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HORSES AT BENNINGS. Notwithstanding the snow and ice, trainers were busy at Bennings last week, and most of the horses were worked on the track, which is, of course, frozen hard, but perfectly safe. Charles Ray has arrived from Toronto with Auto, Hackensack, and Miss Lobster. Auto is John E. Maddens steeplechase candidate. He is one of the most impressive horses one ever saw. He is a chestnut, sixteen hands one inch high, the best of legs and feet, plenty of bone and substance, and yet full of quality. He has a strong way of going, a good, clean head, long, rangy neck, and looks a perfect type of the highest class steeplechaser. Ray gave his trio long, useful work on the road, and they seemed to enjoy the bitter weather. Allie Gates, also from Canada, has. got in with trie horses of ?.. W. Cook. This string includes Orontas, Merriment, Benckart, Jerry Mda and Mango. They are all a trifle on the big side, but look hard and hearty. Merriment has improved wonderfully, as she has filled out and furnished down, and Mr. Gates seems to think she will return to her two-year-old form this year. She was never herself last season. Mr. Durnell, the gentleman rider, has arrived from Virginia with the jumpers of J. D. Hall. Ivan, Charles OMalley, Duke of Grassland and Corkscrew are his lot, and Mr. Hall should play a prominent part in the hunters steeplechases. Ivan, Charles OMalley and Duke of Grassland all showed prominently at the autumn meetings at Bennings and at Baltimore last year, and they now appear as though a few pipe openers would make them fit. Mara, the steeplechase rider of the J. W. Colt string, has reported to trainer Gwynne Tompkins, and he expresses himself as much pleased with the looks and condition of the horses. W. B. Jennings has arrived from Maryland with a stable of ten, eight three-year-olds and two two-year-olds. He says his horses are not especially far advanced; still, he expects to have them ready to race by the time the meeting opens.
