The Washington herald., 1907-04-15
SPRING MEETING A SUCCESS
Benning Profted Despite the Poor
Weather Conditions.
should ORer Better Purses-With
More satisfactory Dates, sport
should Prosper in District.

The meeting of the Washington Jockey
Club which ended Saturday was the most
successful. considering the weather con-
ditions. since the club was reorganized
under the auspices Of the Jockey Club.
This is somewhat remarkable because,
as usual. the class Of horses entered was
not above the average. which is 70 say
that a majority of the races had selling
plators OF the second class entered. This.
however. is to be expected at this season
of the year That the Washington public
patronized the races as well as they did
shows that the National Capital is as
good a racing town as any in the country.
not even barring New York
The Washington Jockey Club would do
We'll to realize this and offer purses in
the future that would attract better
class OF horses. and il would be wise if
the Jockey club would give this city
dates that would give some assurance
Of better weather. There was time
when all the best horses in the country
were brought to Washington and this
city was. for the time, the racing center
Of the United states There appears 10
be 10 good reason why this should not be
the case again. in which event there
against betting which has risen Period
icaIIy every few years.
The perambulatory system Of betting ia
vogue at the local course at the recent
meeting was in most respects a success.
Bettors had no difficulty getting down all
they money they wanted to bet, and while
the prices were not so good as those given
on the New York tracks, they averaged
fairly good,
one Of the remarkable features of 40
meeting was the success of long shots
among the two-year-olds. It is rare that
the baby racers perform inconsistently.
but at the Benning meeting it was the
rule rather than the exception 10 see a
two-year-old race won by a long shot.
The meeting did not develop any cracks.
with the possible exception Of Billie Hibbs
and Jubilee. and # is altogether probable
that when these two meet the better ones
up around New York. they viii be rele-
gated 10 the sclliug-plater class. Billy
Garth has stated that Billie Hibbs is a
first-ciass horse. but it viii be remem-
bered that ne had the same opinion Of
Pater and Orphan Lad
Another feature OF the meeting was
the retrogressiye form displayed by Nil
ler Last year Miller practically was
invlncible. but 1t was apparent this spring
that. unless the young man gets move
on himself he viii have 10 look TO his
laurels If ne expects to end the season
at the top Of the list The most prom
ising riding material developed at the
meeting was Joe Johnson who showed
remarkable improvement over his form
Of last fall but even Johnson cannot be
reckoned as a drst-class boy. He is too
prone TO take the long way around the
track And. speaking Of jockeys, it is
evident that the turf will have a dearth
Of good riders this year. The days Of
premier Jockeys seem 70 have passed.
There are no more McLaughlins, Garri-
sons, or Isaac Murphys.
The scene Of racing for WashingtOnians
will be transferred for the time being TO
! the Pimlico track. which will open next
Saturday, and for thirteen days local
| patrons Of the turf Will have chance
| by journeying forty miles to see racing.
/ From all reports. the racing at Pimlico
/ viii be even better than that furnished
at Benniag, and those who attend the
/ Baltimore races will have the chance of
I placing their wagers with layers who
| have their states up