Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-23
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
Racing Season Starts at Ben
ming Today.
GOOD CROWD PRESENT
~NE PROGRAM ARRANGED FoE
OPENING DAY.
Chase Case Stirs Up Base Ball World
Golf Tourney at Atlantic City
Bowling Battles.
GOOD CROWD PRESENT

Az an early hour this morning Superin-
tendent Strahan had his assistants on the
run at the Benning track, and almost with
the break of day many colored hags were
thrown to the breeze on the different build
tpps inside the Enclosure. This ceremony
really marked the opening of the eastern
racing season. although Starter Cassidy at
2 o'clock this afternoon sent the ponies
svay on the initial race. The spring OPEN
ing at Benning has always been popular 10
the eastern followers of the turf, as II
marks the emancipation from winter Oh
discomfort and ina ction and the active par
ticipatiou in the noble sport.
Benuing has patronage strictly Its own,
I'm addition to the regulars who begin the
season here. Nowhere may such cosmo-
uoIitan racing crowd be seen as at Bennins,
for racing Is popular with the representa-
tives of foreign countries here Every rae
ing day the attaches of the foreign emoas-
sizes may be seen mingling with the club
house throng. Titled personageS, younger
sons of political leaders the world over VINO
are studying diplomacy in the most demo-
cratic of all nations, together with the lead
ers of all branches of the national govern
mcnt high officials of the army ana navy
and social lights bring a cosmopolitan ar 10
a racing crowd at Benning that Is seen no
where else. 49,,
There are many things that make the
Renning session enjoyable. But best OF all.
II is the opening of new season. anu hcie
~ Is the regulars make the first call upon
dame fortune. Benning, too. is sort OF
harometer for the season When the meet
ing begins with dash and hurrah OF en-
thusiasm it is the signal for the tracks
about New York to prepare for a rush sea-
son. 81,
who are alert and have the interest OF the
public at heart Benning has taken high
place in the makeup OF the eastern tuli.
Since the Washington Jockey CluD TOOK
control of affairs there rev years ago
the plant has been made a frst-class one
in everything that will contribute TO the
success of the horsemen ana the coniorl
of the public. The directors of the ciuD are
the leading men in the business and social
life of Washington and their influence has
been a potent factor in the upbuilding OF
the sport.
Today's Program.
An interesting program OF SIX races mas
been provided for the opening day, with the
Benning Spring Handicap as the feature
Eleven horses are sent out as probable
starters with Roseben Sails and Divination
the most fancied by those who have
watched the morning workouts. The stew
ards have again offered three silver cups:
one each to the owner, trainer and rider OF
the winner of the first race, condition
affair at six furlongs for three-year-oids
and over For this race fourteen entries
have been received, including some fair per-
formers.
This will be the sixth renewal of the Ben
ming Handicap Bony Boy, the old cam
paigner in the string of E. X. Bradley. won
the initial contest in 1900, defeating, among
others the great race mare Imp. w. C.
Enstis. knight of Rhodes was successful
in 1901 and W. C. DAILY captured the re-
newals of 1902 and 1908 with Himself
Shrine. running in the colors of H c.
Schultz. won last year.
Fuller. Redfern, Shaw, Burns. O'Neil Ro-
manelli and most of the prominent riders
of year ago have reported for work and
Were at the track today. 0'Neill will ride
Roseben. Fuller will have the mount on
SAILS and Tommy Burns will ride Buttons In
the handicap.
For the last forty-eight hours turfmen
have been arriving here from every quarter
The Cavanagh special from New York ar
rived last night with small army of book
makers. clerks, runners, trainers, jockeys
and regulars who will be on hand when the
bugle sounds for the first time this after
noon The Metropolitan Turf Association
will be well represented in the betting ring,
as nearly thirty members will take their
places. Clarence Mcdowell will be the
presiding official in the judges stand. with
Joseph A. Murphy. the Handicapped for the
meeting. as his assistant. Mars Cassidy
will do the starting. and will probably be
allowed to employ his ''walk-up" system
instead of the old standing send off.
Betting Commissioners Barred.
For the first time since the reorganized
Washington Jockey Club took hold of Ben
ming there Will be no betting commissioners
allowed in the grand stand. This is an ex-
pertinent which will be tried in response to
numerous protests made by patrons in the
past who alleged that they had been re-
peatedly swindled by the agents who
were allowed to take wagers in the stand.
hOnkmakerS
ring Under the new plan grand stand
patrons will have to make their wagers
with the bookmakers direct or not at all.
II Is the consensus of opinion that the
horses that have come here from the winter
tracks will come pretty near making
clean sweep of the various plums TO be
hung up as the horses from the Long
Island tracks have not had sufficient train
ing to be able to cope successfully with
those that have been racing steadily since
last fall. There are many new faces here,
which Is further proof that the turf war
In the west will send a large number OF
horsemen east this year to avoid complica-
lions.
Chevy Chase Steeplechase.
The weights for the Chevy Chase Steeple-
chase to be run Saturday, were announced
last night. There are eight eligibles, but
probably not all win start, on account of an
insufficient number of eligible gentlemen
riders, and so far only four riders have
been secured. The entries and weights are:
Clarence Moore's Montrip, 16S, and Drago-
man. las
A. B. Langhorne's Sitter. 100
s. p. Knut's Twilight, 15S, and Duke OF
Grassiands, 80.
j. S. Iarcombe's Jacobel $50.
A Snyders Rooster, 14S.
Dion Kerr's Follow On, 147.
Mr. Lee Evans will ride Montrip, Mr..
Dixie has been engaged to pilot Sitter, Mr..
Knut will have the mount on Twilight. and
l,az ItA Ia t~A1 H..
for the others will probably be secured
from among the Maryland steeplechase
division.
The officials for the Benning meeting are:
Stewards. s. S. Rowland, Samuel Ross
and F. L. Huidekoper. Judges. Clarence
Mcdowell and Joseph A. Murphy. Starter,
Mars Cassidy. Handicapped, j. A. Murphy.
Paddock and patrol judge, J. l.. Hall.
Timer. w. III. Barretto. Starting judge, III.
L. Holman. Clerk OF course and scales, III.
G. Crickmore S. f. Walton, assistant sec