New-York tribune., 1903-04-16
AHU MADA'S HANDICAP.
CARTER WON IN 4 DRIVE.
Rain Mars the Opening of the Season
at A0ueduct-Th Results.

In drifting veil of rain and mist. through which
the performers doomed grotesquey big and gaunt
the Eastern racing season of 1903 began yesterday
afternoon at Aqueduct A less auspicious day for
the opening Of the Queens County Jockey Clubs
spring meeting it would have been difficult to ar
range. The weather of Tuesday. which destroyed
all hope Of fast track and fair conditions. seemed
in the light of yesterdays performance to be
merely undress rehearsal
When the races were in actual down
pour curtain of fog efectua1Iy lowered itself be-
tween the spectators and the foundering thorough
breds. It has been demonstrated often enough,
however, that neither wind water chill the
ardor of the racing woman. and yesterday
exception. If for other reason the day
was remarkable in showing the hold which thor
oughbred horse racing has obtained upon the public
within the last few years. Before the first race
was called six thousand Of the faithful had passed
through the gates. and it is to be doubted whether
any other outdoor attraction could have drawn an
equal number under equally unfavorabe condi-
tions.
The efforts Of those men who have interested
themselves IN raising turf standards in this coun-
try apparently have not been in vain The sport
yesterday while not Of brilliant character. was
clean and in most instances the best horse at the
weights and under the conditions won. 1t served
to introduce many tnoroughbreds and a num-
her Of Jockeys whose efforts heretofore have been
confined to the South and West. The impression
which ONeil. young California light weight. made
was distinctly favorable. He got Newton Benning-
tons Bath Beach, his mount in the second race
away from the post first and made runaway
affair of it. In the fifth race he Garner his second
victory on Fred Burews fy Agnes Brennan.
The Carter Handicap. which for the last seven
or eight years has been the feature Of the open
ing day at Aqueduct and which has come to be
grouped with other turf classics, was possibly the
most notable instance in which the best horse did
not win With the abominable going and a rather
overcrowded field of thirteen this, however was
to be more or less expected. Nineteen horses
were originally scheduled to start in the Carter
but the withdrawal Of Old England, Slave. Royal
Demurrer, Ethics. Remorse, Captivator, Numeral
and Tioga reduced the number to eleven. Ihe
field was increased to thirteen by the starting at
the last moment of Frank FarreIPs Duelist and
L. V. Bells Paul Clifford. It cannot be said that
the cheers which greeted DR.. kyles Ahumada,
when the G. W. Johnson three-year-old came
through his field with startling speed in the last
furlong and unexpected victory. would
not have been quite vociferous had any OF
the other thirteen contestants done the same.
Although w. L. divers Lord Badge, with only
100 pounds impost and with Redfern up was made
favorite at SO l, all of the other horses were
we'll supported. Himself and Iuyria. the Daily
entries, were held at 5s as were Ahumada and II
E. RowelPs Bon Mot Yellow Tail was at 10 and T.
and against the rest anywhere from 80 to to 10 TO
could be had
After being ten minutes at the post, Mars Cas-
sidy caught them in line, and. raising the barrier
sent them away TO excellent start Dr. Saylor,
with Hack in the saddle. undertook 10 snow MS
field the shortest way home but in a few strides
he renquished this task to Duellist Hoar kept the
Farrell horse in front until the head of the stretch
when the bay gelding stopped, and 1!lyrla ana
Yellow Tail took up the running
Through the stretch it pretty drive be-
tween these two, and one that brought the grand
stand to its feet with appreciatiVe roar Be
hind them came Lord Badge. Ahumada and Duellist
with the rest stretching out. Just as the last
furlong pole passed Ilyra, VINO was
rea he
forria horse with him. The interference was
slight but it sufficient to throw yellow
Tail out of his stride, and probably lost hlIn % Tue
race ] Martin on Ahumada, Who had been peck
eted early in the race, succeeded IN the idSI luI
dred rods in extricatng himself, and, riding W!tn
skill and strength. brought his mount TO the WIRE
a scant half length in front OF YeiloW IAN tHyfi@
was third, length away LORD Badge' the "a
his performance warrant his followers IN making
optimistic plans for the future. Minders ride on
Onrnendation. His mind apparently, was upon
something else and it was the Genera-ly eAPTGsse}q
and with better racing luck the son OF WatefcresS
Newton Bennington's Bath Beach, in defeating I da
Peter Paul. Valour and knobhampton IN the see
ond race and covering the tour ald 5
longs in Sc 3-5 seconds. showed himself 10 oe go&u
colt. The news quietly dissen1lnateG IN Ine pay,
dock that Thomas Monahans CassVlle was 10 pe
the only horse in the opening contest, seInS al
narentiv until the odds against him had been
bounded down from Is TO to to l. CasSvll-e
had little trouble in making good the prophecy
Win the exception Of the second race, when I'M
reriolIs was practically left az the post tfere was
little fault to be found with Mars CassluS start
THE SUMMARIES.
FIRST RAcE-selline: years and over. fnrlongs.
s.. Rs''inS 81
Inc 'oos' ' (4lta6asls, i95assss, l9-1 l9-1 al