The Washington times., 1912-05-17
,BENN|NG TRACK
TO Be READY FOR
v RACES TOMORROW
Washington Riding and
Hunt Club First Events
Run In Sea of Mud.

scrapers are running over the race
track at Benning today, and with these
and wind and sun at work the race
course bids fair to be in the best of con-
dtion when sport is resumed tomorrow
afternoon. The comparatively few
spectators of yesterday saw, good con-
tests in spite of the fact that the track
mating with spots of oozy, liquid mud.
jockeys are engaged today in cleaning
mud stains from bright colored sleeves
and caps. Stable boys and grooms
concluded removing deposits OF race
track from their charges.
Officials of the washington Riding
and Hunt Club. which is conducting the
two days meet, are receiving congratu-
latlons on their determination to go
ahead regardless of the rain of .yester-
tually started the rain had stopped.
Later in the day the sun peeped out.
Those society, folk who swore they
would brave the rain found their cour-
age unneeded; Representatives Of polite
society found themselves constituting
the larger part of the spectators of the
the piazzas of the club house than in
the grandstand. Secretary Myer and
Gen. Leonard Wood, Perry Belmont,
0Ided1a ga f M; Gnr Thompson us and Congressman
son were among the notables present,
as was Miss Helen Taft. Some we'll
known horsemen were present, includ-
ing pHg G r. Fleischmann and Ivan Fox of
philadelphia, whose Alfred Noble won
the most important event of the after
noon, the Potomac Steeplechase, the
victory securing $500 and a cup given by
Mrs. Lathrop Brown.
... Railbirds Present.
Resumption of racing at Benning
brought to the grounds some of the old
time rallbirds who have watched horses
fa,
genus known as ,''touts" slipped over
from Pimlico. for the day and re-
formed bookmaker or two was in the
crowd = - = S.. .-..r
III these last felt any, inclina ton to
packsllde they were deferred by the
presence of dozen plain clothes men
or the Metropolitan police force To-
sether with officers In uniform the de-
tectiVes kept up active watch for anv
arteinPt a'.o at runNng handbook and
even had private wage layers somewhat
1eafful OF arrest. The majesty of tho
anu-bettlng law was fairly inyiolate
When the day ended.
Following an easy victory nv Apacba
IN the first race in which the Fleisch-
mann horse won from Ballymore and
Sireeston III the order named, four army
oLncers OH brought out their hunters for
X. G. Alexander, on Miss Hynes, was
generally picked to win, and win he did
~ TI; about Two two lengths from Knight of
Lieut.. G. S. Patton was third on Alex.
ander. Lieut.. f. M. Whiting rode Fico,
when fell at the first jump. Whiting
was up again in few seconds, how
ever, and finished the race. though the
accident had put him clear out of the
running. Lieutenant Alexander won a
cup given by Ivan Fox. ..
For the National Capital cup, given by
]. E.fWidener. eight army horses went
70 the post: Lieutenant Harkness, rid
ing Capt. NJ. \. Elltott's Goldwick, fur
nished surprise here. Goldwick, an
Gnconsidered horse, leaped to the front
and was never headed in this contest,
which was two miles on the fiat.
IonoLrow,s program calls for seven
more races, including the elaborate
service test for cavalry horses, which
Will try the mettle of various officers
steeds in endurance as well as in speed
and in jumping ability.
Summaries of Events.
Yesterdays summaries:
First racemThree,year-olds e,y6 and up
Apache. 1852 (Mr. Wildeyl, to and out
won; Ballymore, 132 (Mr. WrighD, to
and even, second; Creston, l52 Uieu-
tenant lyman, to ! and to 5, third
Time; Ia. John A. MunSo. and Tampico
also ran.
Second race-The Washington Re-
plate; about two miles. Miss Hynes, 1853
Lieutenant AleXander), to 10 and out,
won; Knight Cf Elway, 165 Uieutenant
Dickey), 7 to and out, second; Gray
field. 155 Uieutenant Patton), to l and
even, third. Time, Ass. Fico also ran.
Third race-The Potomac Steeplechase
Handicap; four-year-olds and upward
purse, $500 and plate; about two miles.
Alfred Noble, 1862 CDonohue), l to 3 and
out, won; Day Bell, 18S (Heathering-
tom, 2 to 1 and 1 to 2, second; Country
Guy, 135 (Tuckey). 6 to /, 2 to /, and
even, third. Time. 4:41 3-5. Nancy
Pansy, Clelrs Sister, Referee, and Flat
run also ran.
Fourth race-The polo scramble: purse,
800 and silver cup; about one-quarter
of mile. Brownie. $50 (Mr Patten). I
to l and even won; Wee Winnie, 100
CMr. II. Legare), even and 2 to 5, Sec
ond; Pontet Canet, 100 Captain Vidverl,
to ] and to 5, third. Time. OPS Is.
Magician, Garnet, and Nestor also ran.
Fifth race-The Chevy Chase Cup
Steeplechase for Hunters; purse, $500