The Washington herald., 1906-11-17

Benning's opening day of the fall rae
/ ing season was one of triumph for IA
vorites. the English betting system, and
Jockey Walter Miller. Four of the win
ners were the first selections of the pub
lie. betting was conducted under re-
stricted though most incOnvenient form,
and the champion jockey OF the year rode
three horses to victory, and finished third
on his other mount.
Uncertainty as 70 the probable outcome
of betting on the races. since the courts
knocked out TIE former system, kept
many regulars" away. The man who
figures 10 win the price of admission was
wary about giving up s. without knowing
whether he would be permitted TO make
a wager.
Several bookmakers laid prices, but
there was a smaller number than usual,
and the discomforts Of conducting the
game we're so many that few will care
to carry their states through the whole
meeting Instead Of the bookmakers be
ing arranged around the big pavilion IN
rows, and their states numbered, they
circulated in al parts Of the establish
ment.
No attempt Nas made 10 interfere with
the betting rs il was believed that there
was no violation Of the Law. It is claimed
the system will work itself out fairly
satisfactorily. and beyond the inconven-
ience OF locating the books on which
wagers were made, the public will accli-
mate itself to the new conditions.
James McLaughlin's big gray colt OK
! ford was an easy winner OF the Colum-
bia Handicap. az seven fuTlongs. race
that was considered 10 be very open
event. After shutting Melbourne out in
the scramble for position. oxford ran al
most as he pleased. Dolly SpankeT. Cres-
sina, and Sailor Boy were scratched.
/ Dolly Spanker did not arrive in tine TO
get any preparation for the race. al
/ though the track vas TO her liking. Rain
spoiled any chance that Cressina might
have had. and Mr.. Joyuer kept his can
didate i'm the stable.
Oxford Much the Best.
Walter Miller rushed oxford out in
/ front although he shut off Melbourne
{ sharply. After a furlong was run it was
/ evident that nothing could beat Oxford.
and Miller had nothing to do but pick
/ out the best Of the going. He chose the
middle Of the track coming down the
stretch. while Melbourne and Pater were
being hard driven for the place. era
/ ziallo, who usually races well in the Ben
ming mud. seemed TO be far under his
form, although he hung on 10 Melbourne
for time and dropped back in the
heavy going in the stretch.
The previous five winners Of the Colum-
bia were The Amazon. Harry New. High
Chancellor, Race Eiag, and Bohemia.
/ Miller celebrated his return TO Bcruing
/ by not only winning this race. but also
1 the first and last ones. thus bringing his
years winning mounts up To 223. a record
/ never before achieved by an American
rider. He was cheered when he won on
/ Niblick
/ The steeplechase for maiden three-year-
olds was a disappointment. inasmuch as
/ il was practically Il One-hOrse affair.
| There We're only four entrants and ali
started, but Billy Garth's Souvigny so
I far outclassed the others that one turn
/ Of the field showed the Virginia horse far
/ in the lead Souvigny not only had ex-
Cellent foot. but jumped beautifully
l Judge Parker fell al the uext fence after
I the Liverpool. and The Colonel and
/ AcOlyte gave poor exhibition Of the
/ crOss-Country game, neither fencing well.
Last Race Was n GOOD One.
/ There was but one close contest on the
/ card, and that was furnished in the run
ming Of the last event, mile run over
/ the Columbia course. Woolwich. Ivanhoe.
and Weirdsome figured so nearly equal
/ that the first two closed to favorites.
! and WeirdsOme held at to l. Ivauhoe
was a strong tip. Ivanhoe and Grand
! Duchess made the early running, but
when the party was at the head Of the
back stretch, Miller cOllared the leaders
and led the field the rest Of the way
/ home.
/ Frank McCabes Niblick was much the
/ best IN the opening race at six and a
4 half furlOngs Several platers that have
/ raced at former BenniuE meetings ac-
/ cepted the issue, and Niblick was made
/ the favorite. Niolick Iada. and TosclU
! raced two lengths apart for half the dis
! tance. when Niblick showed superior
! class and Miller let him galloo home.
/ Seventeen maiden two-year-oIds made
/ UP the field in the third race. which was
| a scramble 1T five furlOngs. Regal Lad
! won through Notter's success in gettins
away in front and averting the CrOwdins
on the bend where June Time and Mil.
stone were bumped out Of il. WheT
/ Strengthened out. however, both these
/ youngsters made I'D a lot Of ground
/ Another twO-year-old race was the fifth
for non-winners Of Two races. Adelinette
was pronounced favOrite at TO TO- and
the prices around the others ranged from
TO l 10 leo to I. Brittanby made nearly
all the pace, but Mcdaniel was aIway.
within striking distance, and when fur
long out he made his move on the IA
voTite and the victory was an easy one.