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NOSE FINISH IN HANDICAP MERRICK TAKES LATONIA FEATURE FROM CHARLIE EASTMAN IN FINAL STRIDE. Favorable Weather Brings Improvement in Attendance — Public Lands on the Winners with Considerable Regularity. Cincinnati. O.. Juno 11.— Merrick and Charlie East man. both sturdy mini runners. figured in a stirring contest in lb* six fni longs handicap which featured todays I.atoniu card, the first-named gaining a nose victory iu the last stride. Charlie Kastinan was best, but jockev I.ees overconndence near the end was fully taken advantage of liy jockey Powers, who rode the winner. .Merrick was best backed of any of the four starters in the race, his connections being especially sanguine of ids success and supporting Tiiin with corresponding confidence. Sea Swell demonstrated that he is only a moderate sprinter. dropping out after being hard pressed the first half, and Cymbal took third money. The Cella cult was a swiftly receding favorite. For the first time in over a week an afternoon passed without rain falling. The welcome change produced a noticeable improvement iu the sport and attendance. The track, however, was still in bad shape. The public landed on winners with one exception, the third race, in which Huerfano led his opponents home. Huerfano was backed by a smart coterie and bis victory occasioned adverse comment, mainly because of suspicious betting angles. Woodlands, because of his recent good showing, received the attention of the iart set in the opener and succeeded iu beating Paul Ruinart. the lukewarm favorite. Cherryola vanquished a good band of juveniles in the second race. She was put to a strenuous drive to wear down King Solomon. Powers presence in the saddle on Water Lake mad-him appear a promising betting proposition, but he disappointed his backers by failure to come on when called upon. He trailed Huerfano and Billy Pullman to the finish. Stone Streets performance in the race was distinctly disappointing as well. Fonts victory in the fifth race enabled some of the easterners to clean up handsomely. Tackle, which finished second, was the medium of a betting coup, but the handful of layers doing business, fought shy of his backers and reduced his odds swiftly at post time. All Red was the second favorite of the afternoon from the Cella stable that sustained defeat. He was beaten by Pat Dunnes The Peer in the closing strides. Jockey Branuon. who was riding All Ked. claimed a foul after the finish, which the judges did not allow. .1. L. Becson is negotiating for the transfer of the contract held by X. B. Davis on jockey W. Andrei-s. X. B. Davis also claims to hold a contract on jockey S. Davis, now riding at Blue Bonnets, and will send a telegram to the Montreal management with the idea of preventing Davis from accepting mounts. •Doc" Streett stated todav that he had refused an offer of ,000 for his filly. Fulfill.
