The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-09-12
FEttergold Captures Old
Bay Handicap-Phil I'm
ger Nosed Out at Long
Odds.
Nv GEORGE b. MORRIS.

BY GEORGE ID. NORRIS.
Havre de Grace. Nd, Sept IL
Maryland's sixty-seven day season
OF autumn racing opened yester-
day when the barrier went up for
the first time at Havre de Grace
Never was there such a day for
racing anywhere. 1t is not in turf
history that any course was ever
favored with such ideal conditions
for it's initial program. Nor is 1t
recorded anywhere in the annals OF
the sport Of kings" that devotees
of the sport ever were so quick to
take advantage of elements which
so smiled upon their favorite pas
time.
In short, the opening at Havre
de Grace was a success-success
with a capital S. II the signs at
Havre de Grace yesterday be read
correctly, the Maryland meetings
to follow-those at Laurel. Pimlico
and Bowie-are even now assured
of unqualified success from every
angle. The patrons are assured OF
high-class sport; they are assured
of large and enthusiastic crowds;
they are assured of racing without
the slightest feature of discord.
III AoNNu NAN OAAAg NAAAA5 ma No. .
yesterdays racing that cannot be
assured for the future is the
weather. for that was of a class all
in itself. which cannot be guaran-
teed.
It is estimated that more than
10000 race followers from Wash
ington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
New York turned out for the open
ing day. Yes. even New York sent
down a contingent. despite the fact
that the racing game is still going
on at Belmont Park. And sprin-
Killed. in the vast throng were TO be
found the familiar and welcOns
faces of a number of turfmen from
Old Kentucky, New Orleans, and
from that land of good sportsmen
just to the north Of the United
States-Canada.
The stables of the Canadian
horsemen are particularly well rep
resented. Among the owners from
the land of the Maple Leaf noted in
yesterdays thrOng were J. X. l..
Ross, of Montreal: Wilfred Davies
and John Lumsden, of Toronto, and
Capt. William J. Press, of ottawa
All have horses entered to start in
later events
Doubtless the beautiful fall day
had much to DO with calling out
the faithful in such huge numbers.
Society, that indefinite element
which ought always to be referred
to with hats OF. was present from
both the Capital City and Balti-
more in full force. The grand
stands and clubhouse verandas
made pretty picture of fascinat-
ing ColOr5 against the wooded
background Of aUtumnal tints.
Surely there is no place for a wom-
an to disT ~ her new fall gown
10 better advantage than at a race
course on such a day as yesterday.
The track was lightning fast. SeveI
races were carded and each brought
spiendidly balanced field of sterling
performers 10 the post. II is worthy
Of note that for such large fields the
quality was Of rare evenness, and that
no accident nor unspOrtsmanlike
methods marred the conduct of the
barrier. But, for that matter, none
was to be expected with that reliable
veteran Of many campaigns. James
Milton. handling the tape. That is
what Milton is there for. to see just
such starts as contributed to the day S
enjoyment. In the judges stand was
presiding the popular Chris Fitz-
gerald, whose eye seems to grow
keener with each successive season for
noting the loncer nose Of some two
chance COntenders.
Exceptionally thorough were the ar
fragments for policing the course.
Scattered throughout the thronS were
scores of miniOns of The Eye" as
members OF a certain profession refer
to Billy Pinkerton, and these same
miniOns did their share of the work
so well that, paradoXical as it may
sound they had no work at all to do.
They were under charge of ]. J.
Wright, OF Baltimore.
All told. Secretary Rehberger hau
every reason to go to bed last night
happy in the thought that all his ef-
forts had brought returns; that Hayre
de GraCC's opening could not have
been improved. The same story may
be looked for descriptive of the re-
naming racing days at Harye de
Grace.
Never were so many classy animals
shipped 10 Hayre de Grace. Every
box stall is occupied and hundreds
Of equine aTistocrats have had to find
their homes outside the course. With
racing material in such quantity-SeC-
rotary Rehberger estimates that there
are close to 1000 thoroUghbreds at
the track-grand sport is bound to re-
suit.
OF course yesterdays blue ribbon
event was the Old Bay Handicap, a
test Of 3-year-olds-and upwards at one
mile and seventy yards. This race,
however. did not seem to furnish any
more thrills and evoke any more en-
thusiasm than some of the dashes, OF
such uniformly excellent grade was
the entire card.
The running Of the Old Bay Handi-
cap was a disappointment to the fol
lowers of St. IsidoTe the fieet-footed sor
of Isidor Onaga. He was looked upon
as a sure thing. but met with bad
luck as the barrier was sprung ano
the best he could do was to finish
third. The winner turned up in
FlittergOld who was much the best
while ]. ]. Lillis was second. The
winner paid about 9 to /.
Perhaps the largest coup ever at
tempted on any Maryland track took
place this afternoon when L. T
Zollicoffer sent Phil Ungar to the post
at 50 to I, and about q to 2 a place
While Phil was beaten a nose Zolli'
Golfer had the largest amounts dowr
on him a place, and it is said on ex'
ceilent authority that he won in tbs
neighborhood OF $1,000 on this race
Had Phil Ungar gotten home It would
have meant a fortune for his owner
Yodeling repeated his excellent race
Of Belmont Park and came right back
and breeZed home in the closing num-
Der ahead of Brickley and Sam Slick
GIANTS ANNEX TWO