Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
IS Plungers Made and Lost Fortunes at Bennng Track

almost all Of whom braved the threat
ening weather and appeared in hand
some Spring gowns"
And again:
when the bugle sounded in the pad
dock for the Spring handicap steeple
chase nearly 100 women, with their
escorts. crowded into the field from the
clubhouse, adding interest to the
event. Bettors downstairs rushed to
the grandstand.
Famous horses seen at Benning dur
ing its near 20 years of active service,
old files show. included such timber
toppers as Good and Plenty, Land of
Glover. and Caller. Among the steeple-
chasing jockeys were Jimmy O'Msra, L.
Dunlop. Eugene Finnegan. Tim Dono-
hue. Nat Chandler and c. Vieth.
Among others in the silks" at Ben-
ming it is recalled, we're Fred Tarsl.
Jailed the dean of American jockeys;
Marty Bergan, Nash Turner. Winnie
O'Connor. Danny Maher. Johnny Slack.
Tommy Burns, Johnny O'Keefe, Johnny
Bullman and Henry Griffin.
Samuel Ross of the firm of Barber e.
Ross was one of the Washingtonians
who had horses appearing now and
again at the Benning races. Mr.. Ross
also was interested in the club. One
of his horses was named Cheek.
Belmont, was described in 1896, at the
time of his appearance at Benning. as
lone of the greatest horses ever bred
in the United States"
X X
ON April IL, 1908, the last regular
~ Saturday afternoon races were held
at Benning. And the fans in and near
Washington, seeing the handwriting on
the wall concerning the end OF racine
at the old track, turned out in gre
numbers. All roads led to Bennine
seemed. and by the time the first r.
was called there were fully $4,000
sons in the Enclosure of the Washi
ton Jockey Club The big grands'
fortably filled Notables of the di'
matte. social, Navy. Army and turf
cles we're reported present in go
numbers.
The handicap race proved to be dis
appointing, as such good horses as
Berkeley, Banyah. Bellwether, Oracu-
lum. The Clown and Billy Hibbs we're
pulled out of the race. leaving in Royal
Lady. who defeated Oxford. who was
supposed to be the sure thing" Thus
the crowd was not only heartbroken
but also lighter in cash. according to
the best of reports.
in the Officers Army Service Cup, Of
fered for the first time. Four of the
contestants were from the 18th Cavalry
and two of them were prize winners.
On this occasion there were about
200 of Uncle Sans boys present in uni
form, adding to the color of the event,
and they led in cheering the winners.
! After the race the fortunate riders as
cended to the judges stand and were
presented with cups by Maj. Gen. Win
! tiers. who had acted as one Of the
! judges.
A 100000 race was run on the last
| day Of the last meeting at the ctt.rse.
/ All but two of the rsces were finished
| in Embarrassing" order. according to
reports of the time. but the real excite
ment came In the LIST race, won by
| Bill Daily with MS FLY Umbrella. ridden
by little w. Burns. The Daily platter
managed to stagger across the line In
front Of Banker. "a winner by an eye
! lash"
The race was gift to the layers"
and 1t was reported that they .garnered
a total of 100000 on the result of this
one race. There were but three horses
| to face the harrier-Banker. D'Arkle
and Umbrella Banker was made ia
vorite at to 5. D'Arkle was at 8 to
| and Umbrella was the outsider at to /.
/ The stable was reported to have
! waited until Banker had gone to even
money before the money began to show.
| Then commissioners suddenly swarmed
over the lawn. and the layers were Of
! fered as much as they wanted CT
| Banker.
In the Fall of 1905 horse show was
] staged at the Benning track. and there
was at least one race run. bu. this
event failed to attract real crowds. aid
the prophecy mace ea:lier proved true
that with betting unier the legal Ian
horse racing In the District would be
no more.
The crack IN years since this arti-
climactic event has ben used as The
| Winter training course for yearlings
later to be sent to other tracks.
Admiral Cary T. Grayson, Samuel
Ross. Harry Payne Whitney. Preston
and Selby Burch and f.. B. Mclean are
among owners who have had horses In
training there since 1906.
At present there are about so hor1es
In training at Benning.