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RUNNELS A WINNER. The heavy downpour of rain Thursday night rendered the course at Washington Park yesterday somewhat holding and sticky, favoring horses that run to their best form In mud. In all but the two-year-old race scratching was copiously indulged In, causing several of the races to be somewhat lopsided. Most interest probably centered In the meeting of Runnels and Sylvia Talbot in the second race, a dash of six furlongs for three-year-olds and upward. . Both horses are well known mudlarks and have many followers. Runnels was made a 1 to 2 favorite, but even at these figures was heavily backed. To a good start, Sylvia Talbot at once dashed to the front opening up a gap of three and a half lengths, while going down the backstretch. Runnels in the early stages of the race appeared to labor slightly. Turning for home Sylvia Talbot still held an advantage of two and a half lengths, and when a furlong out appeared the winner, but .here, Runnels moved up fast and getting to her in the last hundred yards easily beat her to the wire by a length. Red Raven, the only other starter, was a beaten off third, having cut no figure in the race at any part of it Much interest was taken from the days first race, a dash of one mile for three-year-olds and upward, by the scratching of Gregor K. and Glassfull. But four horses started, Bad News being held at almost prohibitive odds in the betting. He simply played with the field and made it look cheap, winning eased up by ten lengths from Ross-mond, which beat Frank M. three and a half for second place. Lendin ran an unaccountably dull race, showing scant speed throughout. The third race, a dash of five furlongs for two-year-olds, brought an unwieldy field of fourteen to the post. Helgerson was made a slight favorite, being held at 3 to 1 in the betting, but ran a somewhat dull race, failing to finish inside of the first three. The winner turned up in that consistent filly Nannie Hodge, the well backed second choice. Off in front and well in her stride, she at once assumed command and was never in trouble thereafter, winning in a canter by five lengths " from Dungannon, which finished one before Cognomen for second place. Dungannon showed a liking for the going, ran a good race and had little trouble in wearing down Cognomen in the last sixteenth and was much the best of the others. Cognomen tired fast in the closing strides. Bery Waddell, badly outrun in the first half mile, made up ground rapidly in the last quarter and finished with a rush. Helgerson began slowly, but moved up fast after turning for home and was passing horses fast in the closing strides. Oudon showed a little early speed. The fourth race, a dash of a mile and fifty yards for three-year-olds, went to the favorite Orsina, held at 2 to 1 in the betting. With the exception of the first quarter, -where Esherln led her by a neck, she was always in front and easily withstanding Afrllghts determined challenged in the final eighth, won by one length. Airtight finished four lengths before Lord Touchwood for second place. The former was under keen pressure all .through the last quarter, but had no chance to beat the winner. Warte Nicht occupied a contending position when tumping into the final quarter, but tired In the last eighth struggle. Mirance showed some early speed. The fifth race, a dash of one mile and fifty yards for three-year-olds and upward, brought a mediocre field to the post. Alee was supposed to be the best and was made an IS to 5 favorite, but had all he could do to finish second, the winner turning up in Jaubert. Alee led by a big margin until just after passing into the last quarter, where Jaubert moved up fast on him and catching him when a furlong out, had no trouble in gaining the lead, winning easily by two and a half lengths. Alee tir 5d fast in the closing strides, but held on long enough to beat Marcos a head for second place. The latter made up ground fast in the last quarter and finished with a rush. Prince Blazes appeared to have a good chance when turning for home, but faltered badly when the pinch came. The last race, a dash of one and one-sixteenth miles for three-year-olds and upward, proved to be an easy thing for Antonius, the favorite, which came home the easiest of winners two and a half lengths before Evelyn Byrd, which beat Pirate one and a half lengths for second place. Louisville fjfed In the final sixteenth, allowing Pirate "to nip her on the post.