The Washington times., 1908-03-23
Form" Students Take
Look at Sky and Re-
wise Their Views
to Suit.
Society Attends, But
Comes in Clothes Built
More for Service
Than Looks.

Instead Of a lightning fast track,
made possible by favorable weather and
days Of careful preparation, Benning to-
day was a haven for mud larks." The
rain dampened the spirits of the turf
followers who have been alternating
and nursing their bank rolls 50 that
they might reach full-groWn proportions
by the time the Eastern racing season
opened. They. as we'll as society were
compelled to make complete alterations
in their plans.
The form students cast one disap-
pointed glance at the sky this morning
and then permitted their breakfast TO
set cold while they revised their selec-
tons. Horses with more endurance
than speed supplanted those with more
speed as popular favorites. and, conse-
QueEtly, the booAynakers We're compelled
20 switch the odds
Dreary Scene at Track.
The track presented a dreary appear
ance as the vanguard of turf followers
reached there shortly after noon. Only
q few of the horses were sent out TO
warm up, the trainers preferring 10
avoid the risk of having the thorough
breds chilled by the damp rain. This
period of inactivity prior TO the sound
OF the first bugle left little for conveT-
sation among the early arrivals except
the enforced feats Of pedestrianism
necessary to negotiate a bet success
fully.
The "bOoIIies'' were not at all alarmed
by the agitation against their opera
tiOns, and they circulated freely among
the pe0pls in the pavilion before the
races began. renewing old acquaintances
and dropping a hint here and there as
10 their probable location in the event
that you might like To take a little
flyer"
Instead OF the brilliant spectacle
which usually marks the opening Of the
racing season in the Fast. there was
today a sonlber aspect at the track
The society women who lose no chance
10 admire the thoroughbred were not
daunted by the rain, but they drove
and rode to the track attired for
warmth rather than style, and the dark
cOiors OF the grandstand were unre-
Heved by any display of prettily decor
ated hats and vart-coIored gowns. But
society was there, nevertheless, and
with IL were more than one who might
be called upon to answer yea" or
nay or present" had he remained in
town.
In this group. though not OF 1t, was
fBig Tim" Sullivan, the King OF the
Bowery, and a former member Of Con-
gress. Tim was happy and smiling, as
usual, and enjoyed himself TO the ut
most without suffering any twinges of
conscience. In years past Tim was
mentally torn asunder by the conflict
ing emotions of love and duty but to
Had to Rely on "Tips."
With the exception Of the horses
which have been campaigning in the
West and South, the public had little
information on which to base confidence
and money. To get a line on the recent
performances Of horses which have
wIntered here. they were compelled to
rely on inside information from the
stable AMI on tips from the rail
birds who have been clockinR the
horses in their try-outs during the early
morning hours for week past.
Tie greatest interest. OF course, CEN
tered IN the Benning Handicap. the
eourth event on the card. Seventeen
&crses were named to start in this
event, but owing to the poor track
conditions several scratches We're made.
There were detectives in great num-
bers at the track Private detectives
were on hand 70 look out for the gem
eral good behavior Of every one and
more especially to institute a censor
ship over telephone and teIegraphic
communication from the track 10 shut
out the poolrOOm element. Several
Washington detectives also took IN rba
sights and incidentally made note of
the betting operations, the evidence
thus obtained TO he used later in the
efforts which are being made 10 elirnin-
ate the gambling feature of the run
ming races.