The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-26
PROPITIOUS OPENING
FOR BENNING RACES

Starter Cassidys work with the flag was
all that could be desired. The serd-offs
were prompt. and in most cases good
The Maxwell barrier was again used for
lining no the runners. Starter Cassidy s
machine not vet being ready for use.
No complaint could have been found
with the races themselves. While there
were no head finishes, several OF the
events were closely contestd, and the re-
suits In doubt till within Il few jumps
from the wire.
The Benning Spring Handicap.
OF course interest centred in the Ben
ming Spring Handicap. the feature event
of the afternoon. Only seven OF the thir-
teen carded to start went to the post and
Pigeon Post was added. making field
of eight Betting on this race was very
brisk. and all of the candidates received
more or less support.
On the strength of reported fast trials
al Gravesend. Father Bill Days four
year old Himself went to the post
heavily played even money choice. The
local crowd pinned their faith TO I'm
masked, from Jimmy McLaughlin's stable.
But Ohnet. The Hoyden. and Maru all re-
ceived support, while Bastile and Hamp-
shire were the outsiders.
The race proved to be an easy thing for
the favorite He took the lead soon after
the flag fell and had no trouble gallop-
ing home winner. The surprising fea-
ture of the race was the running OF Bas-
tile. who slipped into second place after
a sharp struggle with Unmasked.
Not much was expected from the
steeplechase. Only three went to the
post, and two of these were from the
same stable. The stable mates. how
ever. were thought to be held safe by the
other starter. Arius. and the latter was
a heavily played odds-on choice. The re-
suit, however. demonstrated the uncer
tainties of the game. for the best Arius
could do was to finish second, Handvice
winning after a tight fit by a scant half
length.
The Race Unsatisfactory.
The race was not a satisfactory one to
the supporters of the favorite. 1t seemed
that il the rider of the second horse had
gone about his business after taking the
lead at the last jump he could hardly
have lost. AS 1t was. he allowed Hand
vice to steal UP on him. and when II came
to a drive Handvice won.
Considerable interest was manifested in
the opening event. This was the race
that broke the long period of dizziness for
the regulars. All of the nine starters
were backed, but Merriment was the IA
vorite She was never in the hunt. how
ever.
Charley Moore won, after coming from
last place in the stretch. with two out
siders-Calgary and Alpaca-occupying
the places. Tommy Burns. the rider OF
Moore, was presented with the customary
pewter mug as a memento of the first
race of the season of 1902. as were also
the trainer and owner of the horse.
The much-vaunted New Orleans horses
were forced to wait until the last race
of the day to carry off their expected
easy victories. In this event horses from
the Crescent City occupied both places OF
honor at the end, Woodtrice winning and
Sir Florian second. Burns rode a clever
race or Woodtrice and brought home many
hundreds of dollars for the horses back
ers, who are reported to have made.
killing on him.