New-York tribune., 1906-04-18
BEN CROCKETT'S CHASE
CROUD CHEERS TICTORY
The First Cross-C Country Race at
foneduct a Good One.

II must have been the newness of the racing
year or the bright. summerlike weather, which
led some six thousand racegoers to Aqueduct
yesterday. 1t certainly not the card a
poorer viii hardly be offered through the
Iong racing season which is in it's infancy.
The sport was better than it gave promise of
being. however. and in the steeplechase alone
there was quite enough 10 more than repay
those who made the journey TO the track.
IL the first cross country race Of the sea
son in the metropolitan district. and the first
ever decided at Aqueduct. and it was received
with quite as much enthusiasm many rich
and historic features That the jumping game
Is popular and that Ben Crockett is a favorte
there could be no doubt. The course. which
was built some two years ago under the direc-
ton OF men best qualified advise, quite
up 70 the standard. and was in fine condition.
oniy five horses went 10 the post, and Kassil
fell early sn the race. but for ali that better
contest viii hardly be even wheE the year
IS well advanced.
Ren Crockett won. and the crowd greeted his
success in a way to attest the popularity of
cne big OF Ben Holiday. Racing folk
nnembered his game race in the Grand National
Steepechase az Belmont Park last fall when
he second TO Hylas and his clever victories
later on OF Bennngs. when he returned 10 the
fat and won the Maximum Handicap and the
Bennings Cup. the two long distance fixtures of
the fail meeting.
The playsrs were divided between Ben Crock
EFT. PhS4s-sn and KassIi the two first named
going TO the post equal faYorites at @ to 3 while
Kassil IVES heavily backed frora to / to 2 to l
Ben Crockett seeme6 TO outclGss HIS fiele but
there was apparently some doubt as 10 his fit
ness. although his looks belied it. Gallagher
had the noun. and he either tried to hide the
horses true form. or else he had troubIe in con-
trolling 10 hie bprS d
all over the field and ran rank He took his
fences however, with the easy grace of fin
ished jumper, and at the end won rather cleverlv
from Phantom, on which Ray had ridden his
usual well judged race
Kassil made the early running, but took off
too short at the fifth jump and rolled Rodrock
on the turf. The horse was quickly on his feet
and raced with his field riderless, while Rod
rock walked dejectedly back to the stand none
the worse for his acrobatic stunt Those who
had backed the horse confidently groaned in
wardly, bat tried to get what comfort thew
could in watching the pretty struggle that en-
sued between the other four. Three of them
took the water jump directly in front of the
stand mead and head. and at OF the jumps
on the hackstretch all four were so closely to-
gether that hardly a length separated them
Ben Crockett. after taking the lead easily on
the paddock turn. appeared TO be beaten on the
oachsfetch, Nhen the others moved up to him.
He came away again, however. on the far turn
ana went safely over the last Jump. While Gal
lagher seemed 10 be shaking him up il was more
Tor the sake of safety than necessity. Phantom
tehced Wen and ran good race, while Saltine
after some hesitancy at the first hedge per
formed Wen enough 10 insure his having a fol-
lowing on his next appearance
The Union Stakes, the selling affair for three
year-olds AT one mile the carded feature
but II furnished little in the way Of contest
as wes the odds-on favorite, fairly snrnsd
eagled his field, while Monterey the strong
second choice which expected to furnish the
Soihpeuuoil ran such duh. spiritless race that
ne was never within ten lengths Of the winner
J. r Donohue beat him soundly for the place
newton Bennington uncovered another good
g"uIsster, or, at least one which won ike a
sood one. In Dollie Dollars. a well turned nlly
ny foddlngton. She was held al o6ds-on in ~.
She made all the running and ,ror b.,,5ii-
enough, although inside the last furlong mole
tNStll vas calling on her for hel best Toddles
! a1oiher oddington which ran i'm The name ana
N coiors OF e. X. Thomas. also nadA A good inn