Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
LARGE CROWD
SEES GOOD SPORT
At BENN|NG.
Society Turns Out to Witness
the JumperS-Mr. Fremont
Rides With a Broken
Shoulder Bone and Wins.

| There were thrills a-plenty and a great;
| deal of excitement at the Benning track
| yesterday afternoon, when the scond days
| racing OF the annual fall meet of tho
United Hunts Racing Association was held.
| The attendance of both club house and
| gfandstand patrons was large. and the Of
! ficials of the meet were much ENCOURAGED
over the showing. Hundreds of horsemeu,
came up from Virginia, while MARYLAND
| must have contributed a delegation num-.
| bering between a thousand and fifteen hun.
| dred. Diplomatic and society notables oc.
| cupied chairs on the club house veranda.
| standing room being at a premium while
the races were on.
Four favorites and well-played second
! choice won and as a result the bookmakers
were given another hard Jolt, the wise
money bettors returning home in great
glee. Strange to say. the most INTEREST,"
and excitement centered around a steeple-
chase on which not a cent was wagered
| 1t was the third event on the card the
Great United Hunts Steeplechase and the
betting had been going on for five minutes
when 1t was discovered that Bound Brook
an equal favorite with Woolgatherer was
sick, his throat being choked up so badly
that he had to be scratched. The paddock
officials hurried into the ring and notified
the bookmakers. and at the same time de-
clared all bets off. The "bookies' got busy
immediately paying back the money wager
ed and started to make a fresh book when
one of Mr.. Cavanaghs agents ordered ali
betting stopped on the race The crowd !
in the ring was dumfounded for minute
and then took things philasophically con- |
Guiding that their interests were being
looked after by Mr.. Cavanagh.
A notwithstanding Struggle.
The jumpers went to the post on tIme
and were so evenly matched and handi-
capped that one of the most interesting
struggles seen at Benning In years re-
suited. The horses got away to a good
start and Dick Roberts acted as pacemaker,
although not over yard from the other
three thoroughbreds. Every horse took
the jumps in perfect style and Dick Rob-
erts out in front for the first two
rounds. AS the field shot over the rail
fence jump in front of the betting ring
every jockey pushed his mount forward
and as result the four horses took the
big water jump in front of the grandstand
neck and neck. The sight was a grand
one, and the crowd In the grandstand
shouted Itself hoarse at the game struggle
of the leapers. The field kept together I'M
til the Liverpool was passed. and then Nat
Ray sent Woolgatherer to the front. North
Vile and Pure Pepper hung on gamely and
Woogatherer had only lead of length
at the final jump.
At that point Dick Roberts quit and re-
fused the jump, although Mr. O'Brien in
desperation made second try to get hiS
mount over and then finally trotted him
around the obstacle.
Woolgatherer had plenty to spare when
he reached the fiat and continued on home
in the lead, winning from Worthwhile by six
lengths. Nat Ray and Woolgath erer
were given almost ovation when they
passed under the wire, and the applause
was renewed when they returned to the
judges stand to weigh out
Mr.. Fromont's Plucky Ride.
Only two horses went to the post In tho
Grand Military Steeplechase The Virginian
being the favorite over the Humming Bird
at, the respective odds of to and to
8. but one of the nerviest exhibitions in rid
ing developed during the event that has
been recorded in many years The Virginian
was much the best to speed, but Hum
ming Bird was the best jumper, and on the
jump opposite the chute to the last two
obstacles the former went down and threw
his rider. Mr.. Fremont, very hard. Mr..
Fremont quickly his feet, caught
The Virginian and once more set SAIL for
the Humming Bird, who had gained a lead
OF a couple of hundred yards The Vir-
gfnian ran so well that by the time the
two horses passed the grand stand he was
only about fifteen yards in the rear, and
the crowd cheered both rider and horse.
BY the time the pair went into the stretch
leading to the Liverpool jump, The Vir-
gnian was abreast of his opponent ana
then shot to the front. taking the last