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DICK WELLES AS USUAL. Hawthornes summer meeting opened auspiciously yesterday, the largest Monday crowd that has visited this popular course this year toeing present. The track was in pretty fair condition and comparatively good time was made in the various races. The feature race of the day was the Premier Stakes, a dash of one mile for three-year-olds and upward, with ,500 added. Of the original twelve carded to start seven were withdrawn, leaving a field of five to face the barrier. Dick "Welles, probably the best miler at present in America, was made a decided favorite, being held at 3 to 5 in the betting and won as the odds indicated he should. Off none too well, he at once forged to the front, and showing all his accustomed speed led all the way making the field appear cheap. Sir Hugh got to within one and a half lengths of him in the first half, but after that Dick Welles soon opened up a big gap, winning in a common canter under restraint by five lengths from McGee, which beat Orsina two lengths for second place. McGee was under hard punishment all through the last quarter finally wearing down Orsina in the last sixteenth. Sir Hugh ran a fair race for six furlongs and then faded away. Gilfain showed scant speed and was never a serious contender. The stake was worth ,130 to the winner. The fourth race, a dash of one and one-sixteenth miles for four-year-olds and upward, furnished one of the closest and most exciting finishes of the year, the field of three flashing past the wire in close order. The winner turned up in Bessie McCarthy, the second choice in the betting. Hargis was made a 1 to 2 favorite. To a good start, Bessie McCarthy at once dashed to the front closely attended by Hargis, but when running down the backstretch the latter opened up a gap of two lengths which advantage Tie retained until just before turning for home, where Bessie McCarthy closed up on him. They turned for home almost on even terms, the latter going to the inside rail. Here Lucien Appleby moved up fast and joined them and when a furlong out the race resolved itself into a desperate drive between the three. In the last sixteenth it appeared as if Hargis would win, but Bessie McCarthy proved the gamest, flashing over the line a short neck in front of him, while he in turn lost to Lucien Appleby by a head for second place. As usual in close finishes, a crowd of disgruntled losers swarmed around the judges stand loudly voicing their disapproval, but there was not the least doubt as to which horse won. Lucien Appleby showed sudden improvement and stood a long stretch drive with great gameness. The first race of the day, a six furlongs dash for three-year-olds and over, resulted in a big surprise, Schwalbe, against whose chances as good as 8 to 1 could be had, being returned the winner. The race was marred "by a bad start, Schwalbe beating the flag by two lengths. Cruzados, the favorite, off well back, was made entirely too much use of in the first quarter making up ground -fast on Schwalbe and passing into what appeared a winning lead just before moving Into the last quarter. He had a lead of two lengths when a furlong from Tiome, but the too rapid early pace took all the strength out of him and Schwalbe had little difficulty in catching him in the last sixteenth, beating him easily to the line by two and a half lengths. Cruzados finished one length before Bag Tag on which John Peters was lapped. The last named broke flatfooted and had but little chance by the time he had gotten into his full stride. The steeplechase over the short course furnished another surprise, Paulaker, a rank outsider in tne betting proving an easy winner. Imperialist led by a fair margin over the first four jumps, where he retired, giving way to Indian n. The latter held the lead until passing over the eighth obstacle, where he stumbled losing valuable ground. Here, Paulaker, which had been running close up, easily passed him and although closely pressed for a moment by Indian II., just after taking the final jump, he easily drew away in the final eighth. He won much as his rider pleased by two and a half lengths from Ceylon, which finished a neck before Indian n. for second place. The stumble just after passing over the eighth jump just about cost Indian II. the race. Ceylon made up ground fast after taking the tenth jump and finished resolutely. Spurs ran a fair race under an excellently judged ride jand bears watching hereafter. Dr. Nowlin fell over the first jump and Joe McGee over the eighth. The fifth race, a dash of one and one-quarter miles, went to Hayward Hunter, but not until after a last sixteenth struggle with Barrica. Prince Blazes, displaying much speed, held the lead for one and one-eighth miles, where he fell away beaten giving way to Hayward Hunter, which was soon joined by Barrica, the two fighting it out spiritedly to the line. Hayward Hunter proved the gamer, winning by a neck, Barrica finishing one length before Little Elkin for second place. The latter came with a rush at the end. The last race, a six furlongs, dash for four-year-olds and upward, was taken by Evening Star, the second choice in the betting. She led from start to finish winning easily by one length from Lute, which finished the same distance before Moranda for second place.
