New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
| tracing SEASON HERE.
all READY FOR BUGLE.
Good Card offered for Opening Lay
at Benning Track.
fBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune.

Washington March 21.-When the field respono'
TO the call of the bugle for the first race a' o.'
ming on Monday it will mark the opening Oh ""
Eastern racing of 1903 under the controi OF
the Jockey Club The faithful VIII respond 10 'he
call with enthusiasm born of love for the 'hoi
oughbreds ard keen desire to see them In acuoh
more after enforced abstinence TOT Ioui
long months The Washington Jockey Cluo mas
provided a good card for the opening day. WITH tne
first half Of the Benning Spring Handicap. at SIX
furlongs the feature
be said good authority that there VIII
be little interference with the peramouiatins
system of betting adopted two years ago. following
the decision Of Justice Stafford that the ant1-sam-
bling law does not apply in such cases In view OF
this the meeting is likely to be of the most
successful in the history of the club, as there are
plenty of horses hand ready to race and the
outlook is bright for warm, springlike weather
To-day mild and baimy day in June ana
the track was in fine condition and rs fast as the
deep, sandy Benning track can ever be.
big crowd of New Workers are expected to-
morrow evening. the Cavanagh special VIII
leave Jersey City at O'Clock. loaded with four or
five hundred racegoers who cannot wait FOR the
curtain to be r,ng up at Aqueduct on April 10
These will be joined by some of those who have
been following the fortunes Of the horses in the
South and Far West and by delegations from Phila-
delphia. Baltimore and other towns near by
Unless all signs fail, the season which begins on
Monday will be memorable providing. Of
State The various racing associations have been
forward In making improvements and stakes and
purses have been increased, that followers of
the sport will be generous with their patronage
the Jockey Club and associations nave been
responsive to almost every suggestion made to
place racing a higher plane
The of the turf world will not be seen at
Benning. 1t is too early in the year. and the
stakes and purses are not rich enough to attract
the best. There will be plenty of fair horses on
hand. however. stable room is even now at a
premium and the fields likely be large and
well balanced, which means close and stirring
finishes Among those who will race at Benning
are August Belmont. F. r. Hitchcock, H. T. Ok
nard, John E. Madden. Paul ]. Rainey Samuel
Ross and J. ". Colt. Steeplechasing. popular
in Washington. will be feature -
The stewards OF the meeting will be s. S. How
land. H. T. Oxnard and Samuel Ross. while the
racing officials follows: Judges Clarence
Mcdowell and Joseph A. Murphy; starter. Mars
Cassidy; Handicapped. J. A. Murphy; paddock and
patrol Judge, ]. l.. Hall; timer ". H. Barretto
starting Judge, III. u. Homan; clerk of course and
scales. H c. Crickmore; assistant secretary Wash
ington Jockey Club, Ben HELEN. The first will
be called at o'clock.
Seventeen horses have been sent out probable
starters for the Bennng Spring Handicap. at six
furlongs the feature of the opening day. The field
Is lacking in class. but the race looks open. and
the winner will be hard find. salvidere. the
Brighton Cup winner of last season and the top
weight. declined the issue. expected. so
that Berkeley is at the top with 1l6 pounds He
has been working well and may go to the post the
favorite OF the others. Smoker. Oraculum, Greene
and Bellwether are liked by the railbirds.
The entries in full follow:
upward; $500 added. Six fuTlonEs. Colul-