Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-02

Va, who brought Aiken and a cookbook
ing three-year-old hunter. The other
string was the large one of Mr.. Fitzsim-
! mons. including Brookdale. Workman,
Banker. Emperor of India. Kingessing
and D'Arkle. besides a number of two
| year-Olds Gen. Townes left here few
days ago for Richmond. where the V1r-
ginia legislature is now in session. and
where a bill will probably be passed
creating a state racing commission similar
| to that of New York.
Gen. Townes. who is interested In this
| BILL as is every other Virginia horseman.
| is of the opinion that meeting will be
held at Richmond next fall after the
| meeting here. For some time past there
have been rumors of new tracks that are
| to be built at Alexandria, Baltimore and
some point between Philadelphia and
here. but no one can be found who knows
anything definite about the actual plans.
But several horsemen at Benning say
that should racing commission be 1nstl.
| tuted in Virginia, with full power or
granting dates and under whose super
vision racing would be carried on. as it Is
| in New York, there is no doubt that
the game would pay, as the racing laws
Of the state are very lloeral, ana the
sport has always been popular there 1or
over half century.
Gen. Townes will return to this city
after a brief visit to his fine estate at
Culpeper, where he has large breeding
establishments. lie Will ltOih ShSA e
today for the local course very promis-
ing two-year-old gelding. full brother
| to T. S. Martin. one of the best steepie-
chasers in this country.
| For several years William Garth mas
| had entered several candidates in the DIM
ner stakes, but the horses he has now
under his care are not available for this
race. and it is not likely Mr.. Dunlap Will
! start anything either.
Many of the Rainey horses are already
;pcl " has TO De
known among turfmen as the big lem
on" DeMund, who is in splendid condl-
ton.
Extra Steeplechases.
An additional feature of the spring
meeting will be a number of extra stee-
plechase races. This branch Of the sport
has become very popular in these parts.
the home of so many hunt clubs Not in
years have SO many high-class cross-coun-
try performers been stabbed at Benning.
which is one of the stiffest courses In the
country, the jumps being high and strong.
and not like many tracks. where all
horse has to do is to rise few feet and
go over.
At Benning they must know how to
jump or fall in the attempt, and it is for
this reason that SO many owners send
| their fencers here. il not to race. at least
| to get the benefit Of schooling their
horses over this course. For 1t is a we'll
known fact that IL horses can negotiate
| the Benning jumps there Is no steeple-
| chase course in this country they cannot
successfully tackle.
| Colt is developing into a good cross
! country performer, and 1t Is not going too
| far to prophesy brilliant future for him
through the fields. as he was horse of
considerable class on the fat, when owned
by Harry Payne Whitney. Mr.. Colt has
| him entered in several big races this sea-
son.
Billy Shields Beldemo is another that
| has taken to the cross-country game In
| a manner to excite the admiration of the
trainers He was never a long-distance
horse on the fiat. six or seven furlongs
| being about his limit. but under the care
| full training Of the young Canadian he Is
getting SO he can go mile and half
| and two miles through the field without
MICH trouble. Mr.. Shields, by the way,
IL training Lord Avondale, recently pur-
chased by DR.. Tyree and several friends
| from v. c. Powers of Virginia for $4,000.
This Is the first sale to take place at
| Benning this year.
| Several carloads of thoroughbreds will
arrive this week from Sheepshead Bay.
Gravesend and points in the south. After
their arrival stable room will be at a
premium
List Of Feature Races.
| Secretary Ben HELEN of the Washington
Jockey Club yesterday announced the list
of dates for the running of the more i'm
portant races at the meeting this spring.
There are fourteen events all told, and
some of them hate already large entry
lists. The Washington Nursery stakes,
| for twoAyear- odds to be run Saturday,
March IS, leads in this respect as fifty
four horses have been named for it.
| Following is list Of the events:
| Monday March 23-First Benning handicap:
| three year-olds and upward; forty-two entries.
| Open selling steeplechase.
Wednesday, March rs Maiden steeplechase.
THURSDAY, March 26-Trlal steeplechase' for
| hunters: fve-year-Olds and upward.
| saturfay, March 2S--WashingtOn Nursery: two
year -olds: fifty four entries. Spring handicap
steeplechase; four rolds and upward; twenty
| six entries.
wednesday. April First Of April selling
| steeplechase; four year-olis and upward twenty
entries.
saturday. April dinner stakes; two! rear
olds: horses to be named March Is. Handicap
stacplecbase; four year olds and upward.
| "wednesday. April S-Amateur cup; three year
olds and upward: to close March so. Chevy
Chase hunters steeplechase; fve-year-olds aud
upward: to close March 30.
! Saturday April 1i--Sccond Benning handicap;
| three-y ear-olds and upward; forty entries.
Spring hunters stecplechase.
| Tuesday April l4-Jesse Brown cup; twoyear-
olds; twelve entries.