Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-30
BUSY DAYS AT BENNING.
Everything at Track in Fine Shape for
Fall Meeting.

The pleasant weather or yesterday SerVeu
to draw a large crowd of the admirers of
the bang tails to the Benning track and the
workouts Of the many ponies now quar-
tered there was watched with interest. A
reporter of The Star took the journey with
a view to inspecting the Enclosure and
found everything in splendid shape for the
coming fall meeting. Superintendent Stra-
ban Is an exceptionally fine "housekeeper >"
and after walking over the premises there
was not found a thing out of place, all the
streets around the stables being in spick
and span order, while the grass on the in
field has been cut and the weeds removed
from the far fields that border the fences.
The different furlong poles have been new
ly painted and, In fact, every piece OF wood
work that Is within reach of tn eye from
the club house and grand stand has been
under the hand of the brush wielders. The
gates could be thrown open today for the
fall meeting and everything found In apple
pie order for the accommodation of the
public.
Secretary Walton was an early arrival at
the track and his mail was very heavy.
Applications for stable room have been
pouring In for the past two weeks and yes
terday was no exception. At the present
time there is accommodation at the track
for $50 horses, but already stable room for
els horses have been asked for and the
meeting is still several weeks Off. Stables
that have generally gone to New Orleans
early In the fall are still up north, and
the chances are that they will come to Ben
ming and perhaps remain there until spring,
the fever having scared them off. There
are hundreds of ponies already over at
Pimlico and they will come to Benning
like swarm OF files on the final day of
the Baltimore meeting.
Secretary Walton Is authority for the
statement that as far as class goes the
coming meeting at Bennfng will overtop all
previous affairs by fully Is per cent, the
cfaIN nS ifpo ND Mr
Knapp doubtless making up the high per-
centage. Neither of the gentlemen have
had horses at Benning before. and they will
bring down several thoroughbreds that viii
require expert work on the part of the
Handicapped to keep from running over toy
Of the other entries.
1t is more than likely that steeplechases
will be such feature of the fall meeting as
to dwarf somewhat the fiat events. At the
present time there are something like a hun
dred timber toppers now CHARTERED at the
track and by the opening Of the meeting It
Is expected that full 800 Of the ''leepers''
will be stabbed by Superintendent Stranahan.
This sport has always been a favorite with
the Washington followers OF the races and
with steeplechase on the program daily
they will have little to complain Of
The stewards OF the coming meeting will
be 8. 8. Rowland, representing the Wash
ington Jockey Club. and H. T. Oxnard and
II. J. Morris. 1t was rumored about the city
that Starter Cassidy would take rest be-
fore going to work at New Orleans and that
Curly Brown would lift the barrier at
Benning this fall Secretary Walton said
that Mr.. Cassidy would assuredly be here
and az he Is a great favorite with the off,
Gals of the Benning meeting. he may be al
lowed to start the horses in his own pecu-
liar way. that is the walk up. Nothing def
mite on this score has been decided as yet.
Considerable adverse comment has been
heard in Washington on account of the raise
Of the admission prices to 81 for men and
81 for women, but the Washington Jockey
Club has taken this step sort Of pro-
lection as 1t has completely cut away from
the bookmakers. In years past each book
maker paid in something like $50 for days
privilege and with forty on the line, this
made up an item Of $1,000 daily or some
thing like SO. 600 on the meeting. All this
has been swept aside as the Jockey Club
does not want to have anything to do with
the gambling side Oh the sport whatever and
depend on the admissions and entrance fees
to make ends meet. The Jockey Club gets
In a small revenue daily as each one of the
bookmakers. with his assistants. will have
to pay 81 and averaging four to a book, or
about 800. Mr.. Cavanaugh will have charge
Of the ring and will assign the 'bookies"
according to lot and from present indica-
tions the shed will be crowded to its limit.
Among Secretary Walton's mail yester-
day was letter from PA" DAILY asking for
stable room for fourteen horses and the ''old
man limited that he had several dark
ones in his string that would reward hts
Washington admirers.