The Washington times., 1907-03-25
ThrongS Go to See Open
ing of the 1907 Rae
ing Season.
Ideal Weather GreetS the
ThoroughbredS and
Visitors to City,
Eighteen-Day Meeting
viii Be Crowded With
High-CIaSS Events.

Swish" will 90 the starters webbed
barrier as the field Of horses in the frss
race run on the Eastern turf during 1907
Is sent away on its journey OF conten-
ton out at Benning. the home course
OF the Washington Jockey Club, at 3
o'clock this afternoon
At that moment VIII be inaugurated
what promises to be the most remark
able thoroughbred racing season Of many
years From the time the horses rush
and scuTry away from the starting point
IN this initial event until the sere and
yellow days Of late November. the
ciatter Of the racehorse hoof will be
Feard throughout the land.
a DilsAL sun and batmy spring weather
Drought the crowds on Pennsylvania
avenue early and memories Of
the road 10 Epson Downs from
L"hdoh toWH on an English Derby
day were recalled as one beheld Dean
WOOD PIKE and its merry cavalcade mov-
lng out toward the racing course Of the
Washington Jockey Club. The nike wa
a sight 70 see, for this was the oDen-
ing day. an occasion when almost every
devotee Of racing from the lcwIiest clerk
10 the most lordly hoR OF diplomatic
| and smart society pays homage 10 the
thoroughbred. From the noon hour un-
q! the bugle call for the initial event
the roadway teemed with a Fashionable
crowd. It was conveyed III almost every
conceivable vehicle. from the smart tan
dem carts to dignitied victorias.
On the Way to the Track.
Also, eQuestrians were many and the
rafr OF gH4F
''chug. chug. added to the life and ac-
ton of the picture. Street cars rocked
with the weight Of human freight. while
the special train service put on by the
Pennsylvania railroad was Just able 10
handle the racegoing passenger traffic
from its downtown. depot 10 the flag
station at Benning.
The Cavanaugh special from New
York arrived in the stlH and sober hour
Of the Sabbath eventIde last night. Not
fewer than 1900 racing enthusiasts Of
all classes and degrees We're carried i'm
the two sections. The regulars, who had
spent the winter in New Orleans and
California, were on hand to welcome the
New YORK stay-at-hOmes, and many
were the glad reunions. The influx
might be compared to an invading army
for in half an hour Pennsylvania avenue
was overTun by the visitors This was
the largest crowd ever carried by the
famous racing special
On Thanksgiving Day last autumn. the
largest attendance known to BennfnE
was registered, but that record was
about eQualed, or perhaps surpasSed.
today Before l o'clock the exodus 10
the traekside had ensued. The Benning
Spring Handicap for three-year-olds and
up at SIX furlongs stands as the piece
de resistance on the initial days card.
riveted ever since the entries made their
appearance on Saturday afternoon.
Washington Horse Favorite.
A Virginia trainer and horse in
which a Washington turfman, W. II.
Ross, is a part owner, holds the honor
of favoritism. GrazialIo, the rangy son
OF RapallO. who before today had added
to the sporting renown of the Capital
City while bearing the Columbia Stables
colors. is the fancy one. Marvellous
Miller has the mount Next in favor is
August Belmonts colt Okenite, while
the California colt, Arimo, was one OF
the strong overnight "Say sos"
The celebrated ''Stoolless Bookmak-
ing plan will prevail among the book
makers at Benning today and during
the meet. They are obliged to move
q j
tice Stafford. of the District Suprame
Court held in the case preferred against
BOOkmaker Davis. charged with "bOok-
making" that the act was committed
when a set stand and paraphernaIia
was used. Since then this "parapher-
nalia'' has been eliminated. The high
stools are no longer in use. District
Attorney Bakers office has a represen-
tatiVe on the course to see that the
court Interpretation of the law is NOT
violated. Justice Staffords decision
will be reviewed by the APPELLATE Court
along about next June. In the mean
time betting will go on as usual AT
Benning- This review is the outcome
OF an appeal by Davis TO the District
Court of Appeals.
Excellent Racing This Meet.
According to the club officials. Wash
ingtOn will see some excellent racing
during the next three weeks. The meet
ing runs up to and including Saturday
April 13 The Dinner Stakes for two
yeaT-olds will be run on next Saturday
The owner Of the winning tyo-vesr
old must stand treat to the owners Of
the other horses and their friends at
the Willard Hotel that night. GEORGE
Howard will start Billie Hibbs in the
race.