The Washington times., 1903-03-29
Washington and Baltimore
Sociefp Folk JoH1nep 10
Witness hPe CReUY Chase
SfeepLechdSe.
The Race FraugRf WHk
Many LudIc5OUS Features.
Racing Oiher10iSe Ercep-
HonalIy Fine.

within it's hOspitable gates as that
which crowded every inch of seating and
apparently standing space yesterday af-
ternoon.
And what a crowd it was, II was not the
happy -go-lucky holiday throng in search
OF an afternoon in the fresh. pure air.
Far from it. In its stead the smart folk
OF Washington and Baltimore were there
by the thousands. all chattering like
magpies, the women gowned in their
most fetching frOcks and the men got
ten up regardless, in the hOrsiest and
swaggerest garments that could be con-
ceived by their American and -'Lun-
non" taiIors.
IL was a typical racing crowd, and the
horsiest talk imaginable was freely in
dulged in between races. or course. no
one talked while the events were
run of. Excitement ran too high for
that. and the women could do naught but
shrek at the top of their lungs. while
the men cheered oor groaned as the oc-
casion demanded.
The club house. within and without
was thronged all afternoon by the fami-
lies and guests of the members OF the
Jockey club. The more prudent remained
inside, and over their teacups expressed
languid interest IN the sport which
was seemingly OF secondary considera-
tiOn. The Verandas above and below
were crowded while the pretty little
lawn sloping down TO the paddock was
literally packed with a hundred or more
beautifully gowned women and their
escorts Everybody knew eevrybody else
formality was dispensed with for the
nonce. and il was Gust a jolly romp
don't you know"
AS TO be expected. the magnet which
attracted all the social butterflies to
Benning yesterday was the much her
aided Chevy Chase Hunt Handicap
steeplechase. the third event on the
card. Prominently displayed within
the Enclosure surrounding the judges
stand were the trophies bestowed
upon the winners. To the success
ful owner was given superb silver
punch bowl al least two and one-haIf
feet in diameter. gold lined. and typi-
cal racing scene beautifully etched. with
the name OF the owner and horse en-
ggaved- thereon. To the owners OF the
second and third horses a cup OF much
smaller dimensions was presented, which
were also engraved. + handsome Malac-
ca hunting crop. with buckhorn handle.
and a pair OF silver spurs were present
ed to the winning Jockey
The Race BurleSque
From a social point Of view the race
was a huge success, since the custom
airy number OF troopers were taken and
the customary number OF starters failed
to finish and the usual ludicrous incl
dents cropped up. which tended TO put
everybody In gale OF spirits when il
found that no rider who fell was in
Jured beyond severe Jar 20 his personal
vanity. From a racing point OF view
however the event was burlesque pure
and simple aud scresmingly ludicrous.
and il is dollars 10 buttons that Wallets
were much more in demand by muddy
riders after the race than groorns for
the steaming jumpers.
With all due seriousness. however.
and aside from the many farcieaI in
cidents which cropped up during the
course OF the race. 10 both Mr. Kerr
and Mr. Larcombe, who finished one
two. on Joe Letter and Jacobel re-
spectiveIy. much credit is due. Each
rode a good race. fenced well. kept his
horse straight and true and when they
finished in a drive. the stand. club
the pIaudits OF the multitude Mr.
Evans finished third. on Mr.. Knox s
Royal Stag, and Dorsey Rodgers, one OF
Baltimore best cross-country riders.
pulled Mr.. wetmore's Little Duchess
up a bad fourth.
or course. the race was run ali over
again within the sacred confines OF the
club house. ard as the unfortunate ones
came hobbIing in. muddy. footsore. and
weary, after their long tramp across the
field. each had a plausible excuse to
offer the fair ones grouped about. eager
TO know Just how II happened.
Mr.. Knutt. riding Twilight, was the
star actor of this event. He made
good start. but before he could get
fairly going. his horse bolted ran
where and when he pleased. hoped over
the fence from the inheld, into the
track, back into the 6eld again. and
landed his rider in the middle OF the
water jump RemountIng. Mr. Knutt
started again, came another cropper, re-
mounted. and when again Strengthened
out, his horse preferring the going OF
the track TO the inheld. circled IL sew
eraI times with his rider tugging man
fully. but fruitIeSsIy at his bit. He
caught up 20 the four survivors as they
turned into the track. and finished
with them full OF running. In all. II
Is estimated Twilight covered about
fourteen miles. which was strongly
suggestive OF Mr.. sponge's hunting
tour"
Jeryis Spencer. Of the Green Spring |
Valley Hunt club. Baltimqre. riding A. !
A. Snyder's Rooster. took tumble !
early in the raSl but was fortunately /
unEurt. Fred r. Euidekoper also came /
20 grass. as q r. Walters on j. H. 4
Brsdley's DragO I
Aside from Ihs steeplechase. which, /