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PINK COATS FINK RACK. i Hawthorne is certainly haviDg a successful inning these days, and yesterday afternoon— Friday, which is always considered an off day on racetracks— a crowd of over 5,000 lovers of horse racing crowded into the magnificent Cicero grounds. There was no stake race or in fact any attraction out of the ordinary line, but the seven overnight races furnished royal sport for the crowd, there being no less than three close exciting finishes. From a speetacular point of view the sixth event outdid the others. This race was at nine furlongs and had eleven starters and eight of these finished lapped on one another, the first three being so close together that only the judges could place them correctly. Miss Liza got the verdict and it seemed to be a popular victory. The filly was ridden by the midget, Jed Waldo, who is a great favorite with the women folks who attend the races, and when number eight. Miss Lizas number, was hung out there came near being a panic in the stand. Master Waldo got away well and hugged the rail all the way. saving considerable ground. He also kept his wits about him when the pinch came and was deserving of the victory he gamed. Behind Miss Liza was a staggering bunch headed by Senator Thompson and seconded by Warrior, who had all he could do to outstay The Devil. Pink Coat is perhaps the best horse in the western country at a mile or over now and the way in which he disposed of Mint Sauce and won the fifth race at a mile was inspiring. This handsome bay son of Leonatns Alice Brand picked up 114 pounds and came home in 1:39;. It was not so much the fast time that caused the observing ones to comment on the performance, but the way in which Pink Coat "delivered the goods" was what caught the eye of the knowing horseman. He loafed in behind the leaders until the stretch was reached, then went and got them when he got ready in a matter of fact sort of way. First one day easily in 1 :40 and driven out to win in 1 :414 another time is Hard Knots record in the past three days, which goes to ehow what a poor criterion time is to go by. On Wednesday Hard Knot, with 105 pounds up. beat Mint Sauce and John Baker like cracking sticks, but yesterday, with seven pounds more weight up, it almost took him his life to beat Dissolute by a narrow margin in 1 :414. There is considerable rough riding going on at present and this caused the judges to take sharp action in the last race and disqualify one of the placed horses. Hub Prather, who finished third to Clara Meader and Tim Gainey, was the one that suffered and the decision was met with great approval. Jed Waldo, with the favorite, Vincennes. was crowded and badly-interfered with by R. Narvaez and Hub Prather in the 6tretch ; enough in fact to cause Vincennes defeat consequently the judges sharp action was right in line. Clara Merder, a 20 to 1 chance, won the race simply because she was fortunate in skinning the rails without being interfered with at the head of the stretch. The field left the post all in a tangle in the second race and it is a wonder no serious accident took place. As it was, the result was a tal e one and Van Hoorebekes victory must be credited more to racing luck than to the geldings ability. Fancy Wood is a hard one to beat at present, and her win of the five-furlong two-year-old-filly race was a sensational performance. Wink-field got Fancy Wood sharply interfered witli oh the far turn, but she overcame the trouble gamely and at t lie end was going away in 1:01 liat. Jolly Roger, Jim W. and Sam Fulleu will be i sold at public auction Thursday next at Harlem. Jockeys Narvaez, Walsh and Kiley were all suspended for one week by judges Kuhl and Trevathan for careless riding. Walsh was on Fridolin in the third race and let his mount bump the other horses freely on the far turn. Kiley did the same thing with Nobleman in the fourth race, while Narvaez. who was on Hub Prather in the the closing event of the day, cut off Vincennes, for which his mount was disqualified after finishing third. Hawthorne puts out a strong card for its closing attraction to-day and, with good weather, it is probable that the attendance record will be broken. There are seven races on the program, including the Northern Stakes, an owners handicap, and a handicap steeplechase. Six horses of fair class are named in the Northern Stakes, which is at one and one-eighth miles. These are: Milwaukee. 113; Jolly Roger. 112; Clay Poynter, 102; Boney Boy, 101; The Bobby, 98, and Henry C, 98. The owners handicap, one mile, will call out Malaise. 100 pounds ; Miss Mae Day. 90; Alcedo, 90; Norford, 90; The Lady. 90. The starters in the handicap steeplechase are Young Exile. 153 pounds; Passe Partout, 147; Becky Rolfe, 143: Viking 130; Frond. 127 ; Minor D., 125 : Manchie. 125. For the last race, a selling event at one mile for three-year-olds and upward, there were fifty-six entries. Secretary Letcher weeded out all except twenty-four, and then split the race, leaving twelve to start in each field. Arrangements have been made to handle an immense crowd at Hawthorne today. Extra trains will be run on the Illinos Central and Burlington, and there will also be an increase in the trolley car service connecting with the elevated lines.
