view raw text
RACING AT HAWTHORNE. The track was heavy and holding yesterday at Hawthorne, but notwithstanding this the attendance was up to the average and the racing all the way through was interesting. TJjere were three close finishes, one accident, a rank form reversal and a disqualification, so it is plainly seen that there was reason for excitement. Only one favorite second during the afternoon and consequently the bookmakers must have had a winning day. Thore was no distinct feature to the racing, bnt more than ordinary interest was centered around the last event, which was at one mile for three-year-olds. There were but five starters in this race, but every horse was well backed. Norford was the natural favorite and opening at 6 to 5 was backed down to 9 to 10. Greenock, from the Schorr stable, with Barns up, was cut from 2i to 1 down to 2 to 1. Aloha 11. dropped from 30 to 1 to 20 to 1. and Major Mausirs price shrunk from 20 to 1 to 15 to 1. The Unknown was the only one that lacked much support and opening at fours his price steadily receded to tens. Norfords forte is speed and mud and everything taken into consideration he perhaps should have won this race but Starter Holtman was none too kind to him and seut him away all tangled up. This seemed to rattle the once-famoue jockey, Patsy McDermott. who was riding Norford, and he at once went to work and rode the colt for all he was worth iu an effort to get quickly to the front. Burns, who had managed to get away in front with Greenock, hung close to Norford all down the back-stretch and this had a tendency to make the Baldwin colt stop. The Unknown tried to come up in between Norford and Greenock on tlie far turn but lie was promptly shut off and for an instant at the head of the stretch it seemed that the favorite was going to win but the early pace told on him and when pressure was brought to bear he swerved badly, sharply interfering with and almost throwing Greenock over the fence. About this time along came Aloha II., who had been plodding in behind the leaders all the way, and with a well timed rush he got to and passed Norford a sixteenth out. winning cleverly by a length. The judges wasted little or no time in disqualifying Norford who finished second, thereby giving The Cnknown second place and Greenock the third end of the purse. The judges set Patsy McDermott down for the remainder of the meeting for foul riding. This ruling seems a trifle sharp inasmuch as Norford was a tired horse wheu he hit the head of the stretch, and it is doubtful if any other jockey could have kept him from swerving as he did. The sudden awakening of Prince Blazes iu the fifth race caused no end of comment. The geldings last two races at Washington Park were very bad, but in yesterdays race he had speed enough to go to the front at the start and led all the way, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of the favorite. Walkenshaw, v ith Bullmau up. The Princes price was 8 and 10 to I iu this race, but it is hardly possible that the long price should make any difference in the geldings running. Aunowans win ia the fourth race was a sensational one. He was ridden by L. Rose and seemed to Bounder in the going at the start and wab also interfered with to a certain extent , when Tremble fell on the first turn, consequently when the field got straightened away down the backstretch Aniiowau was ten lengths behind. Rose used good judgment and never tried to better his position uutil the coit got well CONTINUED ON SEOOND P1QK, RACING AT HAWTHORNE. Continued from First Page. settled in li is stride, which he did shortly after passing the half mile post, and then he gradually picked up his horses one by one and when the stretch was reached he was second only three lengths back of Intriguer. The latter quit badly in the final furlong but Annowan Wept right on going and at the finish was a length and a half in the lead. Holdup outgamed Intriguer and beat him by a neck forsecond place. Bullmau perhaps threw the third race away on Sannazarro. The colt is a mud runner of high class, and at the head of the stretch had a lead of a length and a half; but instead of going on about his business Bullman thought it proper to pose a bit in front of the stand, when all of a sudden along came Dandy Jim with a terrific rush, and before Bullman got out of his trance the wire was reached and Dandy Jims number was staring the crowd in the face. Sannazarro pulled up quite lame, and Bullman offers as an excuse for being beaten that the colt broke down under him. But, as a matter of fact, he was caught napping. Robert Waddell, in this race, made a cracking good showing under a miserable ride, and will be a hard horse to beat when next out in such company. It was like finding it to take the money on Hermoso in the second race, which was a condition affair at three-quarters of a mile. Weight seems to cut little or no figure with this horse and in the mud he comes pretty near being a stake horse. He was held at 8 to 5 and Pupil, on account of Bullman, was quoted at 11 to 10. Rose broke in front with Hermoso and was never headed, winning under a stout pull by three lengths. Pupil did his best, and at one time in the stretch got alarmingly close to Hermoso. but this was simply because Rose got careless and at the end the big chestnut son of Sir Modred— Fidelity was going away. Icon, at the false price of 5 to 1, lasted long enough to stagger home in front of Woodstick in the first race. This colt Icon has a particular fondness for heavy going. He was lucky here, however, in getting away flying, otherwise Woodstick would have won. Jockey M. Dunn, who fell with Tremble in the fourth race, was not badly hurt.
