Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
BERKELEY FAVORITE
IN BENNING HANDICAP

AS next Monday draws near, the open
ing of the eastern racing season at Ben
ming. the owners, trainers and exercise
boys have taken on,a hustle at the local
course. With the break Of day the
thoroughbreds are taken on I've track for
trials and the exercises are continued all
day. The rain of last night was well
coined by Supt Strahan, as it will beat
down the track and help him put the
going in frst-class condition for the open
ing day.
Berkeley, the crack racer of the stable
of Frank Nolan of Albany, destined for
the first Benning handicap, did work
yesterday that will make him favorite
next Monday. unless some other horse
does something exceptionally good later
this week With a boy weighing about
1O7 pounds in the saddle, the Dieudonne
colt stepped fve-eighths of mile over
the Columbia course in 1.O1 30. He
breezed the first quarter in "a % and
the half in As 80. Dave Woodward. No
lan's trainer considered that exception
understood. is about as much like the go
ing of one of the good New York tracks
- Aqueduct or Brighton. say-as q
plowed field is like asphalt. and the Co
lumbia course. at that, is bit better
than the old course.
While there is no denying that Berke-
ley is filter just now than any other
horse at Benning preparing for the handi-
cap next Monday. it is just as we'll that
his crucial race is to be run then.
The Dieudonne colt could not stand a
much longer preparation. He was always
washy and hard to train. and he is so
tightly drawn he looks like horse that
has been in racing three or four months.
In spite of his drawn appearance. how
ever, Berkeley has his foot about him,
and he will run better three-quarters
next Monday than he would have at any
time last fall, even when he was at his
best.
William Shields. Thomas Mannix.
Thomas McCreery. Woods Garth and
Theodore Coles. all old-time Benning
trainers. figure in the first Benning be-
tween Berkeley. Oraculum Greene and
one of the Garth stable candida tes-Gra-
Ziallo or Billie Hibbs.
Greeno's best work So far was five fur
longs in Loo over the Columbia course.
DR.. Thomas Cassidy's Greenan colt. who
is halfbrother to both High Order and
Tonsorder. is better conditioned than he
has been in years. He is full-fieshed and
bright-eyed and his coat has the satin
gloss of perfect health. Greene has been
pretty sore off and on since going into
winter quarters last fall, but he is no
worse than usual, and Thomas McCreery.
tomorrow or Saturday. jockey Willie
Shaw. who is to ride Greene in the first
Benning, is due today, and if McCreery
decides to work the horse tomorrow
Shaw will have a leg up.
George Odom arrived from New Orleans
three days ago with Oraculum. the WHINE,
of the Dixie stakes last fall: Coincidence
the winner of the Columbia handicap, and
the other horses he has been campaign
ing at New Orleans. All Odoms horses
are in excellent condition, and Oraculum
will start Monday with Mcdaniel in the
saddle. Odom mas not turned Oraculum
loose yet. but he expects to do so to-
morrow or Saturday. Odom has decided
not to start Coincidence next Monday
The Plaudit mare is not. on private form
as good as Oraculum and inasmuch as
the first Benning promises to be hard
race. the young Georgian believes it will
be wise to save her for races for mares
exclusively.
Jockey Notter will remain at New Or
leans until April l before leaving for
New York. Ellison holds a contract on
the boys services until that date This
means that Notter will be unable to ride
at Bennins this spring.