The Washington herald., 1922-12-01
BOWIE PARK r.
RACES CLOSE
YEAR MEAST
Blackforrs Colt Maxim 40
-sIakes Thanksgiving Feature,
Defeating Hephaistos.
By LEONARD w. COLLINS.

ID 30.-ln the presence OF
what officials estimated as
being the greatest throng to ever
file through the turnstiles into
Prince Georges Park, major rae
ing in the East for 1922 was
concluded this afternoon. A bet
ter than average card, coupled
with q lightning fast strip and
ideal climatic conditions, served
rs the magnet to attract the ca
pacity crowd.
Long before post time for the first
race had arrived every available seat
In the spacious grandstand was
occupied. while standing room was
at a premium upon the lawn, IN the
paddock and along "railbird" row.
Officials found 1t necessary to throw
open the infield in order to accom-
modate the overflow.
As the getaway-day feature the
Southern Maryland Agricultural As
sociation offered its patrons the
second running of the $4,000
Thanksgiving Handicap. an affair
at a mile and one-quarter fashioned
for 3-year-olds mad upward, under
handicap conditions. The winner
turned up from a most unexpected
year-old colt. Maximac. Frank 8.
Browns Hephaistos was second and
Rockminister, third
BRILLIANT FIELD.
With such acknowledged stars as
the Lexington Stables Lucky Hour.
the conceded champion Of the g.
year-old division for 1922; Montford
Jones' brilliant Rockminister: the
faf
queror of Exterminator in the
Pfmlico Cup; the Greentree Stables
Medina and others of more or less
ability. competing. the event gave
every indication Of being as pre-
tentious as any Offered Maryland
racegoers during the current season.
On the strength of his impressive
score in the Prince Georges handi-
cap. of a week ago. Lucky Hour.
which was coupled with the Xalapa
Farm Bon Homme in the wagering,
went to the post an overwhelming
favorite in the mutuels. Rockminster
was the one next most favored, while
Medina was third choice.
Unfortunately, the Bowie course Is
not equipped with a chute at the
top of the stretch and it was neces-
sary that the start from the three
quarters pole be made from on the
bend. Lucky Hour in the draw for
post positions was handicapped right
at the start through the fact that
he was twelfth from the rail. while
Rockminster was favored in drawing
the rail position.
ALL BREAK CLEAN.
Starter Marshall Cassidy lost but
two minutes in getting the field into
perfect alignment and when he re-
leased the barrier the fourteen
broke cleanly with the advantage
favoring none. AS the band passed
the stand the first time Blazes was
rafing out in front half length to
the good of Maximac. while LUCKY
Hour was the next in closest It
tendance to the early pacemakeJs
At the half-mile pole on the|back-
stretch Blazes had lengtheTed out
his lead over the opposition to two
full lengths and was. running
strongly. Maximac waS still fore
ing the pace. but Bon Honime had
moved up into the third hole. Just
before reaching the half Schuttinger
had Lucky Hour running clear. but
a few lengths in back OF the
leader.
For some unknown reason Schut-
finger elected to go down on the
rail and the move proved disas-
trous- Why he ever took the fleet
footed son of Ferole or Hourless
into the deep going is probably
known only to himself Then when
he discovered his mistake and at
tempted to go around the two mace
makers he found himself blocked.
BLAZES DROPS OUT.
As the field swung into the
stretch Blazes gave way under the
gruelling pace and Maximac as
sumed command. Blazes held
Medina by a half length and the
latter was in front Of Copper
Demon full length. with the
others looming up in a menacing
manner.
At the sixteenth pole Maximac
was running with a long. frictionIess
stride. and to the more practiced
eve was there and then decided
upon as the eventual winner. Hen
haistos had found clear passage on
the inner rail and was closing with
rush. while Rockminister was
coming up on the outside. As the
field flashed under the wire Maxi.
mac was out in front a length and
one-half ahead of Hephaistos and
the latter was four to the good of
Rockminister.
That Maximac's score was in no
wise the result of racing luck can
be shown by the time for the one
mile and One-quarter route. The
Blackford colt had reeled the dis.
tance off in 2.09 is. Just one second
better than the track record
In the wagering Maximac had
been placed in the field with Paul
Jones. Opperman. and Blazes. The
speculators completely neglected the
four in their operations with the re-
suit that Maximac's score returned
&25 90 for the usual inYestrnent