The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-24
JENNINGS OPENS
WITH DEEP MUD
Pouring Rain Of Day and Nigh
Makes Beginning Of Spring
Season Discouraging.
Especial to The Times Dl:pa,ch.l


WASHINGTON, u. c.. March 23-The
victory of a 100 to shot in the
first race of the day, an unusually
pretty steeplechase. and the passage by
the House OF Representative OF bill
which, If enacted into law. will pre-
vent future meetings in the District of
Columbia, were the features OF the
opening of the Eastern racing season
of 1908 at Bennings to-day. In spite
of the gloomy weather hard times and
the general agitation against racing,
an excellent crowd was on hand at the
track for the first race Nlrginians
and Marylanders furnished a large per-
centage Of the gathering, as usual. and
RAINY horseren well known in this sec
ton were to be seen in the clubhouse
and paddock. Unfortunately, Virginia
horses Jared badly, but there are sew
eral good stables here from the Old Do
minion, and those in charge OF them
hope to make good showing before
the meeting closes.
Wins the Handicnp.
Tho great event on to.day's card was,
of course, the Bennngs Spring Handi-
cap. with $1,000 in added money. This
was an affair for three-year- olds and
upward. at six furlongs Fourteen
ran like a squadron of cavalry for a
furlons, and then Bellwether showed In
front. Smoker challenged the leader
gamely IN the last furlons. but could
do no better than make an interesting
finish. The time, lis, was four sec
onds slower than the record for the
course.
The Favorlte Is Beaten.
Hr,t ritl +Ho opcp n q
race, purse for three-year-old and
upward, non-winners in 1908, over six
furlongs Of the Columbia course. Since
Saturday. when the entries were pub
lished, Court Lady, owned by Roxie
Angarola, the Italian plunger OF New
York. had been touted as the great bet
of the day. She went to the post ia
vorite, but turned out a false alarm
from barrier to wire. The winner
turned up in II. Miller's Sugar Pine.
about which nobody seemed to know
anything. for he was as good as 100 to
1 in several books and as good as 90
to 1 in nearly all of them. Off to bad
start. Sugar Pine soon took the lead
and was never headed. He lasted just
long enough to win by nose from
a. d. PARIS Giles, which was gaining
fast at the finish. Woods Stockton's
Trey of Spades, we'll backed by the
Virginia contingent, failed to run in
the money.
Dion Kerr, riding Goldfeur whom
Granville Fortescue, a cousin of Mrs.
Roosevelts, and formerly Rough
Rider and member of the Presidents
military staff. recently purchased from
CORTLAND Smith, made the pace in the
steeplechase. Goldfieur could not hold
the pace, however, and after leading
until the last jump. was forced to give
way to James Colts Prince of Pilsen
and Pierre Lorillard's Huddy. Prince
of Pilsen, the to . favorlte. lay be-
hind the pace all the way, but made
his running in the stretch and finished
easily. Harry Page. the we'll known
gentleman rider, had bad fall when
his mount, Billy Hayes's Yama Christy,
came cropper over the second jump
and sustained a dislocated shoulder.
Judge White. w. l.. Maupins entry,
touted as a good thing, was never a
contender.
Summaries.
First race-Opening purse. for three
year-olds and upwards, six furlongs,
Columbia course-Sugar Pine CSC to -
first, Cites &C to II second, Winning
Star &C to 81 third. Time, liz as.
Second race-The Arlington purse.
for two-year-olds, four furlonSs, Old
course--Kwai (S to y first, Clef G. to
~ second, al Busch (even) third. Time.
81 As.
Third race-For maiden three-year-
olds and upwards. seven furlongs,
Columbia course-King SessEng (S to y
first, Billie Van G. to y second. Ferry
Landing (even) third. Time, 1888 2-5.
Fourth race-The Benning Spring
Handicap, for three-year-olds and up
wards. $1,000 added, six furlongs, Co.
lumbia Observation-Disclosures 6 to y
first, Smoker C to ~ second, Berke-
ley 6 to 81 third Time. 1:1S.
Fifth race-Open. selling, steeple-
chase, for four-year-ods and upward,
about two miles-Prihce OF Pilsen e.
to 81 first, Huddy G. to ~ second,
Gold Fleur 6 to 81 third. Time,
4:21 2-5.
Sixth race-sclling. for three-year-
olds and upward, one mile ana forty
yards, Columbia course-Animus (even)
first, Quantity C to 81 second, Laly
q to 81 third. Time, 1852.