Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
BEN COLE WINS
THE DINNER STAKE
Dead Heat First Declared. but,
Billie Hibbs Later Dis
qualified.
Jockey Miller Ruled Off for a
Week by the Stewards at
Benning.

belllllIlg.
Although the attendance at Benning yes
terday was brilliant one, It was not quite
SO large as the club expected and the day
deserved for the card was the most al
tractive of the week including two stake
events and an overnight race, with several
of the fastest horses at the track engaged.
Still the grand stand was well filled,
while the club house balcony and lawn
accommodated many well-known people.
Among newcomers from the north WAS
August Belmont, but his colors were not
seen out In the stake and Okenite, his only
other entry, was also withdrawn
Contrary to general expectation, the con-
test for the Dinner stake proved hotly con-
tested. Public opinion had generally con-
coded the race to Billie Hibbs since his
good showing early in the week. and when
the ten starters were posted there WAS
nothing that looked equal to taking Hibbs'
measure.
But decided movement in favor of Ben
Cole, as soon as the market opened, at
once lent additional interest to the issue.
for that youngster had shown so well iB
trial with Lady Isabel, who
cleverly on Friday, that the friends OF
Owner Samuel Ross supported him in
plucky fashion.
Next to those two youngsters. both
trained by William Garth, the Hitchcock
colt Woodcraft was fancied. He was
train by Woods Garth, and as the fam
ily' also trained Edward Mitchells Kitty
Smith and w. c. Eustis Awless, it handled
five of the ten competitors in the race.
Under these circumstances the senior
Garth's opinion to the merits OF his
bunch looked wei worth following, and
when he placed himself on record in favor
of Billie Hibbs most people would follow
hat lear making he coli
favorite as expected.
But the sway-backed brother to Pater
had to put up four pounds penalty for his
success on Monday and that extra weight
just about cost him the stake He warmed
up in his usual resolute fashion, however,
and most of the other trainers believed
with Garth that he was a better colt than
he was on the opening day. ferry Bel
mont's handsome filly Black Domino was
also played, but Hibbs and Cole carried
the bulk of the money placed on the race
Ben Coles Dinner Stake.
Starter Cassidy had his troubles at tha
post, Billie Hibbs being one of the principal
offenders. But when the barrier did go up
the start was a good one for most of the
youngsters. Radtke, with more than usual
alertness. at once rushed Ben Cole to the
front, and, stalling off Billie Hibbs rush.
| led that colt to the turn. with Woodcraft
| leading the others.
At the stretch turn Miller got Hibbs up
to Ben Cole, and, as he Tapped that
youngster in the homestretch, most people
looked to see him take the lead and como
away. BUT In Ben Cole he was meeting &
worthy foeman, and that youngster stalled
OF every effort of Hibbs to head him.
AT the last furlong Htbbs drew I'D nearly
even, and then Master Miller proceeded to
pore his opponent over to the rails pinch
Ing Radtke so that he could not use HIS
whip From there home the race was a
desperate one, the two colts almost head
ana mead, and they passed the finish so
closely locked that the official verdict was
a dead heat.
Most people near the finish thought Ben
Cole won by few inches. but the verdict
OF dead heat was well received. Then
the stewards went into executive session
on the riding of Miller inside the last fur
long. when he pinned Ben Cole on the
rails and. without examining the Jockeys.
ler's rough riding.
This decision was a popular one, judged
by the public demonstration which followed
and the stewards acted well within their
rights In not considering ii necessary 10
send for the two boys involved. What &C.
CURED could be plainly seen, and nowadays
officials do not have to wait for a claim
to be made II they believe that foul has
been committed.
This placed Woodcraft second and Gun
Cotton third. After the race the stewards
announced that they had suspended Miller
LUZ d wees dnQ tn6 lao VIII nave
portunty to reflect on the necessity OF
moderating his ardor In future and to re-
member the rule of the road that Others
have rights in race as well as himself
The race caused no end of discussion
and Owner Samuel Ross was warmly con-
graduated on the merit of his youngsters
Ben Cole and Lady Isabel. The Dinner
stake victor. son of Shappell and Shan
non Rose, Is a classy-looking fellow, and
now that he has shown gameness as well
as speed 1t Is not too much to predict for
him a successful future.
On western courses, where horses trained
by one man are coupled in the betting both
! Ben Cole and Billie Hibbs would have been
disqualified for foul committed by either
one of them. But here IL is different and
the eastern ruling seems more In equity.
The next meeting of these two youngsters
will be eagerly awaited.
Kernels Steeplechase.
The Spring steeplechase, with only four
| starters, also produced much interest and
excitement from the evenly matched char
acter of the quartet. All four had sam
guine hackers at the weights. and with
good jockeyship the race was a hard-fought
one from start to finish.
Locked Out one Of the few gray steepe-
chasers in training. kept his light weight
out in front for nearly two miles, when
Worthwhile and Kernel closed so quickly
that the three took the jump almost to-
gether. Then Kernel and Worthwhile ran
close race over the last jump and on
the fiat, Kernel winning cleverly at the
end.
The winner looked in fine order, fenced
splendidly and reflects much credit on
Trainer DAILY. Owner ]. w. Colt was great
ly pleased at his performance, as the horse
is almost certain to prove a factor In the
valuable stakes across country up north.
Bound Brooks weight. 1874 pounds seemed
to anchor him, as he was never able to
reach the leaders.
The meeting of Horace E., Lord Boan-
erges, MALAGA and Okenite in the Potomac
purse at six furlongs was considered by
many as the event OF the day, the horses
being the fastest In general opinion yet
seen at the meeting, and there was
great interest to see how the $4,000 colt
Horace e. would perform.
Malacca a Repeater.
The withdrawal of Okenite left only four
to go. with Horace e. and Lord Boaneges
equal In favor at first. But as no racing