The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-23
FORM PLAYERS WILL
Be ALMOST HELPLESS
Seasoned but Overworked Horses
From New Orleans Will Meet
Fresh Racers at Bennings.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington. March 22-Everything indi-
Gates that the Bennings race meeting, which
begins tomorrow, will be by far the most
successful ever held here Never before at
this time of year have there been gathered
within the neighborhood so many racers.
The stables are all taken and everything
that promises shelter to either man or
beast has been made use of. Old race-
soers expect TO see extraordinarily large
fields of starters unless bad weather sbould
intervene.
With horses here from New York. Aiken.
Garnett, Lakewood. ;. California, Virginia.
Maryland and New Orleans, there will be
a variety Of interests in nearly every con-
test. This will make 1t extremely difficult
Tor SPECTATORS. on account Of the different
stages OF condition in which the various
candidates will be when they go to the. post
some OF the experts here think that the
New Orleans contingent have done 50 much
racing that they are worn out. and that
AFTER the first time or two out, the fresh
horses will easily defeat them.
Much interest Is felt in the prpspects n,
the Juveniles. Last season August Belmont a
Z-year-0lds were the sensation of the season
mere. From all accounts, there will be a
renewal or this when the sons and dauRh-
tiers OF Hastings and Henry of Navarro OBJ
pose the more seasoned youngsters from the
Crescent City. In Petunia one of the hest
or the New Orleans youngsters. they will
meet well-tried youngster. with the great
advantage In her favor OF having raced re-
peatedly. Still. there are those who already
think that in Mr.. Belmonts Oriza they have
found Petunia's superior. The Goughacres
2-year-olds will, as usual. be very danger
Gus.
sTEEPLECHAs1NG THE FEATURE
If rain had not fallen SO heavily here yes
teruay there would have been a record
broken in the Bennings Handicap But. with
the going changed by the storm. the field
VIII de reduced. There may be a compare
lively good track by 8 o'clock Tomorrow
afternoon. At any rate, everybody in Wash
ington hopes for this to be the case. for
all recognize the great Improvement
wrought in racing here by the present man
agement.
Socially and from a racing standpoint.
racing at Washington Is now on as firm q
foundation as in New York, and due to the
Same causes-neyer-c efforts on fhe
part OF Messrs Belmont and Rowland and
their associates here and in New York To
uplift it.
improvements over last year vii, ha
noted by visitors upon arrival at the co,,rse
Inc clubhouse Will be, as usual the rendez
vous Of all the world Of fashion who take
s.
One of the great features Of racing here
Is the cross-country branch of the game.
Inc Jumps at the course have been made
hgher and sitter and winner here will
earn the money. The hunting element with
IN a radius Of a hundred miles of the can
ital always evince the keenest interest In
the steeplechases and, on the DAYS that
weil-known amateurs are announced to
ride, the boxes of the grandstand are al
ways filed.
CONTEST FOR REDFERN
There is apt to be a dispute about th.
services OF Redfern. Some time ago he
agreed to ride Circus, but later II was an
nounced that he would have the mount IN
Demurrer. The mounts Of Redeem viii he
SELECTED by w. P. Burch while here
Tommy" Burns will do much Of the rid
Ing for Mr.. Belmont, as the regular Jockey
Of the stable Minder. is detained in Car,
fornia, pending the decision Of his appeal
to the stewards of the California Jockey
Club regarding his suspension some weeks
ago. 1t Is understood here that the Calf
f9rnia officials were not in unison regarding
NM ~