Horses Wait Until Last Race
to Garry OF Easy Victories-Wc odtrice
Wins Many Hundred Dollars for His
BackeIS


ing of the Eastern racing season at Ben
ming? If not you missed a gala occasion.
II seemed as if most of Washington was
on hand. with their wives and sweeth1 carts
and their cousins and sisters and aunts
from the surrounding villages, to say
nothing of their neighbors from Gotham.
the racing centre of the East. 1t was in
deed an suspicious opening.
The Elements Propitious.
All the elements were apparently in
sympathy with the efforts of the Jockey
Club officials and the hopes and purposes
of the vast crowd. The sun slanted his
shining rays upon the scene. The soft
warm breeze of the early spring blew up
from the Southland and made the specta-
tors forget the long. dreary winter months
through which they have passed.
II was such a day as Tennyson must
have dreamed of when he wrote In the
spring the young mans fancy lightly
turns etc. He should have amended his
verse to read Ito thoughts of racing"
For after months of weary longing, the
devotees of the sport of kings" threw
aside their enveloDing gloom and gave
themselves up freely and exultantly to
hilarious enjoyment.
Those who have never felt the ecstasy
of racing afterncon-those whose blood
has lain dormant and cold and has not
gushed headlong through the arteries
while their eyes danced pleasure and their
hearts beat pit-a-pat as the splendid thor
tp
stretch. each endeavoring in his most gal
liant way to wear down his rivals-those
who have never felt the excessive joy of
the most exciting and celebrating of
sports-are objects for commseration.
Seasons Racing Inaugurated
The meeting which began at the Ben
ming track yesterday inaugurated the
opening of the season of legitimate
racing in the East. 1t was an event of
much Importance to the regular race
goers, and was ioyfully welcomed by
those OF sportive instinct in Washington.
Hundreds of New Workers and Balti-
moreans augmented the local throng OF
men and women who journeyed out TO the
Benning course. 1t was the best opening
the Washington Jockey Club has ever ex-
perienced, and doubtless was very en-
couraging to the clubs officials.
The race course never looked so pretty.
Last fall, when the many improvements
that had been made at the track were
hardly in a state OF completion, and the
new grandstand was devoid OF paint or
other adornment, the place looked bleak
and bare. But with the advent of the
spring meeting the place has taken on
wonderful improvement.
The stand is resplendent in a new dress
of bright colored paint, the lawns are
verdant with the opening bloom of spring,
and crocuses and hyacinths lend their
beauty and fragrance to the picture.
Benning, indeed, can now claim position
among the first OF the metropolitan rae
ing institutions, and is at least worthy of
the place of honor as the opening and
closing of the racing season.
Streams of Race Goers.
Long before the noon hour yesterday
hundreds OF persons began the journey TO
the track, and they continued TO arrive
at the track in a stream long after the
races had begun. There were many eX-
carnations OF approval and admiration as
the numerous conspicuous improvements
greeted the eye. and it was apparent that
the patrons of the track appreciated the
new conditions that have been provided
for their comfort and convenience.
When the busle sounded the call for
the horses in the first race, the grand
stand and the clubhouse and lawns pre-
scented a picture of splendidly colored ami
nation. The grandstand seemed like a
huge conservatory, with the gay gowns
and bright headgear OF the women stand
ing out in relief against the sombre back
ground of their more quietly dressed es-
corts. There was constant hum of voices,
a ceaseles din, but it was hum of happi-
ness of pleasure of expectation.
Many society people lent their presence
to the occasion. They came not only
from Washington. but from Baltimore and
New York. Among some OF the most
prominent we're General Miles. Mr.. and
Mrs. Pierre Lorillard. Mr.. and Mrs. Le-
care. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. Mrs. Chatfield-
Taylor Representative o. II. p. Belmont,
Representative Jacob Rupert, Represcn-
tative Williams. DR.. Magruder, Colonel
Goodloe, f. r. Hitchcock, Robert Neville,
Clarence Moore, Jesse Brown. and Samuel
Ross.
In the Betting Ring.
crowd of eager. bustling men showed and
pushed and crowded the twoscore and
more of layers of odds, who were on
hand to accommodate those with specula-
tive inclinations. There was much bust
ness done in the ring, despite the fact
that most bettors are content to allow
the horses TO run without backing in the
opening days of a spring meeting.
No complaint was heard because Of q
lack of business. and the only wall that
came from the bookies was on account
of loss in several instances. still, the
layers had ali the best of the argument.
and the majority OF them doubtless left
the track with more grcenbacks than
they took out with them.
The number of books in the ring was
greater than ever before in the history
OF the Benning track, and among them
were all the prominent nen who lay odds
a. the metropolitan courses. The bet
tiar, ring was in cha-sz Ioap G.. Cav
anaugh, and II was. rrse admirably
.faaaatsIG.a&, Is alwa. - case when left
in the haIds of that gentleman.
The track conditions were better than
they have been In many seasons, as was
evidenced by the breaking of the six
furlong track record in tho handicap.