Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
OP ENING THE MEET
First Day Of the Eastern
Racing Season.
"REGULARS" ON HAND
TWENTY BooKMAKERS WERE
KEPT BUSY.
Track Withstood the Downpour Very
Well-Many Scratches in
the Handicap.


afternoon at the Benning race track. The
weather bureau has handed out to the
Washington Jockey Club many sorts OF bad
weather but 1t is a question whether the
article this spring has ever been beaten
The record stands at fifty-nine hours OF
continuous rain. Today finds the Benning
course limp and gloomy. everybody being
affected by the miserable weather, and in
stead of the big crowd provided for only
the regulars were on hand.
The handsome club house where the
leaders of the social world are wont to
gather on the opening day was almost de-
serted and the ladies present were attired
for comfort Instead of display.
Viewing the Track.
As the crowd of regulars filed through
the gates a bee-line was Immediately made
for the track and the going carefully In
spected. The general verdict was that the
track had withstood the downpour of rain
very well. and If the foundation maintained
dts rigidity the ponies would find the going
far from dangerous.
perintendent Strahan got some consolation
out of the fact that the track was safe. He
made a careful inspection at noon, and upon
his report several owners decided to keep
their horses In the events in which they
had entered them.
Twenty bookmakers were on the line. but
the crowd was large enough to keep them
busy. Todays card was good one, but the
scratching of the high-class horses from
the Benning handicap lessened the interest
considerably.
Almost every horse in that event has back
ers on account of the heavy going. and the
''bookies'' were wary about chalking up
large odds against any horse.
The delegation from Baltimore was small
today, the being only partly filled in
stead of crowded as usual
Haleys Band enlivened things consider
ably, opening the days program with the
Jockey Club March.
The Horses Scratched.
Following were the scratches bulletined
at 230 PM:
In the first Alhambra: In the second.
Petunia: in the Benning handicap, Namtor,
Demurrer. Wealth, April Shower Blue and
Orange, Athlana and Dark Planet; In the
Gxth, Brisk.
Lord Badge Wins First.
1he first race. six furlongs, was won by
Lord Badge (Redfern). to and 2 to s.
Orlof (Creamer) 6 and 2, second: Ahola
(Wilkerson). and even, third Time
1.1S Is
Entries for Tomorrow.
The following are the entries for to-
morrow:
FIRST RACE-Three-year-o and I'D
IuriOnSS.
Zirl ............ 1913 Mrs. Frank Foster. 1o4
Anna day.. Jog Whitten ......... .101
Alan .1OOi
SECOND RACE-Maiden; two-year-olds:
half mile. q.
Woodshade $3.50. 104 Circulator ....... .1O7
Ora Mckinney. 104 Pleasant Mem
Geo, b. Harrison .104 Brightwood ..104
THIRD RAGE-Selling; three years and
up; six and one-half furlongs.
Einus ........... III Lord Advocate. 10Y
Brisk $500. III Locket ......... ZIG
Musical Slipper. 80 Lady Rabbit -. .1O2
Chief Aloha. 81 =
FOURTH RACE-Dd not fill; another
substituted to close at pm.
FIFTH RACE-Selling; three years and
up; six furlongs.
Impertous ....... III Bobbnet .... 90
Mystic Bell...... 81 Musical Slipper. SO
'Ornature ........ So
SIXTH RACE-Three years and I'D: mile
and forty yards.
Mosketo .......... III Benckart ...... ITO
Ben Howard. 100 Bon Mot. 49,. .11G
Atheiroy %
Apprentice allowance.
Gloom at the Track.
The gloom around the Benning track
yesterday was almost thick enough to be
cut with an ak Instead Of thousands of
Spectators crowding around the stables and
lining up along the track there was but a
handful present, and all were of the reg
ular class. Superintendent Strahan and
the officials of the Jockey Club had been
congratulating themselves all last week
that fine weather was at last due for the
Washington spring meeting, but the down.
pour that started early Saturday morning
continued without ceasing, and once more
heavy going will be the order of the day.
"a DAILY and his string Of ponies
reached the track Saturday afternoon and
all the stable attaches turned out to well
Iah y
pleasant reception something on the or
der of a Barnum-Bailey parade was to have
been the order of the day. Mr.. DAILY was
In excellent spirits, the-weather being very
much to his liking. and as his two can
dfdates for the Benning handicap Him.
self and DAILY. are in excellent FORM many
this meeting.
Thomas Hitchcock. jr.. lost by death yes
terday morning Dick Thompson, the most
promising steeplechaser In his string Dick
Thompson died OF exhaustion lust after
reaching the Benning track Sunday morn
Ing. The entire Hitchcock string arrived
from Aiken. s: c.. after a tedious two
days trip. and 1t Is believed by Mr.. Hitch
cocks trainer that the death of Dick
Thompson was directly due to the failure
Of the railroad company which brought the
stable north to fulfil obligations contracted
for when they accepted the consignment
at Aiken A suit by Mr.. Hitchcock to re-
cover damages may therefore be instituted.
There are more than 500 horses at and
around Benning track. Only about 60 per
cent of the equine colony which is to con-
tribute runners from day to day until April
IA are quartered within the track encios-
ure.
Harvest for the Farmers.
The stable room at Washington Jockey
Club was exhausted three weeks back
Owners who have applied for stalls since
then have been compelled to billet their
runners at farms close by the course
The District farmers are reaping a rich
harvest ard have risen one man and
called the Washington Jockey Club blessed
The farmers are by no means anxious to
see the Washington Jockey Club carry out
Its scheme of increasing the Benning stable
capacity 100 per cent. They need not
however, give themselves uneasiness on
that score.
The increase in the popularity of the
Benning meeting is sure to be greater pro-
.portionately than the increase In stable
room within the track. There will there
fore. always be demand for outside ac-
commodation for horses aand men.
Indictment Against DR.. Kennedy Dis
missed.