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FAVORITE OXFORD WINS THE FIRST RACE Breaks Precedent and Puts Crowd in Good Humor Jockey McCahey Rides Three Winners Washington D C April 7 While no stake features were on the program for decision this after ¬ noon the warm sunny weather and the prospect of a fast track brougtit out a goodsized crowd of race ¬ goers to the Benning course today Two races for youngsters and a steeplechase over the twomile course were sufficiently attractive to make the rac ¬ ing interesting interestingFor For the first time during the meeting a favorite won the opening race and this put the crowd In decidedly good humor That James McLaughlin would saddle the winner when he sent his gray horse Oxford to the post was a foregone conclu ¬ sion Regulars and visitors alike backed the Mc ¬ Laughlin candidate to the exclusion of the other starters Considerable excitement was aroused dur ¬ ing the running of the race when Greeno one of the disappointments of the meeting hardpressed the winner In the final drive driveRagman Ragman which was transferred from tlie Madden stable to that of his new owner J S Hoy last night and running in the colors of Hoy this after ¬ noon was the early favorite but he did not long retain that distinction for the speculation was soon centered on Bonnie Kelso The race resulted in a close finish between Elizabeth Sweeney and Cheek the former winning by the narrowest of margins Bonnie Kelso showed the most early speed but third was the best lie could do doThe The steeplechase went to Penarris of the Colt entry The winner was easily best of the seven crosscountry performers Starting and passed his opponents with a rush when called on by Kelleher Fin MacCool led to tlie stretch where he tired but was good enough to retain third place Alloy made a runaway affair of the fifth race and won eased up Under the skillful riding of T Burns Cartwheel outstayed Queen Lead in the last Stride of a hard drive for second place placeClements Clements in the closing race was the fourth suc ¬ cessful favorite to score this afternoon and the third winning mount for jockey McCahey Clements led throughout by a wide margin and was never ex ¬ tended Obert hardridden throughout finished gamely and waa a game second Venus was the nearest contender to the winner for a mile and then retired to the rear
