Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24
Rainy Weather Marred Open
ing at Benning.
BIG CROWD ON HAND
Bellwether Wins First Spring Han
dicap in the Mud.
SUGAR PINE WINS AT 100 TO /
Washington Colts Trim Topeka
Reconsideration Chess-Tie
in Billiard Tourney.


rated at Bennng Yesterday under rather
unfavorab BILE weather conditions. \ driZ
zle fell all the morning and the track wa
turned into sloppy going In spite Of TIL
threatening clouds, however. big GROVE
turned out to see the sport. hOrsemeI
from all over the country being on hand
There was no interference with the specu
lation and about fifty layers walked abou
The Enclosure accepting wagers They were
under the control of the Pinkertons and
John G. Cavanagh. and many of then
reaped harvest on the days business.
The clubhouse was magnet for many
notables. including society and govern
ment dignitaries. who came to the track
in automobiles and private turnouts. Be
fore the races began the paddock was
alive with veteran turfmen. including
many New Workers., who INDUCED in q
continual handshaking bee and discussed
the incidents of the winter
The feature of the program was the
First Benning Spring handicap. at six
furlongs. There were several scratches
while FL Dorado was added. making a
field of fourteen to face Starter Mars Cas-
sdy. The form players figured that
George Odoms good Splinter Oraculum
fresh from New Orleans. was the best of
the lot. with the result that he was back
ed down TO } to = favorite. The Bever-
wyck stables Berkeley, which had worked
well for this race. was coupled with Ban
yah at to l. The Matthews boys. how
ever had real good thing i'm their Wools-
won at the Crescent city with odds of 80
to about him. and as they impaired this
information to a select few the odds were
gradually reduced from 10 to g.
Easy for Bellwether.
The start was excellent. and Simple
Honours. a 40 20 1 shot, cut out the pace,
closely followed by Bellwether. Berkeley.
Banyah. Belle of the Bay and WOODLAND,
while Oraculum, with MacDaniel up, left
the barrier so slowly that he was far back
: in the ruck before the horses had gone a
quarter of mile. Nearing the half-mile
pole little Walker went to the front with
Bellwether, with Simple Honours as the
runner up. closely followed by Smoker,
10 to l. one of ]. E. Maddens good things
who was making up ground rapidly. In
the home stretch Bellwether seemed to
have the race we'll in hand. but as Smoker
continued to close. Walker went to a
drive and Bellwether passed the judges a
winner by a length in LIS. Smoker was
well extended to take the place by three
parts of a length from Berkeley who was
somewhat interfered with in the last quar-
ter. Sam III. Harris. 20 to l. came from
nowhere and was only half a length out
of the money. Oraculum suffered dis
graceful and unaccountable defeat
The FIRST two-year-old race of the sea-
SON, the Arlington purse. at half a mile
was the second event on the card and the
talent erred again. john E. Madden
started two FLIES, Clef and Court Lady.
and the word was passed around that the
entry could not lose Accordingly the
Madden pair received enough backing to
drop the price from to 4, the entry clos
ing an equal favorite with A. G. Weston
Mexican colt Pocotaligo. Meanwhile
Frederick Johnson had a successful coup
framed with a son of the noted Banastar,
named Kwai. who. with Willie Shaw up
was played from 10 down to 8. Tommy
RuTns made hot pace with Willie Shields
Al Busch. to l. until he reached the mid
die OF the home stretch. where the colt
weakened under pressure. Then Shaw
moved up with Kwai and the Banastel
gelding fairly rolled home three lengths in
front OF Clef. who ran game race and
beat AL Busch a head for the place. The
time was O.51 As.
Long Shot Goes Over.
There was as much as 100 to / quoted
against Sugar Pine at one period Of the
speculation on the opening event. for
threeyear-olds and upward. at six fur
longs. but the. closing price was so.
sugar flHe was ruSneu 10 tue front just
after the start, set fast pace and lasted
inst long enough to win by head from
Giles. 20 to l shot. Father Bill Daily 8
Winning Star. 12 to l. was full of run
ming. and hanging on gamely. finished
third. half length back Royal Lady,
to favorite. was beaten easily, while
FiFebrand. Is To ). was evidently short.
The time was "a 3-J.
Madden furnished another losing favor
ite in the third race for maidens. at
seven furlongs: In Call Boy. who was
hacked down TO to L. Frank Herold Z
kingsessing. to ]. won, ridden out, by
backed from 10 to >. The latter had two
lengths over Ferry Landing The time
was | SO 20.
J. W. Colt won the first steeplechase
of tine season with Prince of Pilsen. d
hot favorite at : TO > who took the
NTH event at about two miles by half a
length. Hubby. to /. ran we'll and
easily beat Goldfeur to l, with Mr.
Dion Kerr up, for the place. The time
was 4 II rs.
Another heavily played favorite. p. Fl
SuHivan's Animus. reduced to even
money. went over the plate in the last
race for platers at mile and forty
yards. Ivanhoe beat Lally. 10 to /. a
length and half for the place.
Four favorites were defeated. and the
books as a rule had much the better of
was ruled off the Benning track last
fall. and who has since brought suit for
$4,000 damages against the Washing
TON Jockey Club. was permitted to pay
admission to the track yesterday. 1t is
said that the free list has been cut down
70 a minimum. The summaries:
The Summaries