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CLOSELY FOUGHT FINISHES. Two selling1 and four allowance events pro-Tided the card for yesterday at "Washington Park. The track was in fine order and the racing exceedingly interesting. Two races were decided by margins of a head, two by necks, one by a half length and one by a length and a half. Favorites finished first in three events. A 10 to 1 and a 20 to 1 chance also figured in the list of winners. Fourteen two-year-olds went to the post » in the opening race, five furlongs and a half. English Lad ruled favorite throughout, the betting, having a slight call over Flo Bob in the closing quotations. Mizzen Mast was next in the esteem of patrons of the ring. The favorite won after a remarkable race, "Witchcraft, a 25 to 1 chance, being second and Forehand, 12 to 1, third. "Witchcraft was next to the outside and English Lad on the extreme outside at the gate. Both got away * poorly, "Witchcraft next to last, and each had to go a long route and exhibit strength as well as speed. Forehand, which was number one, was quickly in full stride and enjoying an tfptn Icadr Flo Bob and Marshal Ney closed with him on the turn and were clinging to him as he faced down the homestretch. Straightening out "Witchcraft came out of the bunch with a rush and became a contender. After Marshal Ney and Flo Bob had been compelled to yield and the actual contestants appeared to be "Witchcraft and Forehand, the favorite, and Soldier of Fortune dashed out of the ruck and sped rapidly toward the front. At the furlong post English Lads chance looked hopeless. Nevertheless he finished so speedily and determinedly that in the closing strides he joined issue with Witchcraft and Forehand, running nose and nose and beat them a neck on the post. Soldier of Fortune was a good fourth. It was a capital introductory of the days sport. The second race was one mile, for three-year-olds. It brought out Postmaster "Wright, Gilfain, Bonnie Burr, Big Ben and High Chancellor, the latter having an allowance of five pounds and the others carrying full weights. Gilfain and High Chancellor were equal choices in the early ring transactions. Steady backing established Gilfain a strong favorite, at post time. Big Ben obtained considerable support for second place and. was moderately backed to win. Some shrewd speculators Invested freely on Postmaster Wright whenever 10 to 1 was offered. Big Ben set the pace and led by from a length to two lengths for three-quarters of a mile. Postmaster Wright, Gilfain and Bonnie Burr ran in close company for the first half mile, during which High Chancellor was a bad last. Beginning at the upper turn Postmaster Wright went up to Big Ben only to find that the leader could shake him off. When Doc Streetts gelding entered the last quarter he appeared to be going easily while his followers were strung out and under pressure. A hundred yards into the homestretch he began to tire. Then D. Hall got rattled and let go of his horses head and in a few strides more Postmaster Wright was in front. Gilfain and Bonnie Burr were beaten before heading for home. High Chancellor ran fast through the last five hundred yards and at the end was close to the winner. It was an open question whether High Chancellor ■was unable to keep up the first part of the journey or Lester Relff lay away too far. The time, 1:H|, does not reflect a performance of much merit. Gregor K. xwas a prime favorite for the third race at ,sever3|£urlongs and a half. He was heavily backed at 6 to 5 and even money. Bragg was a second choice that attracted comparatively little patronage except for the place. Money and commissions were distributed on each of the other three starters, Sidney C. Love, Hoodwink and Trinity Bell. The little favorite rewarded his backers, but not as easily as was expected. He was extended to the limit of his speed and strength and the finish did not enthuse his partisans. They experienced depressive emotions as they witnessed Sidney C. Love making a resolute and threatening effort and were relieved when the numbers were posted. Then they debated whether the victory was secured by a head, a nose or a nostril. Gregor K. rushed to the front at the start, and just beyond the half mile ground led by nearly three lengths. He had an advantage of two lengths when squared for the finish and Henry was sitting still In the saddle. A little over three-sixteenths from .the end Sidney C. Love and Hoodwink joined a hot pursuit of him. The filly could not quite catch him, but the colt did and engaged him in a desperate and thrilling finish. Bragg performed miserably-in -the -final struggle. Trinity Bell came into the stretch under a drive. Longflo was the long shot of the afternoon. He finished a winner by a head in the fourth race, a mile and a sixteenth, which gathered a field of nine selling platers. Sarah Maxim was almost conceded to be the winner and was plunged upon at 8 to 5 and 7 to 5. Fading Light and Loone were second and third choices at from 4 to 6 and liberal odds were laid against the others. Alene Abbott cut out the work. She held a distinct lead until in the homestretch, where Longflo and Loone closed with her. Fading Light became a contender in the last eighth and fought out the finish with the winner. Longflo was never worse than second. Pyrrho was a close third. Another close contest was witnessed in the fifth* race. From start to finish Golden Rule, the odds-on favorite, and Irene Lindsey were the contenders. Swinging into the stretch Henry on the favorite, carried L. Wilson, on Irene Lindsey, wide, gained a length by so doing and permitted Jane Holly, which made a close turn, to become an apparently dangerous third. In the end Irene Lindsey gave the winner a sharp struggle. As usual, Golden Rule was a crazy animal at the post. John A. Drake won his first race at the meeting, when, in the closing selling event of a mile and a sixteenth Vincennes beat Thane half a length. Thane was a short-priced favorite. As good as 8 to 1 was laid against the winner, on which the stable had only a small commission. Joe Teager, however, backed him all over the ring. Ed Corrigans Galba was the pacemaker. At the head of the stretch Thane and "Vincennes emerged from the bunch, passed the leader and the finish was a contest between them. T. J. Gallagher.
