The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-02
Fair Helen First
In the Handicap
J. McTaggart Pilots Mount
Home Ahead of Field in
Inaugural Feature.
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS
By GEORGE B. MORRIS.

Bowie, Md, April 1.-THE Eastern rae
ing season was ushered in this afternoon
at the Prince Georges county track under
excellent conditions. The course was in
good shape; the fields well balanced. and
the attendance large. Not only was
society folk from Baltimore and PhiIadel-
phia and Richmond well represented, but
New York sent large delegation down
and a thoroughly good afternoons sport
was had. The grandstsnd was crowed
and every available inch OF space was
occupied.
The card, while not a high class one
furnished some real thrills, and in several
of the numbers the finishes were ex-
tremely close, especially so in the feature
number of the card, the fourth race. the
inaugural handicap at seven furlongs,
when Fair Helen just managed to nose
out Redland.
Johnny McTaggart was the bright star
of the afternoon, riding two winners,
and each number he put up by a clever
piece OF riding.
There was seven races on the card the
feature event being the Inaugural Handi-
cap at seven furlongs. This number
brought six horses to face Starter Dade,
but the race was marred by the running
away of Republican, mile and six fur
longs, after having been led to the
chute" The moment he was released
he broke and after that whatever chance
he had of winning was ruined.
Republican Bad Actor.
1t will be remembered last year on
the opening day, this old rogue after hav-
ing a race at a similar distance at his
mercy, elected to 90 to the outside of
the track in the run home and finished
outside of the money lie seems to be
hard luck horse. as he has done practical
" nothing since he changed hands last
fall.
After a delay Of ten minutes Republi-
can was taken back to the starting post.
The field was away well and Fair Helen
moved into an easy lead for the first
half mile, but tired badly in the last
sixteenth. Redlsnd. who was in second
position when the stretch was reached
came with a rush at the end and was
wearing the winner down at every stride.
He finished full of courage and had the
riders been reversed the latter would
surely have won. 1t was only Johnny
McTaggart's rafting finish that saved
Fair Helen from defeat.
The surprise in this race was the bad
third finished by Flittergold. who was
beaten four lengths for the second
money. He was heavily supported by
the public and carried the majority Of
money in the mutuels.
Follow FIitteraOld.
After the running away of Republican
the race looked to be at the mercy of
Flittergold, and those who had wagered
on the Muller horse rushed into the
mutuel machines to support Flittergold
in an effort to get even, but they were
badly fooled when Fair Helen led all
the way and won by scant head.
Redlands race was a thoroughly good
I,uhl 10
in his next start.
The opening race for maiden two-year-
Odds at four furlongs was won by Great
Dolly, who defeated the hot tip DR..
Nelson by a half length, while Wau-
keag was third, a head away
That Dr. Nelson was best was evident
as he had a good command at the
stretch turn for home, but ran to the
middle of the track, where Great Dolly
saved ground and won going away.
waukeag, who finished third, ran a good
race and closed on leaders. She was
away badly, and might have been up
much closer had 1t not been for this fact
... Second to Between Us.
The second number on the card, a fiye
and half furlong affair. brought a
larger field to the post. Ina Kay was
fancied, while Martin Casca and Be.
tween Us also were we'll supported.
Martin Casca would probably have won
this number bad he not met with in
terference at the start, and also being
carried wide turning for home.
Between Us closed with a rush in the
r,o.,uv~yy,vr> ~, q m v.o,u