The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-12
Officers Army Service Race
Brings Out Record Crowd;
Spring Handicap a Feature
Viele's Breeding Too Much for Rivals in Former.
Royal Lady Big Surprise in Handicap,
Recruit Takes Steeplechase Handily

The Officers Army Service Cup was
the swell number at Benning yester-
day. To use a slang expression, 1t
was all 70 the mustard" Should racing
be continued at Benning, TINS race will
be perpetuated and may be counted on
TO form one OF the best drawing cards
OF the meeting
Yesterday the attraction Of the army
race brought out the bumper attend
ance OF the season. in which the society
and military elements were nOticeaoly
prominent
The conditions OF the race called for
horses four years old and upward. the
property Of officers Of the United States
army. 70 be ridden. in drab service uni
form by an officer of the regiment,
CORDS, or STAFF department from which
the entry was made. The weight was
80 pounds, thoroughbreds. fourteen
pounds extra, and the distance, one
mile on the fiat.
Seven Entries Start.
Seven started in the race. They were
Capt. F. B. Hennessy, Third Artillery,
Fort Myer. Va, General Campagna;
Capt. +. B. Cassatt, Thirteenth Cavalry,
Fort AIyer. Bright: Capt. 3. Hyer,
Thirteenth Cavalry, Fort Myer, Picket;
Capt r B. Phillips. Thirteenth Caval-
~. Fort Myer. Dan; Lieut. Gordon
Johnston, Third Cavalry, Fort Riley,
Kan. Datto; Lieut.. z. W WldTtck.
Fort Greble. R /, Frances, and Lieut.
p. s. Merchant, Thirteenth Cavalry,
Fort AIyer, Vielle.
The weights called for were 80
I Of Ia
scandalously over weight Captain
! Hennessy, who is Of heroic mold. tipped
the scales at 1S3 pounds, just thirty
/ three over weight, and a pretty stif
package for poor old General Campagna
| to carry. The valiant captain made a
sturdy effort to reduce, and spent the
night before in the Turkish BAN. so the
gossips on the clubhouse lawn said.
! Captain Cassatt was eighteen over and
Lieutenant Johnston twenty over.
Method Of Speculation
The speculation on the race was won
derfully lively, everybody nearly in q
/ spirit of fun taking a chance in the
shake-bag affair. There was. Of course
no line on the horses. and the
I bookies' odds were governed by the
great basic principal Of demand and
| supply. The public finally settled on
| Captain Cassatt's entry, Pickett and
Bright. as favorite, and sent them to the
post at even money Vielle, Datto. and
| Dan were also well supported. while
| every horse, or. rather, rider, had more
! or less Of a following. When the horses
/ were called to the post, Starter Cas-
/ sidy had very little difficulty in linins
them up. and sent the field of to ar
| excellent start
Dan. which cut a considerable figure
| in the races last fall, shot into the lead
at once and cutting out q, warm pace
| soon had his field strung out Dan held
! his lead in the stretch, where Lieutenant
| Merchant, who had been riding a pa
/ tient race. brought Vielle up
VieIIe's Stamina Counts.
The superior stamina Of the thorough
( bred told its tale in the run down the
stretch and Vielle. drawing out. wor
handily. Dan hung on and got the
/ place easily from Pickett. one Of Cas-
| salts entry. The others struggled In
/ but as each one passed the stand, h
was greeted with a vociferous cheel
/ from the big crowd. which was thor
oughly delighted with the race.
The doughty captain. Hennessy, witt
his 50 pounds over weight, was last. an<