Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-26
RACES AT JAMAICA.
Rostand Won Excelsior Handicap in
New Track Record Time

Twenty thousand persons saw Rostand,
the four-year-old son of Russell-Galena II,
10 to L. win the rich Excelsior handicap,
one mile and a sixteenth. at Jamaica yes
terday. 1t was the first day Of the Metro
politan Jockey Clubs spring meeting. and
ideal weather prevailed. Oarsman closed
favorite at threes. with E. r. Thomas But
tons second in favor at fives, while Charles
Etwood, Red Knight, Rosetint and Lord
Badge were all figured to have a chance.
At the start all got away to fair break
Burns made the pace with Rosetint follow
ed by Red Knight and Major Daingerfleld,
the topweight. At the far turn Fuller made
his run with Oarsman. who quickly chal-
lenged Red knight and Rosetint.
The latter began to show signs Of leg
WEAKNESS and 1t looked for a moment like
Oarsman. Then Odom went to work with
Red Knight, while II. Phillips and Hide
brand began to close rapidly with Rostand
and Lord Badge. respectively. Rostand had
the middle Of the track and stood drive to
the end, where he won by a length in
1.45 s-5. new record for the track: the best
Blackstock, last years winner Of this race,
and Yellow Tail. It was a close call for
the place, Red Knight getting 1t by head
from Lord Badge. who finished a bare half
Ter 9Th in front Of Oarsman The Excelsior
was worth about 5000 to the winner.
Outside of the big race the feature was
the first event, a handicap for three-year-
olds and upward at six furlongs, In which
w. M. Scheftels Highball, last seasons
champion two-year-old colt, made his first
appearance of the year. Handicapped Vos-
burgh asked the Ben Strome colt to pick up
113 pounds and give all the way from nine
to forty-three pounds to the others. With
Fuller up and reports from the track
watchers that Highball was ready, the pub
lie made Highball favorite, although his
price went back from 8 to 5 to IL to at
the close, Silver Dream being hammered
down to to from ffves That Highball was
not quite up to his best racing fettle was
the horses had reached the middle Of the
far turn. NJ. L. Hayman's Orthodox. 15 to
/. shot to the front soon after the break.
followed by Highball Damon and Race
King. E. Walsh kept a tight hold on Ortiz
odox until he was Strengthened out for
home, when Highball began to tire at the
fast pace and Damon came with deter
mined rush that forced Walsh to drive.
length Damon being the same distance be-
fore Highball, who beat Tim Payne a
length. The time. ~ 2-5, clipped fifth
of a second from the track record made by
Sweet Alice last November.
The third event, for two-year-olds at four
and half furlongs. was interesting be-
cause Of the question Of superiority between
Newton Bennington's Biandy. by Hastings
by st. Gatien-Bellane. The latter ruled
favorite at even money. while Blandy went
back to 8 to 5. Melrose. 40 to l shot,
made the pace to the stretch. where O'Neill,
who had been following closely with
Blandy, quickly asserted himself and took
the lead. Then Redfern. who had gotten
away slowly with st. Bellane, rushed up
but it was too late, as Blandy had plenty
to spare and passed the judges two lengths
to the good. st. Bellane was second, four
lengths in front of Melrose, with Workman
half a length back, gaining with every
stride. The time was O:54.
In field Of eighteen. Julia NJ, the to L
second choice, won the last event. at six
furlongs, by length from E. r. Thomas
Dimple, II to favorite. who was three
parts of a length before Gold Dome, Is to 1.
Five favorites lost.