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: : . : McCHESNEYS GREAT RACE. Washington Park was at its best yesterday. So was McChesney. The grounds never looked more beautiful, the track was the acme of perfection, the grandstand, club house and lawns were thronged with a representative gathering, embracing men of prominence politically, financially, and intellectually, and charming women of social in-: fluence, whose presence contributed to the brilliancy of an occasion that was a substantial, emphatic and glowing evidence of the popularity of high class racing. And the highest type of the American thoroughbred, a horse perhaps the equal, possibly the superior, of any turf performer in any land, was there. Moreover, he performed in a sensational manner, amazed and thrilled spectators and elicited rapturous expressions of delight and admiration. McChesney was a turf idol yesterday morning. Yesterday evening he was acclaimed the king of the realm of the thoroughbred. The Oakwood Handicap, with McChesney a starter, was the attraction that drew the great crowd. It produced a wonderful and somewhat spectacular race in which McChesney was the feature and of which he was an easy winner. Carrying 129 pounds he ran the mile and a furlong in 1:511, and was not fully extended. When he had run a mile in 1:39 he was striding as if rating along in a four mile dash, and the result was practically settled. Dominick rode him with skill and judgment and actually had a good hold of the reins at every post. Allan-a-Dale, with an impost of 120 pounds, and Waswift, favored with only 104 pounds, began racing for the lead the instant the barrier was released. Going at a terrific pace they traveled on almost even terms for three-quarters of a mile, with McChesney third, from two to four lengths away. Beginning the upper turn McChesney began closing on them. As he steadily improved his position, shouting, cheering and laughter were heard from every end of the park. At the bend L into the homestretch he was at the heels of the leading pair. A hundred yards farther , along he got on even terms. He kept com-; pany with them for a few strides and then t went to the front and assumed a clear lead. Dominick did not have to ask him to take [ the lead. He simply bounded into it because the others were tiring while he was apparently just ready to run. When he took command whips were drawn on Allan-a-Dale _ and Waswift and a struggle for second place [ began. Allan-a-Dale outlasted his lighter weighted rival and finished second. Waswift . tired so badly that Little Scout, five lengths behind him at the head of the stretch, secured third place. Lucien Appleby was so far back at all stages that spectators almost overlooked him. The fractional time of the race was 24J, 4Sf, 1:121, 1:39, 1:511. The story of the Oakwood Handicap is now as follows: Year. Horse. Wt. Starrs. Value. Time. 1884 Fosteral 95 15 ,305 1:581 1885. Rapido 95 12 3,195 1:56 1886 Spalding 97 12 2,635 1:531 1887 Estrella 107 7 2,205 - 1:54* 1888 Dad 102 8 2,845 2:06 1889 Kaloolah 109 16 3,345 1:54 1890 Teuton 113 9 2,775 1:52* 1891 Racine 124 12 3,595 1:53 1892 Ceverton 103 9 4,115 2:165 1893 Pessara 117 12 4,140 1:561 1894 Cash Day 97 * 8 3,190 1:53 1898 Fervor 103 6 2,060 1:51 1900 Fly By Night 118 9 2,010 1:53 1901 Robert Waddell...ll5 9 3,100 l:52g 1902 Aladdin 107 8 2,930 2:02g 1903 McChesney 129 5 3,150 l:51g With 120 pounds up, Bonnibert, four years old, ran the distance at Brighton Beach, July 30, 1902, in 1:51, which is the record. That McChesney could have equalled that record, if necessary, is the opinion of nearly everybody who saw yesterdays race. The best previous record for the Oakwood was 1:51, made by Fervor in 1898. It was also the track record. Six Shooter equalled the record for all tracks at one mile and twenty yards in the first race, the time of which was 1:40. He was a strong favorite, with Toah a corresponding second choice. The field of six ran well together until turning into the homestretch, where Six Shooter went up on the outside and Jack Demund squeezed through between Wainamolnen and Sam Fullen and caused a shuffle, in which Toah was pinched out of the contest. After straightening out the favorite quickly gained the lead and finished three lengths ahead of Sam Fullen. Toah recovered enough ground to beat Jack Demund a neck for third place. , Fifteen two-year-olds ran in the second race, of five furlongs. They gave Starter Dwyer a lot of trouble, but he managed to get them away in good order. Once on the journey. Miss Crawford, the second choice, dashed into the lead and Peter Paul, the favorite, went after, her. The others cut no figure in the contest. Miss Crawford had a lead of three lengths when she had gone nearly three furlongs. She had hardly straightened for home before Peter Paul was alongside of her. Eventually Peter Paul won by a length. Anne Davis, the third choice, beat the rest of the squadron. She finished seven lengths behind Miss Crawford. Frivol was a clever winner of the fourth race, a selling dash of one mile and a sixteenth. She ran lapped on Sea Lion, the pacemaker, to the middle of the upper turn and then became the leader. Her margin at the end was nearly two lengths. The next six, Barrica, Caxton, Bard of Avon, Satin Coat, The Bobby and Miracle n. were heads and necks apart. Dick Welles was an almost prohibitive fa-orite for the fifth race, three-quarters of a mile, in which he conceded ten pounds each to Stem Winder, Si Ah, Runnels, A. D. Gibson and Zella Knight. He won, but not with the ease expected. Runnels was right at his heels at the finish. Going along the backstretch Dick Welles was about three lengths ahead of A. D. Gibson, and the latter almost as far in advance of Runnels. On the turn the latter passed into second position and made a move at the leader before getting into the final quarter. As they squared for home the favorite drew away from Runnels and resumed a lead of three lengths. Runnels closed up strongly in the run to the stand. Haviland, a short priced favorite, was left standing at the post at the start for the sixth race. He refused to break when the gate was elevated. Pirate was in the van until nearing the last eighth post, then Our Bessie overhauled him and Boaster became a close third. In the final struggle Our Bessie won and Boaster captured second money. T. J. Gallagher.
