The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-25
ThoroughbredSAwait Only
Sound of the Bell.
HARD TO PICK A WINNER
Track Is Fast and Some Warm Sport Is
Predicted-Spring Handicap Principal
Event on Card-Fair Sized Field Re
garded as Certain

The racing season in the East for 1902
will be inaugurated this afternoon at the
BenninG track, and, unless all progaosti
cations fail. should be a most successful
one. The Washington Jockey Club has
done all in its power to contribute sue
cess-by liberal purses to the horsemen-
and by every comfort and accommodation
that can be thought of for its patrons.
Everything awaits the bell calling the
horses to the post. Visitors to the Ben
ming track will then find that the Wash
ington Jockey Club has a racing plant up
TO date in every particular.
The track is absolutely fast now, and,
unless a change in the weather sets in,
will remain so.
The programme for today is one of the
regulation six races, all of which have
been well filed. The feature of the card
as the Bcnning Spring Handicap, at six
furlongs, listed as the fourth race. There
were originally :hirty-seyen nominations,
OF which twenty-four have withdrawn,
aving bakers doZen-thirteen-to go.
q this number il is possible that some
Elav yet decline the issue, but it is quite
certain that eight, if not more, will face
the starter. This Will be a fair-sized field
and. as the entries are evenly balanced
by the Handicapped, should ensure an ex-
citing contest from the drop of the flag
To forecast the winner OF the event is
rather difficult as it is more 4 question
of Gtness than class The talent will go
TO the best and stick by the class of the
race, which, in a majority of cases, would
win for them. This would make In
masked the favorite, as he is beyond ques-
tion the class. But is he fit? That is the
question.
Good Reports Come In.
Reports from Sheepshead Bay have it
that Himself. one OF Days entries, has
been burning up the track in his work,
going the handicap distance with weight
up at lie. If he repeats that work in the
race this afternoon he is certainly en-
titled TO consideration, but working al
the Sheepshead Bay track and running at
Benning are two entirely different propo-
siJions. Ohnet. another candidate for the
handicap, must be reckoned with, as he is
as near being fit as any horse in the race.
He is game animal, has considerable
speed. and should be fighting it out with
the leaders at the finish. The contenders
look to be Unmasked, Himself, and Ohnet.
Still there are others, not at all unknown
quantities, that may do the trick.
Another feature of the card is the Ar
lington purse for two-year- olds, at four
furlongs. As the entries are making their
debut it is a matter of conjecture how
they viii perform in a race. They are well
bred grand lockers, have shown fast
work in their trials, and should give a
good account of themselves. There may
he another Nasturtium or Endurance by
Right among them; it is not beyond the
range of possibility.
The other races on the programme call
for no special comment. The fields are
large and so evenly balanced that the
contests should be close and interesting.
Nearly all the prominent jockeys are
now on the grounds. T. Burns. Odom,
pullman, o'Ccnnor, Slack, Blake. Coch-
ran. McCue, Wonderly, Landry. Michaels,
Booker, Dreamer, Miles. Cummings. and
Dayton among the fat racers. with Ray.
o'Donnell, Donohue, Carson, and Connolly
/
riders.
No Recall
The starts will be made with the i'm
proved Maxwell starting gate-no recall.
There is hardly possibility of bad starts.
as Starter Cassidy has insisted that all
poor actors or green horses should be
to the barrier; so that now they
are used to it. and know what is expected
Of them.
There will be six races daily-the first
race starting promptly at 3 o'clock. Music
will be furnished by HaIey's Band, and
this feature will be much appreciated by |
The ladies in the grandstand.
The officials of the club are the same |
as last year. They are as follows: Presi- |
dent, S. S. Rowland; stewards for the |
meeting. 5. S. Rowland. Samuel Ross. |
Jesse Brown, and Secretary F. o. Hanlon; |
racing officials. Clarence Mcdowell. |
Judge; W. S. Yosburgh, Handicapped; |
starter Mars Cassidy; J. l.. Hall, pad |
lock and patrol judge; w. II. Barretto, |
timer; H. G. Crickmore. clerk of tho |
course and scales, and DR.. James Kerr, |
track surgeon and physician.
The accommodations to and from the !
rack are ample. Columbia Railway cleo |
ric cars run direct to the track every |
CIV minutes. and a special train leaves
he Transatlantic Railroad Givth |