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POET WORKS A HALF IN 55 AT GRAVESEND. Best Move of the Year in the East Getting: Ready for the Bennings Meeting. New Yorkj February 9. The workwatchers have had their time pieces in. action at Gravesend these past tlireemornings. Wednesday was the first time since the racing season closed that it has been worth while to time a horse, but the Gravesend course Is in such good condition that the horsemen defied the cold and were busy. Superintendent Dunphy ran the scrapers over the track, and It was as smooth as a billiard table afterward. There is a good cushion on the track that a dry freeze will not hurt materially, and the horsemen can see some actual work ahead of them. It was James McLaughlin, who hopes to be a factor at Bennings, that gave work for the split second machines. McLaughlin set his colt Poet down for a half mile, which he covered in 55 fiat. This is more like work than anything seen yet this year. McLaughlins other horses were sent along at a two-minute gait. He has seven two-year-olds wintering at Garths farm in Virginia which he will take over at Bennings. In the Bennington lot was First Water, which has not yet gone to John Hynes equine sanitarium in Connecticut. He appeared to be in good condition and should give a good account of himself if he stands the traiulng ordeal. Blondheim, the lightweight rider of the Bennington stable, has returned from New Orleans. At Sheepshead Bay Rowe had his full stable out on the yearling or exercise track. The great Sy-sonby was in the band and made a circuit of the track. He looks like the great horse that he undoubtedly is, was full of life and evidently enjoyed his freedom from the shed and stall. Con Leightou, who handled the: racing stable of W. L. Scott, the Pennsylvania turfman long since dead, has seven useful looking horses at Gravesend. Four are two-year-olds and the others one year older. W. C. Daly, who sold his property near the Gravesend track some tflfte ago, has bought a house in Avenue U and Twelfth street, Homecrest, and will take possession at once.
