Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-26
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
Benning Opening Day Was
Most Successful.
TRACK WAS F Asst
DALY'S HIMSELF WON HANDI-
CAP, LOWERING TRACK RECORD.
National League Magnates Getting
Together-Weston Defeated Clear
water-Base Ball Gossip.
TRACK WAS F Asst

The eastern racing season was started
yesterday afternoon with the opening day
of the spring meeting of the Washington
Jockey Club at Benning. Weather and all
other conditions were almost perfect. and
the big crowd was royalty entertained
All the cards, except the steeplechase, We're
well filed and four out Of the six events
were gameIy contested and exciting. The
fact Of this being Holy Week doubtless hurt
the attendance but nevertheless there was
a good big crowd present.
The feature of the afternoons racing was
the Benning Handicap, and Father Bill
Days Himself, pony that has been touted
as sure thing for the past week or more,
carried off the prize in hollow style. Him
self lowered the track record, winning by
about two lengths, and could have done
even better had he been called upon. Lit
tie Wonderly got his mount off well, going
to the front at the drop Of the flag, and
although he took in several wraps
coming down the stretch, the Jockeys
strength was not enough to keep Him
self from sailing along like the wind
Just how fast Himself went the dis
lance can be CLEANED from the fact that
Boney Boy in 1900 won the Benning Ham
dicap in 1.16 Is, and in 1901 Knight OF
Rhodes finished first in LII. Yesterday
ia 80. Father Bill was happy man
after the race, and received congratulations
from all sides. The win of Himself was
most popular one. He was selected as the
money and as he showed such a wonderful
burst of speed the victory was hailed with
great handclapping and shouts of glee.
Eight non-winnerS went to the post In
the first race, and big majority of the
betting public could see nothing but Merri-
ment for winner. But the close followers
of form remembered Charley Moore's show
ing last fall, and with Tommy Burns up
the combination looked promising. Alpaca
and Fonsoiuca were also backed for good
amounts. Alpaca gol the best of the start
and kept the lead until the stretch was
reached. when Merriment shot to the front
and the event seemed already placed to his
credit Tommy Burns persisted with
Charley Moore, got him next the rail COM
ing down the stretch. and in the last fifty
yards overlook Merriment and won out In
clever style. Burns demonstrated in that
race that he is in unusually fine condition
and far and away the best rider at the
track In the last race Burns was up on
Woodtrice and Odom on Sir F1orian- The
first named won out, owing to the clever
jockeying of Burns, and it seemed to be
the general opinion of the veteran horse
followers that with the riders reversed Sir
Florian would have captured the event
hands down.
The Goughacre entry, Morca. captured
the second race in hollow style. Many Of
the ''railbirds' were pleased with her
warming up just before the race, and the
'.bookies' were hit quite numerously, but
principally for small amounts. Morca got
off in the lead, and the farther she went
the bigger became her distance from the
other horses, finishing under wraps with
three lengths to .he good. First Chord,
with Odom up, was the favorite in this
event, but the best he could do was second
place.
Only three starters were sent off by Mars
Cassidy in the steeplechase for maidens,
but 1t proved to be one of the gamest fought
events on the card Handvice and Arius
were close together a greater part OF the
time and went over the last big jump head
and head. AS Handvice struck the ground
he almost came to standstin, and shout
went up that all. was over, but the game
little gelding came again in great style,
caught Arius in the stretch and won the
event by a short head The finish was an
exhilarating sight and the crowd shouted
its approval to the gritty geiding and his
clever rider, Donohue.
There was a poor bunch of maiden three
year-olds up In the fifth race. and Illu-
inmate led all the way, winning at the end
by fully ten lengths.
Only two favorites, Himself and Illumi-
nate, were good to the betting public yester-
day, but a couple of well-played second
choices landed the purses the chances are
that the days betting broke about even be-
tween the ''bookies' and the talent"
Following are the summaries.
First race, six furlongs; purse, S300-Char-
ley Moore. ia e. Burns), to /. won
Calgary, 81 (Sheal, Is to l. second: Alpaca
11S Uandry), 10 to 1. third Time, 1.18
Fabius, Princess OtilIie, Fonsoluca, Rec
Damsel and Merriment also ran.
Second race. half mile; purse, S460-Morca
10J I-andry), 4 TO 1, won; First Chord, IL;
(Odom). IL to 5, second; Toscan, IL Dull
mani, 7 to /, third. Time. 80 3-5. Baron
Knight, Blue and Orange Fugai Bey, Flam-
boyant, Frock and Frills and Mola also
ran.
Third race steeplechase: about two miles
purse S3O0-Handvice, 1876 Oonohue), 8 tc
5. won; Arius. 149 CARSON, 2 to 8, second
Kondyke II. 156 Oosh), to 5, third
Time, APT 3-5. Handvice and Klondyke
coupled in betting. Three starters.
Fourth race; Benning Spring Handicap
Six furlongs; purse. s700-Himself, 96 tyVon.
derly), even, won; Bastile, 90 Booker), 81
to /. second; The Hoyden, 100 {Odom), te
third. Time, IA 30 Ohnet, Unmasked
Hampshire. Maru and Pigeon Post also ran
Fifth race, seven furlongs; purse, $500
illuminate. 90 (WOnderly). to 3, won
Mango. 11S tBlake), 80 to /. second; Gay
hilda. 81 Henderson,, 10 to l. third. Time
1.30 2-5. Idleways. The Bluecoat, Waite,
Alone. Father Den, FoxIey Curley, Ed
Flournoy. Pigeon Top. Flo Russell Nala
linking and Woodchuck also ran
Sixth race. one mile and forty yards
purse, S4O0-Woodtrice, 10 IT. Burns), tc
I. won: Sir Flortan, 107 (Odom), even, sec
ond; Farrell. LOT Deaton), to 1, third
Time. las Is. Round Up. Benckart, OBJ
stinate Simon, Hop Scotch, Rightaway
Ribgieader and Little Lois also ran.