The Washington herald., 1916-11-22
Big Fire AT BOWIE
DESTROYS HORSES
Nine Thoroughbreds Burned to Ashes.
Including Best at Prince
George Park. -

Total loss .................... s1s,75o
Bowie, Nd. Oct. 2l.-Fire of an un-
known origin broke out at the Bowie race
track shortly after noon today. and as a
result nine thoroughbreds were burned %
death. The horses which were burned to
ashes included some of the best horses at
the course. They were Yellowstone, Cor
sican, King Box, Running Shot, Chelsea,
Bottles Baby. Barsunde. Father Riley.
Both corsican and Father Riley were
entered in races today. The fire broke
out in stables z and G shortly before
noon and within fifteen minutes the build
ings occupied by the horses were in ashes.
Panic reigned for some time in adjoining
stables, lest the fire should spread to
nearby buildings. Scores of animals were
turned lost and allowed to run wild to the
surrounding fields.
; Corsican and Yellowstone were owned
by ]. @. Wagnon, who acquired the
former horse recently from ]. w. Hen
Ior1ck at price said to be $1,000
Z. H c'Snapper'D Garrison lost two
horses, Chelsea and Bootle's Baby. King
Box, who was looked upon as a horse of
considerable class. belonged to Paul Mills
Joyland and Father Riley were taken
from the stable in safety. but when turn
ed loose both animals ran directly into
the burning stables and Berished in the
flames.
The nine horses were valued approx
mately at about S15, 900 and the loss will
fall heavily on several of the owners, as
they had little or no insurance on them
at all. While IL Is not known how the fire
originated, It Is believed that an oil stove
was upset in some manner. The fire took
place at the noon hour, when all the sta
BILE hands were at dinner, and SO rapidly
did It spread that before the alarm could
be sounded the buildings were almost
razed to the ground.
Much sympathy is EXPRESSED among the
horsemen over the severe loss sustained
by ]. G. Wagnon, and It is said a sub-
scription will be raised to partly reim-
burse the horsemen who suffered the Sc
we're losses.
The ardor of the afternoons sport was
dampened little by the catastrophe, as
the stables were remote from the track
proper, and many persons at the course
did not know a fire had taken place
The races were run as usual. and Lam
tana started the days speculation by
romping home half a dozen lengths in
front of Supernal and Gold Bond Glory
Belle was a hot favofite. but at no stage
Of the race was she dangerous and fin
ished in the rear.
The best thing of the day went over in
the second number when Jockey Robinson
outrode Jimmy Butwell, and as a result
Amalgamator got home by a nose at the
long price OF $50 for a g ticket. Butwell
evidently did not see Robinson on the rail
and went to sleep on Manokin. With a
better ride the Bedwell horse would have
won. Brooklyn got the short end Of the
pune
Freda johnson had no trouble whatever
getting home in the following race by
two lengths, and going away with Minda
and Finalee finishing in the order named
The feature number, the fourth race.
an affair OF seven furlongs, the High
Weight Handicap, was easy for the con-
sistent Haubert, who followed the pace
closely until the stretch was reached,
where he drew away into an easy lead to
win from Marse Henry and Kewessa.
Hauberk has come to be a horse of con-
siderable class, and, with the exception of
Leochares, is probably the best sprinter
at the course.
fifth race, easily disposing of Juliet and
Handful. The latter was heavily backed,
but Robinson failed to show his good
horsemanship on this horse and she was
messed all over the track. With better
ride Handful would have probably won.
As far as racing goes the best number
of the day came in the sixth race when
Dundreary beat old Billie Baker a whisker
right at the wire, while High Tide was
third. Billie Baker ran a great race. At
the half mile he was out of the running
by twenty lengths. He gradually wore his
Held down, one by one, and would have
won in another stride
The nightcap went to Squeeler who
won handily from CfIf Field and Har-
bard. Margaret N. had a lot of support
ers and she fiattered her hackers for the
first three-quarters, where she was out
In front winging, but when the test came
in the stretch she failed dismally and
finished in the rear
The Bowie management are endeavor-
ing to make a match race between Leo
chares and another horse, the name of
which has not been made public. The
race is to take place on Thanksgiving
Day. In all probability 1t will be be-
tween Hauberk and Leochares. The lat
ter has never been extended and should
this pair meet, q great race should result
therefrom. There are many who believe
Hauberk can defeat the great Leochares,
but on all form shown this fall Leochares
probably will have little or no trouble In
taking Hauberk into camp, should the
match race be made.
The attendance continues to increase
daily and with the well-balanced cards
contested each day, the Bowie course is
becoming more in public favor than ever
before.
The horses that were quartered in sta
bles contiguous to the ones destroyed
were sent to the Marlboro course, where