Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-17
OF ALL SORTS.
Starter Cassidy to Have Full
Sway at Benning.
HIS SYSTEM THE BEST
oDDS-oN FAvoRITES DEFEATED
AT NEW ORLEANS TRACK.
Interiors Roll Better Than Navy Yard
Boys+Chess Masters Tourney
Golf at Palm Beach.

Owners and trainers of horses at Ben
ming have received word from New YORK
that the Mars Cassidy system of starting
will be used on all the big eastern tracks
this year. and are taking steps to schooi
their animals accordingly. The appoint
ment of Mr.. CASSIDY as costarter with MI.
Fitzgerald and the announcement that the
officials would alternate at the oiHereht
meetings was taken TO Indicate that the
Cassidy system would be employed on some
of the tracks at least. The stewards, in
considering the matter 1t is said, have de-
termined that only one system should be
used, as it would be manifestly unfair 10
horsemen to keep their charges almost con-
tinuously on the schooling list in order
that they might be ready to start hat
footed under Mr. Fftzgerads direction, or
break from a walk under the barrier work
of Mr. Cassidy. The walking start was IN
trodrced TO the Fasteners last fal oy MT.
cassidy and made a wonderfully favorapie
impression not only upon the puphc, ou w,
upon horsemen and racing ofhcials as wei a
In view of this fact and the manilest du
vantages of the walking start, where every
animal is in motion and there Is iio req
son for any one to be left at the posi-, ths
stewards have given trainers 10 uhoei SI ~ nv
that hereafter the CASSIDY Sys'ehi w." ~
in vogue. ,,, of
1t is very important to the handlers OF
horses to be apprised of this fact carry
In the season. There are many olo horses
that will have to be broken into the new
conditions while the two-year-olds VINO are
to face the webbing for the hrst time VIII
thus be given the advantage of right De-
ginning. 1t is yet more than d month De
fore the bugle calls the horses to the post
at Benning for the Inauguration or the
eastern racing season under the dlrectlon OF
the Jockey Club. There is no excuse,
therefore for trainers not having their
charges ready for the barrier and accus-
toned to its operati The rule in regard
to schooling horses at the barrier before
being allowed to enter race will be rigid
~ enforced. This rule is of special import
ance during the early spring meetings. 1t
not only insures better racing contests but
is a protection to the public the value Of
which cannot be overeStimated Left at
the post is the most miserable cry that
can fall upon the ears of the race enthu-
siasts. Under the Cassidy system the pos
sibility of such condi ion is reduced to the
minimum. Heretofore, under the old pro-
cedure of fiatfooted breaks the starter
has got his field standing in a line and
sprnging the barrier, left the horses to
scramble for themselves. Under the Cassidy
method the horses not only aligned
but are moving forward at a brisk walk
when the webbing is released Only jockeys
or the starter can be blamed for bad work
under such circumstances. for it is reason
able TO suppose the horse will do his best
Farmer Bill'' scully Arrives.
Farmer Bill'' scully, one of the most
widely known and most interesting of the
veteran horsemen hailing from the blue
grass state, has arrived at Benning with
string of youngsters and old campaigners
for the spring meeting. Farmer Bill" Is
known the turf world over and has the
reputation of sending some of the sweetest
horses in training to the post. Last fall his
trlck was CaQueta and all who saw this lit
tie horse race were impressed by the clever
las falt
that the farmer barely missed putting
over one of the best-planned coups of the
eastern turf. This time 1t was White
Ghost that was selected for the '.killipp"
The Ghost. at fancy price. was nipped on
the post by Glennevis. and again, on the
second start. by Flying Jib from the Bel
mont barn. That the farmer has numer-
GUS friends in Washington was evidenced
by the widespread tip" on White Ghost
and many racing residents of the capital
city waxed fat their bank rolls to the tune
ful music of forty. fifteen and six.
Mr.. Scuily brings news of unusual winter
hardships among the trainers who have
quartered their horses in and about New
York He says that since the 1st of last
December the only opportunity for gallop-
ing horses has been when soft snow has
covered the frozen ground. These days
have been few and far between The last
snow storm was a fine one. and made glad
the hearts OF the horsemen. But at night
the snow turned into Sleet and dangerous
crust was formed on top of the first fieecy
crystals. Galloping was then out of the
question. and the horses continued to lazily
MUNICH their oats in the comforts HE stalls
of the stable.
Exodus for Benning.
In view of these conditions 1t is expected
that lively exodus for Benning will soon
begin. Here the training track, and for
good portion of the time the main track
and Columbia course, have been omen for
WORKOUTS. From this time on there Ia
every reason to believe that horses NAV nm
dergo hard training without interruption.
FRANK Weir has arrived at the course
with Frank Farrell's string of highly bred
horses. he viii have thirty racers here in
eiudins the old campaigners. such as The
Iiusheteer, Brigadier. Unmasked, etc. and
many interesting two-year-olds, with breed
ing quailncations which should earn tban,
brackets almost the first time out. John E
MADDEN has engaged stall room for tbirtv
sn horses. The Goughacres lot. always
stalls reserved 'a' 'niitS