Evening star., 1903-11-16
BENN|n|G RACES Open
Great Crowd at the Track
for the Fall Meeting.
COLUMBIA HANDICAP
HIGH PRAISE. FOR CONDITION OF
BEAUTIFUL NEW COURSE.
Bed Of Sand Replaces Hard Bottom OF
Last Year-Throngs From Phi1a-
delphia and Baltimore.

Inc annual Idl meeting u tiio " o''ii'o
ton Jockey Club at Benning was inausurat-
ed today under the most favorable conoi-
tions. The weather in the early afternoon
was almost ideal. cool breeze from the
southwest making wraps a necessity and
causing some little discomfort In the Dig
open stand. but the track was in splendid
shape and the events carded for the day
were filled up with high-class horses.
When the street cars began running
through to the track at noon all Wers
crowded, and as the gates were thrown
open continuous throng passed by the
turnstiles. This continued until after tna
first race had started and the capac1ous
stand was almost crowded The meeting
started off most imposngly, and the annex
to the metropolitan sport gives promise OF
being well patronized The features today
were the Columbian handicap and the
Bladensburg steeplechase, both of which
were plentifully supplied with entries
Splendid View offered.
AS different patrons rushed by the ticket
takers their first move was to get glimpse
of the new track, and after careful IN
spection the most fullsome praise was
forthcoming. All the little handicaps of
the past seasons that prevented the spec
tators getting a full enjoyment of the
races have been wiped away and today
the Benning course stands without a peer.
Every part of the track from start to fin
fsh can now be seen from the grandstand,
while heretofore the starts in the chutes
were only for those who carried long
range glasses, and then the sight was un-
satisfactory on account of the low build
1ngs and high ground in line with the bar
rier
The biggest innovation noticeable. out
side of the building of the new track, is
n
1t was thought hard track would be the
proper thing for Benning, but after ex-
periencing the continued rains of last fall
and this spring Superintendent Strahan'
went back to the old composition of sand,
and 1t is expected the ponies will find the
going much easier in rough weather.
Thousands of Visitors.
The influx of strangers from Philadelphia
and Baltimore was unusually large today.
the two specials over the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore and Ohio being crowded in every
part. The spacious betting ring was filed,
but the forty-five bookmakers were able to
handle all the money offered.
Scratches Posted.
Following are the scratches bulletined at
l. 80 pm: #
In the first race, Midnight Chimes. Enue,
Musicienne and Hot. In the second Lord
of the Valley, Fort Hunter. Arthur. Fine
ART ana LIBERIA. In tn6 tnlrQ NC w liudiuS,
Bay Secret and Perion. In the fourth.
Runnels. Merokanta and Hymettus. In the
fifth, BerOsa.
Fustian Wins First.
First race; six and a half furlongs; old
course-Fustian (Adams), and 2, first:
King Pepper Fuller), and g to 5. second:
Red Damsel QIicks), Is and 5. third. Time,
Red Damsel led until the stretch. when
Fustian came through and : on by nose
from King Pepper. Fuller on the latter,
made fine finish.
Second Race.
Second race-Five furlongs. Alforten Oh.
Michaels), 5 and 2. first; Lady Mirthful
(Wonderiy), Is and g. second; Redman
(Creamer), and 2. third. Time, 1.O3 3-5.
Hylas got away first, but Alforten shot to
the front as they hit the stretch and lasted
long enough to win by two lengths. Lady
Mirthful got the place by head.
Tomorrow's Entries.
First race, selling, three-ye -year-oids, seven
furlongs columbia course)-Princess Tu-
Iane 1O3; Wager, 9S Orloff 90; Minotaur,
106; Lord Advocate 1O9; Fortunatus, 81;
.Cottage Maid, 100: "Gloriosa, 96; sWidow's
Mite, 90.
Second race, two-year-old FLIES, six fur
longs, old course-Coppelia. 104; Ancestor.
Iepee, lOJ, M 1neO, queen Belle,
1O4; Burdette. 100; Hydrangea, 100.
Third race. selling, three-year-olds and
upward. mile and forty yards. old course
Satire. 1Os: Mollie Peyton. so; Flaras. 1O5;
McWillams, 10S; Trepan, 100; sHoodwink.
o. wild Pirate. 1O3; 'Stonewall. 1O4; 'Hot.
81.
Fourth race. selling, two-year-olds. six
furlongs (old course-Susie Christian, 90;
Miss Shylock. 80; Pistol 100; Revelle, 112;
Julia M, 109; Sweet Tone. 1O1; Mohican,
1906; Pomoano. 113: 'Seagate, "a; Golden
Drop, 1O9; *Toi San. 1O4.
Fifth race, maidens, three years old and
up mile and sixty yards (old course)-Erda,
107; Albany Girl 107 Lady Knighthood,
107; Burning Glass. 107; Heir Apparent
1O7; Singing Girl. lo7; Orly second, 107: Rus
sell Garth. 10; Cloverland, no; East Kel-
ston. 1O7: Silver Foam 1O7; Meteorite, 107;
Lady Wellback. 107.
Sixth race. selling. mares. three years old
and up mile Columbia course)-Ga-
viota. 100; Flara. 1O3; Ascention 113; Past.
9Sa; Hoodwink, 9S.
Apprentice allowances.