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j JUDGE HI IVIES BIG PRIZE. The Chicago Jockey Clubs spring meeting opened auspiciously yesterday with a crowd estimated at between 10,000 and 12,000 people. The spacious grandstand and big betting amphitheatre were filled to repletion and the brick walk in front presented a big crowd when the horses went to the post in the various races. Apart from a light shower that fell at noon no rain fell during the remainder of the day. The track, owing to many car loads of sand having been placed on top of it and mixed with the loam and to being wet under the top crust, was very tiring and consequently the time was markedly slow. The feature attraction of the days sport was the Hawthorne Handicap, a sweepstakes for three-year-olds and upward at one and one-eighth miles with a guaranteed value of 0,000. Of the twenty-one scheduled to start, nine were withdrawn, but two added starters at the last moment, Ahola and Jordan, sent a field of fourteen to the post. Little Scout, probably "Owing" to his good showing in the Powers Handicap ut Worth, was regarded as best and made a 2 to 1 favorite. Hardly a horse of the fourteen but what was generously backed, however. The winner turned up in Judge Himes, which won the Kentucky Derby recently. A wise few backed the Ellison colt, getting as good as 30 to 1. After a delay of twelve minutes at the post, during which Jordan acted restive and stubborn, starter Holtman got the field off to a good start with the exception of Red Comyn, which propped just as the barrier went up. Ahola, closely attended by Favo-nius, showed the way to the first quarter, with the rest well bunched. Just before turning into the backstretch Favonius opened up a gap on Ahola of one and a half lengths, with Glen Water third and Huzzah fourth. Here, Little Scout was running along in eighth position with but little chance of getting through, while Hargis, Red Comyn and Jordan were already seen to be thoroughly beaten. When straightened into the backstretch the colors of Charles Ellison were seen to pass rapidly from seventh position so that by the time the first six furlongs post had been reached Judge Himes had moved up to Favonius saddle girth. Here, Ahola still appeared to be running easily in third place with Glen Water fourth and Huzzah lapped, the last named having maintained a position well up from the very start. Just as the field made the far turn Judge Himes shot to the front with ridiculous ease and each stride appeared to carry him farther away from his nearest competitor. He turned into the final quarter about five lengths in the lead. It was about here that Ahola became well spent and fell away beaten. Huzzah and Glen Water soon followed suit, while the green, red and yellow colors of Gregor K. were seen to be moving up fast. Favonius fell back to sixth position along here, but rallied and moved up fast when straightened out for home. It was patent to everyone present, as Judge Himes moved along easily at the last eighth post, that he had the field well beaten and it was only a question of how far. In the closing strides he was eased up somewhat, but even at that won in hollow fashiqn by seven lengths from Favonius, " Continued on sixth page. JUDGE HIMES BIG PRIZE. Continued from first page. â– which beat Little Scout four lengths for second place. Favonius stood a long stretch drive gamely and easily outstayed Gregor K. in the last eighth struggle. When Little Scout got clear sailing at the head of the stretch he closed up ground fast and came with a tardy rush at the end. Gregor K. was done for opposite the paddock gate. Huzzah ran a good race to the head of the stretch and then retired. Red Comyn and Jordan were never serious contenders. The stake was worth ,635 to the winner. The days opener, a dash of five furlongs for three-year-olds and upward, proved to he an easy thing for Charley Ellisons good colt Skilful. Toah was thought to be the best and was made a 2X to 1 favorite, but he ran a dull race and was never a serious contender, the going being unfavorable to him. When the barrier went up Never Fret rushed into the lead and opened up a gap of two and one-half lengths on Joe Martin, with Skilful a lapped on third. Never Fret held his advantage until well into the homestretch, where he began to tire and Skilful had little trouble in passing into the lead, winning easily by four lengths from High Chancellor, which beat Joe Martin two and one-half lengths for second place. Never j Fret fell away badly beaten when a furlong J out. The others never gave their backers ! the slightest hopes at any part of the race. Peter Paul, which ran some creditable j races at "Worth, was supposed to be much . the best in the second race, a four and a ! half furlongs scramble for two-year-olds, ; but ran far below expectations, third being , the best he could do. Manshak, as usual, j dashed to the front at flagfall and opened up a gap of two and a. half lengths on Proceeds, with Peter Paul third. Manshak retained his advantage up to the last eighth post, where he tired suddenly and fell away heaten. Here Proceeds moved into the lead, closely pressed a moment later by Sweetie, j the two fighting it out sharply to the wire. Sweetie won by the shortest of noses, while Proceeds finished four lengths before Peter i Paul for second place. The last named swung a little wide when turning for home, losing some ground, but tired palpably in the last sixteenth struggle under a poor ride and was a much distressed horse at the end. Apart from Manshak the others never had a look in. The steeplechase over the short course proved an easy thing for Crest, the C to 5 favorite. She led all the, way and, jumping cleanly throughout, won by two and a half lengths from Duke of York, which beat King Galong a neck for second place. Indian IL ran into the fence at the first jump and unseated his rider, while Hand Vice fell heavily over the last jump. John McGurk had an easy time of it in the fifth race, a dash of one and one-sixteenth miles for four-year-olds and upward. He began slowly, but when straightened out down the backstretch passed horses rapidly so that by the time the first six furlongs had been run he had a commanding lead. He remained easily in front thereafter, winning as his rider pleased by five and a half lengths from Prince of Africa, which beat Ed Adack four for second place. The concluding race of the day, a dash of six furlongs for three-year olds and upward, resolved itself into a spirited last sixteenth struggle between Tom Maybin and Sardine, the former reaching the wire first "by a head, Sardine-finishing four lengths in front of Optional for second place. Speculation was very heavy throughout the afternoons sport, especially in the big Handicap.
