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SPOILED BY BAD WEATHER HEAVY RAIN AFFECTS LOUISVILLE RACING AND ATTENDANCE UNFAVORABLY. Crystal Maid Takes the Louisville Handicap in a Close Finish of Four — Irfaneh Mends Her Ways. Louisville. Ky.. May 20.— Unfavorable weather marred todays racing and was responsible for tin-poerwl attendance of tin- meeting. Ike track, on ai count of tlic steady drenching it received, rc-MkM a mortar lied and caused withdrawals of tnanv prospective starters. S| eculatiou fell off considerably, but as most of the winners were strongly supported, the favorite backers profited handsomely. The Ijouisvillo llandicaii. at three-quarters, having a net value of ,300 to the winner, resulted in one of tlie closest finishes ever witnessed here, and brought about disagreement with the ludges in regard to their pssrlasi. crystal Maid. Charlie Enst-inan. Sea Swell and Al Mullcr lauded at the fiuisn so closely grouied that no one outside of those on a direct line was in a positiou to attempt a statement as to the winner. Crystal Maid, which had moved up M the outside with a great rusli. was given the purse. Charlie Eastman second and Sea Swell third. To many, including those who were in the press stand, ft appeared as if Al Muller. on the extreme inside, had lasted lone enough to outstay Sea Swell, and that Crystal Maid had just nipped out Charlie Kastman for third place. The showing of T. M. Creep iu this race was disappointing and it is likely that he has not recovered from his recent illness. Irfaneh. which had been transferred from the W. J. Young stable into that of Jack Baker after her recent poor showing, made the others in the second race appear cheap by the handy manner in which she won from Tom McGrath and Marbles. The latter was claimed out of the race by I.. Thompson, acting supposedly for M. C. Moore, but after the flllv was delivered to him. tiainer Miller Henderson protested to the judges that the claim was irregular and by witm sses will try to show that Thompson had been given o to claim the tilly for an outside person. The judges are investigating the case and will rule on it tomorrow. The handicap at a mile and a sixteenth had to be declared off on account of the many scratches and a selling race at a mile and seventy yards was substituted. Alice won over Lady Vie. with Green-bridge, recently acquired by II. G. Kedwell. iu third place. Tie- Fad repeated his hollow victory of his last previous start on a muddy track, while Tom Hay-ward, in the losing race, had no difficulty in proving his superiority over the poor band that opposed him. Tlie mishap to Wintergreen sustained yesterday has eliminated him as a starter in the I.atonia Dcrbv. There are divers opinions as to the extent of the colts injury. Some contend that there is nothing more serious with the colt than a split hoof, while others maintain that he is also suffering from a sprained ankle. Owner Kespess was not at the track today and authentic information concerning the colts condition could not be obtained. Last night Mr. Kespess stated that it would be at least five months before it was probable that the colt would again be put in training. With Wintergiccn an absentee from the I.atonia Derby, that event appears at the mercy of olamhala. which will only have Plate Glass and Warticld for itonslbly dangerous opponents. Jockey Powers, who was to have ridden Wintergreen. has been engagcil by V. -J. Young to pilot Plate Glass or Wartiehl. whichever he may choose to ride. W. F. Schulte has reconsidered his intention of shipping to New York and will send his horses to I.atonia.
