Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
BENN|NG OPENING
MARRIED BY RAIN
DoWnpour Keeps Attendance
Down and Reduces Rae
ing Fields.

Benning track yesterday did not keep
away the enthusiastic followers of the
racing game. The street car company
put on an extra car early in the morn
ing making the trip from the barns to
the track and return only. and it was
crowded all day. At 10 o'clock in the
morning there were fully 1000 people
inside the Benning Enclosure, watching
the horses work. and among this num-
Der were fully hundred women. The
track was in fine condition. but the
horses had all been prepared for the
opening day and as a rule only gallops
were given, so as to keep them up to
the top notch in condition.
The rain of last night and this morn
ing has thrown all the calculations to
the winds, and the regulars will have
to go all over their dope" sheets again.
The going will be heavy. which will
favor the lightweight horses. and
scratches will narrow the field down to
few contenders. Had the weather con-
tinued fair the general opinion was that
one of the most successful openings on
record would have come off this after
noon.
The city has filled up over Sunday.
and 1t is estimated that fully 1900 fol-
lowers of the races have come into
Washington since Saturday.
Billy Garth Arrives.
William Garth and Woods Stockton
came up from Charlottesville, Va, yes
terday afternoon. Garth left the Rainey
horses in fine condition. He Will not
take them up until the Belmont Park
meeting. Paul Rainey does not care for
early racing. He had too much of 1t
last season. The horses of the Rose and
Dunlop stables are under the charge
of Woods Garth. Woods is such a fine
young fellow that Theodore Coles and
John Pangle are giving him the benefit
of their experience in the training OF
the Rose and Dunlop strings.
Albert Matthews got up from New Or
leans and has joined his brother, w. F..
Matthews, at the willard. The elder Mat
thews says that Will Walker will prob
ably ride Beilwether today. Walker is the
youngster who exercises Bellwether, and
Orleans. the one in which he stepped
three-quarters in lib. Walker is an intel
ligent lad. who seems to understand Bell
wether, and. what Is better, Bellwether
seems to understand him.
Daily His Own Trainer.
Father Bill Daily is to be his own
trainer. This season he has decided to
start off at least by doing his own ham
ding.
1t is estimated that some fifty layers will
spread themselves over the grounds, and
among them will be William Snow, Icy
Hamm (whose real name is Isadore Ham
merschlag). Edward Mcdonald, Ike Hack
leburg, Robert Turner, Sim Deimel, John
Walters. Frank Moore, Orlando Jones and
Col. Edward Tyler. Sim Deimel and
Robert Turner will be partners this year
both here and about New York. Mr.. Tur-
ner lives in Baltimore during the Benning
meetings. His family lives at Baltimore.
Joseph Marrone arrived yesterday after
noon. He does not calculate upon expe-
riencing any difficulty in getting in the
Benning course this year. nothwithst and
ing he was barred the last two days of
last fails meeting for the alleged doping
OF the horse st. Joseph. The stewards of
the Jockey Club. to whom the Marrone-St
order of business, did not take as serious
view of it as did their Benning friends
Strict With Licenses.
Marrone may race horses like any
other man this year, although it is i'm
probable that he will get license to
train. The license committee of the
Jockey Club is drawing the line of licens-
ing trainers finer this season than it has
in the past. Not every Tom. Dick and
Harry is admitted to the fraternity of
trainers. Applicants for licenses must
| show that they know something of their
business and that they have some horses
before getting licenses.
It was because the license committee
of the Jockey Club did not know that
Algernon Claxon had any horses that his
application for a license was held up.
He has. since his arrival here. convinced
Algernon Daingerfeld that he has staff
Of three campaigners, and he will re-
ceive a certificate from the Jockey Club
in due time. Claxton's horses are at
Belmont Park. He did not care to bring
anything to Benning because he did not
desire to get his horses ready too early.
Marrone. by the way, is not as bent
on pushing the suit for damages he filed
against the Washington Jockey Club and
its officers as he was last season. His
future conduct with reference to his suit
depends upon, the way he is treated this
spring.