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CITRUS BELT HANDICAP TO D0MINUS ARVI. Outgames Pretension in the Final Drive — Silverskin Is Beaten by Merlingo in Stretch Duel. Los Angeles. Cal., March 2S. — One of the largest crowds of the season was present today, clearly demonstrating that the Los Angeles public has not lost its interest in racing. Secretary E. C. Smith presented one of his best cards this afternon and the s|x rt was of excellent quality. The most interest centered in the Citrus Belt Haudieap at six furlongs, in which Dominus Arvi and Dretension were held on equal footing. Dre-tension acted crazily at the post and ran away twice a sixteenth of a mile before the start and. as was beat, n only by the shortest of margins, and liis defeat can easily be accounted for by that fact. Owner D. J. Chinn and his friends backed Dretension heavily, and all things being equal, should have won. The Chinn party recouped handsom-ly several races later by the decisive victory of Ingham. The stretch duel between Merlingo and Silv rskin * * was of the sensational order, the latter asserting liis superiority right at the end. J. A. Bennet has offered a silver cup to the jockey riding the largest number of winners during next week, the last week of the meeting. It is the first trophy of the kind ever offered to the riders at any track on the coast, and it is expected that the Los Angeles Racing Association will next fall make a similar offer for the leading jockey of the winter meeting. Benny Rerk. the bookmaker, who was ruled off liere last January for alleged misconduct in connection with jockey C. Grand in the running of the liorses Xick Stoiier and Sly Ben. has been restored to go.nl standing and has left for Washington. Jockey Guv Burns will leave tonight tor New York and C. EL Shilling will leave for the eat Sunday evening. The departure of these two riders will leave the others in the saddle here more on an even plane and rivalry for the Bennet cup will be interesting to spectators and participants alike. William McKay, acting, it is said, for W. V. tonran, has purchased a number of horses here, among them George S. Davis, from T. ». Webber. for .0 t0. and will campaign them on the northern tra.-ks. She line-up today found twenty l*»ks doing business, an increase of one over the last draw-in. The pene tilers had the better ot the days argument.
