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BIG CROWD SEES SOME SPLENDID RACING. Mechant Lowers the Oaklawn Half Mile Record La Pucelle Defeats Aarcn J. and Convolo. Hot Springs, Ark., March 10. The best racing in the history of Hot Springs tracks was witnessed today at Oaklawn. Snmmcr-like weather brought out a banner crowd and speculation in the ring was of tremendous proportions, Joe Yeager alone handling close to 0,000 during the afternoon. The track was lightning fast. Finishes in nearly all the races were close and on two occasions the crowd cheered like mad. The most noise was made when Radtke on Mechant and Higgins on Miss Strome were fighting it out stride for stride almost the length of the stretch. The colt put up a splendid performance and clipped off one and one-fifth seconds from the previous track record for a half mile. Radtkes superior riding gave Mechant the victory by a nose. The finish in the sprint race was also a thriller. Interest was more keen ccause the three star riders were lighting it out. Sewell was on La Pucelle, Hihlebrand on Aaron J., and Radtke on Convolo. They finished in this order half lengths apart. Announcement was made today by the management that the Arkansas Derby and Pine Bluff Handicap will be decided on April 7. Special trains will be run from Little Rock and Pine Bluff on this date to Hot Springs. It is expected that the biggest crowd ever assembled here will be in attendance at Oaklawn to witness these events. W. Clements, star jockey from South Africa, arrived today and will accept mounts here. He is twenty years old and rides at 87 pounds. "Counselor Bill" Brlen will have first call on his services. J. W. "Bub" May arrived today from Memphis and after looking over the horse alleged to be The Rake said that it was not even the horse trained by Will Wallace for a time and known to be The Rake. Tres Joli was sold today by J. O. Keene to F. J. Pones for ,000. M. L, Hayman shipped ten horses to Benniugs today. Joe Hawkins scorched the Memphis handbooks over the victory of La Pucelle.
