Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
AN EXCITING
STEEPLECHASE.
Douro Wins After a Great Race
With Copper-Thronq
at Benning.

fsflect weather yesterday drew out ono
of the largest crowds that has ever gath
cred on the Benning race course. pr5ba-
bly, 5000 people We're on the grounds, dliiax
stand, club house and walks to repletion.
evincins the liveliest interest In the pro-
ceedings from first to last II any oppo-
nents of racing wanted optical evidence OF
the popularity Of the sport in the District
ana public appreciation of the Washington
Jockey Clubs efforts to that end they
should have witnessed yesterdays distin-
guished assemblage On the club house
balcony, grand stand ana IN the paddock
were w. c. Eustis. Robert Neville. Rozer
Dulany, Mr.. and Mrs. Nicholas Longworth.
Woodbury. Blair, S. p. Knutt Mrs Gibson.
Mrs Blair, G. Fortescue, z. r. Thomas
ana wife. Edward Morrel. p Il. McCarren. /
Mrs. Blaine, F. r. Hitchcock Pierre Loril-
lard, Perry Belmont Jos. /. Ehlnick,
George Howard, G. A. Sapertus. II. T. OK
nard, J. w. Colt and many others.
As to the sport Of the day # was ab-
sorbingly Interesting TO ali hands. The two
stake events produced hard-fought con .
tests, in which the issue WAS in doubt al
NEST the entire distance, while as three OF
the four purse events brought our we'll
balanced fields, interest was maintained an .
through. The speculative features OF The
only in one instance. the last race. did d
rank outsider get home in front.
Belmont's Nursery Victory.
AS Belmont's Nursury stud has for years
helped to make American turf history 1t
was fitting that the star event of the day,
the Washington Nursery stakes. should
fan to a colt bred by an establishment that
has turned out so many great race horses
1t was natural also for the Belmont 5 able
to make every effort to win the prize by
starting two youngsters instead of one. 4
very fortunate resolve as it turned out. for
the Oxnard Dinner stake victor. Okeulte,
would not have scored yesterday, and tho
decision to start Curriculum as well was IL
lucky one indeed.
Opposition TO the pair was not considered
very serious, and although Lady Vera,
CSmpaiguer and AIieTion were all winners,
the bookmasers offered such short odds
against the BelwOnt pair as ia prove pro-
hibtive in most cases. outside of tho
piuuSers the general public played all
round the Belmont pair, especially il the
place books.
The Belmont stable declared To win with
Osenite, but, like Chesa peake in the first
Kentucky Derby, he could not get away
from his opponents, ana his stable COM
psnlon Curriculum. had to save the day.
This the black colt did in handsome fashion.
From the first jump Curriculum black
head showed in front with the Virginia FLY,
Lady Vera, at his heels. and the others
trailed out bit from the severity of the
pace. Okenite was in close quarters in the
rear unable to close on the two leaders
Two-Year- olds Heads Apart.
The Belmont black and the Garth chest
nut had 1t hammer and tongs round into
the stretch, Campaigner. their closest at
tehdant and the issue narrowed down to
the pacemakers Curriculum held his lead,
but Lady Vera began to wear him down in
the last hundred yards. and. closing inch
by inch just failed to reach his head by
few inches. In another couple of strides
she would have nailed him.
Cheers that would have almost walked the
dead greeted the game youngsters as they
rushed past the judges almost on even
terms, and it was not until the numbers
were hoisted that the bulk of the spectators
knew which had won. 1t was stirring
struggle-one that will live long IN the
memory Of the spectators.
OF the beaten youngsters Campaigner got
third place, but the whole five were well
punched at the outcome. Okenite fifth
and young Jones did not persevere with tie
colt when he found pursuit hopeless.
Manila closed gap and ran a fair race.
The Spring steeplechase produced a most
interesting and exciting contest between
Douro. Copper and Phantom. All three
ciiasers had heavy support, the market be-
ing especially active one, layers having
all they could do to attend to patrons
An Exciting steeplechase.
Copper was wild horse, having so much
foot in the earlier stages and fencing SO
cleverly that his hackers were In ecstacies.
like a swallow, gaining length or two at
almost every jump, to the admiration of the
entire steeplechase colony present. And as
he held his advantage to the last half mile
his victory looked certain.
But Douro, a great racehorse on the fiat,
was only hiding his time and at the next
to the last jump he was al Coppers flank.
the in the air as the other landed. On
the fat Douro collared Copper and beat
him home rather cleverly Had Gallagher
not made somuch use Of Copper he might
have beaten the veteran brown.
But Douro had something left and ought
to make his mark at this game. 1t was
his first success over timber, and marked
a decided reversal over his poor handling
on the third day. when SUCH thrd-class
jumpers Garter Knot and Life Buoy de-
feated him. On that occasion his inexperi-
enced rider rode him If he was afraid he
would fall off, while yesterday Ray always
kept him close up In the race. Certainly it
was not the horses fault that he made such
a poor showing on March Is.
. Al Powell is Consistent.
Al Powell. with good jockey up this
time showed his class again and smothered
such good youngsters as Woodwitch and
Town Topics. Backed against the field,
Powell led all the way and easily secured
the verdict
Jack McKeon In the opening event, won
his third consecutive victory in four days
and enriched his many hackers TO a CORE
spending degree. This horse just now Is In
the best form OF his career and ne runs
right back to the same notch day after
day.
The Mclaughlin stable also furnished the
winner OF the maiden in Kuro. who
won with ease from the heavily backed
F'rills. Esoth were heavily supported, but
rpif much the best