Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24
RACING IN RAIN
At BENN|NC TRACK
Excellent Card Draws Out a
Fair Sized Gathering-The
Squire Wins the Grand
Consolation.

What was expected to be the banner
day of the fall meeting of the Washing
ton Jockey Club at Benning yesterday
turned out a dismal affair on account
of the continuous downpour of rain. The
program was of the holiday sort that
serves to draw out the lovers of horse
flesh, but the weather so bad that
only the dyed-in-the wool followers Of
racing passed through the turnstiles and
manfully stuck by their guns until the
final event was run.
The clubhouse contingent was also cut
down to Il small gathering, but in sea-.
sons past the Hunters Champion steeple-
chase would have packed the porches and
lawn in every part. Yet about 1000 spec
tators were present
The bookmakers were compelled to do
business under the grandstand and on the
edge of the lawn, and as a consequence
ii was almost worth ones life to try to
work through the crush that gathered
there to the right of the entrance AS
result of this mob horses were given
all sorts of quotations, sometimes figuring
at IL to l at one end Of the stand and
so to at the other.
Notwithstanding that the track was a
sea of mud the scratches were few in all
but the Benning SPECIAL. But one horse
dropped out of the steeplechase and two
out of the Grand Consolation, but only
four of the twelve >entered raced in the
special. -
The Squire's Grand Consolation.
The greatest interest centered In tho.
sixth running of the Grand Consolation
and by the time the horses had gathered:
at the post the ring was almost deserted,
and it appeared though everybody
wanted to see this event pulled off. In
stead of a spirited contest 1t was prac-
tica1ly a one-horse affair from start to
finish. Starter Mars Cassidy got the field
away WELL and The Squire was the first
to show in front .As the first furong
was reached The Squire was going like
the wind and had opened up gap of fully
six lengths. and when he reached the turn
into the stretch the remainder of the field
was ten lengths in the rear. Beckman
sent Smoker up after the leader. and al
though he cut down about five lengths OF
the intervening space the squirt lost him
the place, as Falcada, the 3 to 3 favortte.
came through in the last furlong and
finished second. The Squire was full OF
running all the way. and finished three
lengths to the good. Falcada beating
Smoker by the same distance, and the
latter getting in the money by a head.
Mcdaniel had a rough voyage with Fall
| cada, being shut of several times in the
| far turn. and from the way he closed up.
| he might have made 1t interesting for the
| leader with clear sailing.
My Grace Wins Steeplechase.
The second feature on the program, in
the estimation Of the Washington people,
was the ninth running of the Hunters
Champion steeplechase. five Of the six
entrants going to the post, with Tellfare
the fayorite. The start was made op-
posite the free field stand. J. T. Morgan
was the first to show taking the first
| jump as the leader. AS the field swept up
the hill leading to the water jump, in front
Of the grand stand, Mr.. O'Brien sent Tell
fare to the front. Holding the lead by.
several lengths, Teilfare swept around the
course until he reached the jump at the
point where the start was made. In land
ing at that jump Tellfare's front feet slid
forward, he went to his knees and Mr..
o Brien landed in the mud on his back.
Nothing daunted he scrambled to his feet,
caught Tellfare, and again set sail for
his companions. now many lengths away.
AS the field swept around the second
time and went over the jump directly OPP
posite the chute leading to the two last
hurdles j. I. OBrien stumbled and threw
T. Wilson. At the next jump Flying Ma
chine came near taking tumble, and
Bob Taylor had the time of his life re-
tanning his seat. These We're all the mis-
hapS, and on the last time around War
renton took up the leading position, with
My Grace a few yards in the rear. AS the
pair went over the Liverpool Ned Hen
derson sent My Grace into the lead, and,
although Warrenton held on well, the for
mer came down the stretch and finished
thirty lengths in the lead. The same dts
lance separated Warrenton and Tellfare
and Flying Machine. the last pair having
ding dong affair, the Radnor Hunt rep
resentative getting in the money by
head.
1t was certainly lucky win for My
Grace, as Tellfare finished in splendid
shape, and would probab bly, have won in a
romp but for the tumble.
The eighth running of the Benning Spe-
cial. like the Grand Consolation, was also
a one-horse affair." Right Royal leading
from start to finish and winning he
pleased. At the jump away from the bar
rieS Pete Daley was the one TO show in
front, but before hundred yards had
been covered Right Royal was up in his
right place and sailing along under wraps.
Going up the back stretch Mcdaniel kept
Right Royal three lengths in front. and
he continued this distance ahead to the
finish. At the turn into the stretch Pins
and Needles challenged Right Royal and
cut down the lead somewhat, but the little
filly faded away and had to be satisfied
with second place.
The other three events carried large
fields. and the jockeys and horses were SO
badly plastered with mud as to be almost
unrecOgniZable.
Defeat of Graziallo.
The afternoons sport opened with .
seven-furlong affair for three-year-olds
and up, Graziallo being installed the IA
vorite at to B. He proved to be a false
favorite, as he didn't finish in the money,
the winner turning up in the second
choice. Progressing. Mars Cassidy got the
field away together, Progressing showing
the way. Turning into the stretch Brussel
took Poquessing to the outside rail, while
Nancy picked up several lengths by hold
ing to the center of the track. Notter
had sent Killochan up alongside Poquess-
ing and they were having the fight Of
their lives, with Nancy almost on a level.
At the free stand Notter had to pull up
or go over the fence, and PoquessinS
went on to fight it out with Nancy. get
ting the verdict by 4 half length. AS
soon as Notter had weighed out he went
into the judges stand with a protest
against Brussel and Progressing. but
there was nothing doing and the red
board went up letting the horses stand
as they had finished.
There was not a single scratch in the
fifth race an affair for maiden two-year-