Evening star., 1950-04-30
Pine Pep Wins
Hunt
Before 10000
CIothier Horse Takes
Four-MiIe Chase for
Second Straight Time
Bv AnoeIino J. CorobeIIi
By Angelina J. CorobeII
Stor Siaff Correspendent

Stor Stoff Correspondent
GLYNDON, Md, April 29.-Run-
ming away from Our Hobo in the
stretch, Pine Pep, a 10-year-old
gelding owned by Mrs. William j.
Clothier of Philadelphia, won his
second consecutive Maryland Hunt
Cup victory here today, taking the
54th running of the timber
topping classic before about 10000
fans.
1t was the third victory for
Michael Smithwick, who had the
mount on Pine Pep last year and
also was up on Peterski, the 1948
winner. Smithwick defeated IL
rivals in today's race, held on the
estate of Mr.. and Mrs. j. w. Y.
Martin in the Worthington Valley.
Pine Pep's time of 9:12 for the
four-mile course, studded with %
obstacles, was slow compared with
his time of 8:51.2 last year. He
also got an apparent break when
the pace-setting Royal Mission,
leading by two lengths. fell at the
18th jump, and two other horses
went off the course. But the
winners power in the stretch was
sufficient evidence that he had
plenty left for a fighting finish.
Done Sleeping Scratched.
Pine Pep and Our Hobo, owned
by Mrs. John B. Hannum, III,
came to the next to the last jump
almost neck and neck. The
Hannum colors were slightly in
front as the horses went to the
fence, but safely on the other side
Smithwick went to a drive and
Pine Pep began to move in
earnest. He was 112 lengths ahead
going over the final barrier and
six lengths in front crossing the
finish line and going away.
Four lengths farther back came
Paul Buffers Some Gold. Roxspur
was fourth.
Done Sleeping. Alvin Inter
meyers great jumper who won
the Grand National last week, was
scratched, as were Village Gossip
and BOMBER.
There was no official betting on
the race. The winner earned an
other leg on the challenge cup
presented by Mr.. and Mrs. Mar
tin. Pine Pep's owner needs only
a victory next year for the three
consecutive wins necessary to gain
permanent possession Of the cup.
Only three of the 13 starters
failed to finish. Joe Aitcheson,
jr., riding Little Springs, came a
cropper at the 18th jump, and
Mrs. Benjamin H. Griswolds Ed
ward NJ. ridden by Mr.. Griswold,
fell at the final fence. Mrs. De-
Witt Sage's Curwick Tim refused
the third fence.
Royal Mission, owned by Lee L.
Chandler, III, and ridden by Gro
yer Stephens, took the lead at the
outset, followed by Pine Pep and
Captain Black with Hugh J..
O'Donovan in the irons.
Irish Tip Leaves Course.
Charles Cushman, riding Irish
Tip, forged ahead into the role
of pacemaker, with Royal Mission
and Captain Black following in
that order. At the tenth fence
Irish Tip went off the course,
taking Captain Black-who was at
his heels-with him. Both re-
turned to the course but the mis-
take obviously cost them what
ever chance they had of winning
Royal Mission made bid at
the 18th fence, taking the jump a
half-length ahead of Pine Pep,
followed by Our Hobo, Captain
Black and Some Gold. 1t was here
that Little Springs, owned by
Lawrence P. Boyce. hit the log
barrier and unseated his rider. At
the 10th fence Royal Mission had
increased his advantage to two
lengths over Pine Pep. Stephens
remounted after the spill at this
Jump and finished the race.
Our Hobo took the lead from
that point, where the colorful
contest became strictly a two
horse race. Smithwick, a good
judge of pace, allowed his oppo-
nent to set the tempo of the race
until the final jump. There he
took command, urging Pine Pep
to the fore for the decisive stretch
run.
The large crowd gathered on the
hillside of the Martin estate
braved a threat of rain to see
the colorful race and were well
rewarded. The gathering includ-
ed horse lovers from all over the
country and a few from abroad.
Other f1nishers in order were as
follows: Captain Black, Domi-
nique You, Clifton's Dan, Barrier,
Irish Tip, Royal Mission.