Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-12
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
Interesting Card at Benning
Track Today.
BEST HORSES TO RUN
SENATORS CAPTURED THEIR
FIRST GAME WITH GEORGETOWN.
Title Insurance Bowlers Closed Season
-"Shad" Link Threw Boxwell
Base Ball Notes.
BEST HORSES TO RUN

A card rcplete with interesting features
brought to Beuning today another great
crowd of racing enthusiasts. There will
be but two days more of racing after to-
day. but the end of the season seems to
find the lovers of the sport more eager
and interested than ever. This fact was
vividly apparent today, for the grandstand
was filed with an enthusiastic thropg,
which braved the erratic weather of an April
day, while club house. paddock and lawn
had the usual holiday appearance. The
program of the afternoon presented the
most variegated array of features yet
shown at the meeting. Beginning with
five-furlong scramble for maidens over the
Columbia course. the racing included a we'll
filled twO-year-old purse, siX-furlong
event for sprinters a steeplechase, the AM
ateur Cup, and journey over route. The
steeplechaSe furnished the best sport of the
meeting through the field. There was more
class among the horses engaged than at any
other time this spring. All are tried and
true jumpers and the contest was a close
one. The annual running of the Amateur
Cup. where the gentlemen, riders cross
whips I'm siX-furlong bout over the Col
umbia course. was the fifth event of the
program and ELECTED great excitement, es-
pecially from the club house contingent.
Good Word for Starter Cassidy.
Friends of Mars Cassidy, who has WELD
ed the starting flag at Benning for so
many years. feel that the criticism which
has sprung up in some quarters during
the past two weeks is almost wholly I'M
called for Mr.. Cassidy is local man.
having lived in Washington practically his
entire life, and the attempt to discredit
his work at this time when he is about to
make his debut on the big metropolitan
tracks is resented by those familiar with
his record at the starting gate. The new
system of starting which has been ap-
proved by the Jockey Club stewards is no
doubt responsible for some of the care
less criticism But it is believed that when
once the jockeys, horses and trainers are
familiar with the new style, better starts
than ever known before will result. and
the sight of a horse left flat-footed at the
post will be thing of the past No horse
has been so left during the current meeting
and during the sixteen days of racing there
have been ninety-seven opportunities for
such a thing to happen.
The first meeting of the spring is a time
to try the nerves of a starter Horses
come to the post every day with absolutely
no barrier experience, while others are
racing the flag for the first time in many
months. IT Is but natural for these horses
10 act green and sometimes cratic If,
therefore, the horse which has been run
ing all winter is quickest to break should
the starter be blamed for what appears
to have been an advantage given to a GER
tain animal? Throughout the entire sea-
son there will always be found some
horses capable of breaking faster than
others. When the barrier is sprung MI
the field may be in perfect alignment, but
some alert jockey with fast breaker I'M
der him, will shoot out of the bunch like
a flash. Then comes the thoughtless criti-
cism of some who may have wagered on
the result that the race has been given to
the horse showing the earliest speed
owners and trainers ask but one thing of
a starter and that is that their horses may
ha Urit etc
have been but one or two instances where
horse has broken flat-footed at the Ben
ming meeting this spring Consequently
one cannot find an owner or trainer at Ben
ming who viii say other than that the start
ing of Mars Cassidy has been the best pos
sible under the circumstances With every
horse in motion at the start. every horse
has a chance for the race. according to his
individual merit. 1t is only when a horse is
left standing still that the best animal has
not a chance to win
Much of the criticism which has been
heard Is with regard to the long distance
back or the gate that the horses have been
brought into alignment. Mr.. Cassidy very
sensibly believes that the longer the dis
lance the horses are compelled to walk in
alignment. the better the training for the
animals and the riders. There is no reason
why racing horses. who as a rule are the
most sensible animals in the equine world
should not be trained to an alignment equal
70 that maintained by cavalry troop. The
long walk to the barrier also Is a lesson to
the boys I'm the saddle that they must obey
the mandate of the stewards to walk their
horses to start and not attempt to get an
unfair advantage over their associates.
The story most bitterly resented by Mr.
Cassdy's friends is that which says ne
will not be allowed to start the horses at
AQueduct. This story is said to be entirely
without foundation. When the Jockey Club
decided upon dual starting system 1t was
agreed that Mr.. Fitzgerald and Mr. Cassidy
should alternate at the meetings. Mr. Fitz-
gerald has been in Washington during the
entire meeting. 1t would be unfair to him
10 keep him on the ground as second fid-
die" throughout the Benning session and
then to follow 1t up with the same treat
ment during the Aqueduct inaugural. Con-
sequently Mr.. Fitzgerald will WELD the flag
at Aqueduct AS he will be confronted by
much the same conditions as have handi-
capped Mr.. Cassidy in this city, 1t is safe
to predict his pathway will not be carpeted
with roses. ''Fitz' is very popular around
the metropolis. however. while Mr. Cassidy
Will be a newcomer. Both men will look
well to their laurels and use their best en-
deavors to satisfy both horsemen and pub
lie.
Steeplechase the Feature.
Yesterdays races were of the entertain
ing Sort although the muddy track made
IT hard on the runners The steeplechase
turned oct to be the feature of the after
noon. although but three horses started,
Tireless at ~ to 1. This betting proposition
looked good to the army of small betters at
the track, and everybody. especially the wo-
men. who appeared to have backed the Bal
timore horse. Red Hook took tumble on
his second try for the Liverpool and Chiv-
ington and Tireless continued on, both TAX
Ing the last two jumps in clever style. Once
on the fiat IL was thought the favorite
would have ala easy thing of it. but Mr..
Taylor handled Treless perfectly and In
the run home really outrode the profess
s!onal When II was seen that Tireless was
going to win great shout went up, and
the cheering and shrieking continued for
several minutes. The ring was scorched
especially the less prominent bookmakers
who make a speciality of dollar bets. many
thousands being won in the aggregate.
The first race went to Briarthorpe by two
lengths, Paul Clifford and Mrs. Frank
Foster were simply weighted out of 1t. the
many pounds they had to carry being too
much OF a handicap on the soft track
Pasadena was an oods-on favorite In the
second. but Lily Brook took his measure in
the last fifty yards and won out by neck
the finish being the best of the afternoon
sport In the third, Graziello won about az
he liked. although Gold Dome gave him a
little trouble coming down the stretch An
other favorite. John +. Ahern, won the
Afth in easy manner, Cay being about the
only contender. Ninespot showed his game
H. l. Il