Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-26
LARGE SUNDAY CROWD
AT BENNING TRACK

III spite OF bleak skies and raw atmos-
phere fully a thousand people visited the
Bennfng race course yesterday and wit
messed considerable work by the horses.
Many owners and trainers do not work
their horses at all on Sundays. giving
jockeys and stable hands a partial holiday.
AS the day wore on it frightened up con-
siderabiy and the sun made several at
tempts to come out giving promise of more
seasonable weather In the near future
Superintendent Tom Strahan. whose I'M
firing energy the last week has been severe
ly taxed, was invalided yesterday at the
command of his physician who pronounced
his bad bronchial attack serious enough to
demand keeping to his room for a few
Park, l.. l., who is here, promptly assumed
Strahan's duties, with Assistant Superin-
tendent Betz. until the latter Is able to be
out again.
Strange to say the snow of Saturday
night helped to keep the frost out of the
track. and yesterday it was faster than on
Saturday. Pater. the Garth colt, moved
three furiongs In 361a In his usual dashing
style under wraps. To stranger the colts
move would have been most impressive but
those who saw Pater bluff this same way
last fall. and then fail to last out his races.
only said: "Will he go farther this spring."
Perhaps, but we want to be shown.
Young Willie Mara. son of James Mara,
got quite fall while working one of the
colt performers on the fiat yesterday but
the lad fortunately was not hurt.
Little Mcdaniel. who has been at Los
Angeles all winter at the track yes
terday with his father. The boy only
weighs eighty-seven pounds. and Is Of
build that looks as If he will not grow
heavy in the near future. This quality
forms part of his stock in trade.
Track officials Arrive.
All of the officials are on hand. Presi-
ont nd pOt In 90
Starter Mars Cassidy was at the track yes
terday, and Judges Mcdowell and Murphy
got in this morning. William Kane the
newly appointed information clerk. got
in yesterday morning. Back in the old days
Kane was a lightweight jockey OF ability
and rode for well-known turfmen. Later
he went to South America, but for the las
decade has been connected with the West
ern Union Telegraph Company. That he
VIII prove himself TO be the right man in
the right place goes without saying.
More interest will be taken at this meet
ing In cross-country races and others In
which gentlemen riders will take part than
In any meeting for years. The Amateur
cup for gentlemen riders from various clubs
or for officers of the army and navy AID
marine corps Ia attracting great attention,
and indications are that the minimum limit
or seven entries Will be doubled and per-
haps trebed
We have many competent gentlemen
riders in the District and within a radius
OF fifty miles or so. Congressman Perry
Belmont In his younger days was a gentle
man rider of ability when he competed
with Belmont Purdy. Robert Center, J. G..
Is. Lawrence, Arthur Hunter and others in
the seventies.
His victory at old Jerome Park in the
Members cup. when he rode the big horse
Spendthr1ft to victory at ITO pounds, was
turf romance all by itself For his father,
August Belmont, borrowed the horse from
the veteran owner Joseph Donohue, and
after his sons victory almost disloca ted
Donohue's arm In personal congratulations.
Ihen he sold Don0hue good race horse
for next TO nothing. Those were the days
or sentiment in racing
New Racing Firm.
Among visitors at the track yesterday
were Fred Presgrave. manager OF the
Goughacres Stable. and A. F. Bucks of
Wicomico county, Md. with whom he has
recently formed partnership In four
horses bred at the Clyde's Bryn Mawr stud
The horses are the four-year-old Thomond
by Atheling. and the two-year-olds Dulcie
Laurelwood and Wicomieo.
The last named, daughter of The Bard
and the Clyde fiily Moreo, by Atheling, will
carry the colors of Dr. James Kerr OF this
city IN the Oxnard stake, the doctor having
leased her for that race. Mr.. Buck, who
is making this first venture as a racing
owner Is also gentleman rider of merit.
Amateur cup to be run during the Ben
ming meeting.
Jockey Burns arranged yesterday to ride
William Garth's Bobby Kean in the Ben
ming handicap. This will give Garth a
strong hand with his two candidates as far
as iockeyship is concerned. With Miller
on Pater and Burns on Bobby kean the
Garth entries Will be well served. Miller