Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
FIFTEEN THOUSAND
AT BEhN|NG TRACK
Royal Lady Surprises the
Wise Ones by Defeating OK
ford in Second Spring
Handicap.

was called there were fully 15,NU persons
In the inclosure OF the Washington Jockey
Club An exceptionally good card and
the pleasant weather brought out peop.s
from Virginia. Maryland and as far east
as Philadelphia. II appeared as though
everybody was out for holiday, and
good humor was manifested on all sides.
The big grandstand was crowded and
the clubhouse uncomfortably filled.
Down stairs and on the lawn the mob
hustled and pushed for dear life in lie
endeavor to give the "bookies'' money,
and the latter. as usual. were johnny
on the spot" willing to take all that was
hQffered and a little bit more. Notabes
q the diplomatic. social, army. navy and
turf circles were very numerous, and
it was no unusual sight to see the thread
bare dressed ''piker'' elbow to elbow witt
noted general or a diplomat OF wide
renown. Everybody appeared bent upon
having a good time and enjoying the
afternoon to its fullest extent. The street
railway was taxed to its utmost to han
the thousands to the track and then get
them home again. but under existing con-
ditions the transportation was all that
could be expected. With seven races
on the program the sport was ten minutes
late in getting under way, and ii was
nearly o'clock when the final event was
pulled off.
There were three feature events on the
afternoons card. the second running OF
the Benning sp ing handicap, the spring
hunters steep echase and the army sew
ice cup race, the greatest interest center
ing about the first named among the
close followers Of the turf, while the
other two were something like circus
Affairs for a big majority Of the specta-
tors.
"Sure Thing" Goes Amiss.
The handicap proved a great disappoLnt-
ment as the O.: iginai field of fifteen was
cut down to eight through numerous
scratches. Call Boy being an added
starter. Such good ones as Berkeley.
Banyah Bellweiher. Oracuum, Tine
Clown snd Billie tIibbs were pulled out.
leaving what looked 10 lie a sure thing"
for OXFORD. But on this guess the wise
ones were all astray. as the winner
| turned up in Royal Lady. whie the Gray
Ghost finished outside the money. 1t
was a tremendous dump TO- the talent.
ANA the hookmakers must have reaped
harvest OF tremendous proportions.
Staytsr Cassidy failed to get the h"ld
away, from the barrie" in his usual good
forn,t lvanhoe being almost left al the
post. Royal Lady was the frs! to .how
after going d short distance and increased
! the lead 10 two full lengths by the time
the turn was reached. Rounding the
turn Mccarthy eased up Roya Lady q
bit. and a great shout went up as ON oTd
was seen TO go UP TO the leader and LED
the field into the stretch by about half
length. When Strengthened out for home
Mccarthy once more gave Royal Lady
her Head and again she dashed to the
front. while Oxford dropped back. beaten
to FRAGILE, as one Of the regulars" re-
marked. Oxfords effort to catch the
leader on the turn proved his undoing, as
he had nothing left In reserve for the run
home. : Shaw, on Smoke. had been
tot,;v ny.fl, ifx-
mount after the leader. but Royal Lady
hung on gamely and finished winner by
fully two lengths Giles made stub
born finish and got into the third posi-
shouts here and there from the crowd.
but the defeat of Oxford was heart
breaker for the multitude.
Mr.. Tucker Receives Ovation.
Next in Importance was the ninth run
ming of the Spring Hunters steeplechase
| for ve-year-olds and upward. quail fed
under the rules of the National Steepls-
chase and Hunt Association. for horses
that have been regularly hunted during
the season of 19O7-Os. with hunt recog-
nizad by the Hunt Association. or the
eight horses entered six went to the post.
three being ridden by amateurs and three
by professionals The start was or the
struggling sort. and Hagan took Banner
to the front to cut out the pace. She
led around to the water jump in front
of the grandstand. when she landed poor
ly. and Flying Machine went to the front.
holding the lead until the far hurdle was
cleared. At that point Hagan again sent
Banner to the fore, and she led until the
jump in front Of the old betting ring.
when she again stumbled. and this time
unseated her jockey. Ardwell. the de-
spised outsider. then took the leadership
and held on we'll that he was still the
pacemaker when the final jump was
cleared.
Mr.. J. Tucker had been riding a beauti-
full race on Recruit. the favorite. and
when the fiat was reached was close on
Ardwelrs heels. A stin race then fol-
lowed between Recruit and Ardwell to the
head Of the stretch. when the former
gained the mastery. went to the front
and galloped under the wire a winner by
three lengths. Flying Machine went
down on the last jump. but very oblis-
ingly waited on Jockey Hewitt. who re-
the supposed good thing Of the race. had
to be content with third money. 1t was
Mr. fuckers first ride through the in
field. and the big crowd gave him an
ovation when he returned to the judges
stand to weigh out.
vielle Wins Army Cup.
There was much curiosity manifested
over the first running Of the Oficers
Army Service Cup, three beautiful silver
cups DelnS nun& up IOr the TITO ufSt un-
der the wire. Nothing like a true line
could be had on the seven horses entered.
but the public didn't go far astray when
it came to locating the winner. Four OF
the contestants were from the 18th Cav
airy. and two of them were prize winners
Vielle finishing first. Dan second and
Picket third. AS usual with races of this
sort. there was not much of contest
the field being strung out at the turn for
fully a quarter of a mile. General Cam
pagna brought up the rear. but as he had
to carry 1873 pounds. not much could be
expected from the noble brute
The start was poor one. and Dan got
away in front and led by fully six lengths
into the stretch, looking all over a win
ner. Lieut. Merchant. on Veille. had
ridden his horse with good judgment. and
when the stretch was reached sent his
mount up to Dan in quick order. There
was a snort battle for supremacy. and
then Vielle gained the mastery. and won
by three lengths. Dan holding well
enough to get second place.
After the race the fortunate riders as
cended to the judges stand and were pre-
scented with the cups by Maj. Gen. Win
tiers. who acted as one of the judges.
There were fully 100 of Uncle Sans
boys present in uniform. and they led the
throng in hearty cheers for the winners.
The other Events.
The afternoons sport opened with
seven furlong affair for three-year-olds
and inward The start was a good one.
Clements getting away from the post this