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LOUISVILLE HAS DOWNPOUR CHURCHILL DOWNS COURSE DRENCHED AND MUD RUNNERS PROFIT. Merrick, Favored by the Changed Track Conditions, Finds It Easy to Win the Colonel Stakes — Favorites Fare Well. Louisville, Ky., May 17. — Heavy rains during the morning hours, followed by intermittent showers during the afternoon, served to reduce the attendance and mar the racing at Churchill Downs today. The Colonel Stakes, at three-quarters of a mile, with selling conditions, and carrying the net value to the winner of 1910.sh70. went to J. C. Milams Merrick. His well-known liking for the going caused him to lie installed as favorite, and he showed a better performance than in previous starts here, wearing down his opponents with ease during the final furlong. Donovan outstayed All Red for second place. Favorites were successful in most of the races, the exceptions being Tony W. in the second and Ben Howe in the closing dash. The advantages both of these secured at the send-off contributed materially to their success. F. J. Pons Font was an overwhelming choice in the race won bv Ben Howe. but Rraiuions weak handling following a bail start eliminated him from serious contention. After the finish L. Kelly, owner of Warden, and M. Strauss, trainer of O. K. Herndon. lodged claims for Font. Mr. Strauss obtained him for 00. The crowding which came sixm after the start in the fifth race was res[Minsihle for Little Rajahs failure to show-to advantage. With Joe Morris and Topland withdrawn from the third race. K.vebright only had to canter to land the purse. His victory was the first success that Kdward Trotter, his owner, has scored during all the years that he has been coming to Churchill Downs. Jockeys Deaveuport. Scoville and Glasner joined the brigade of insurgent riders during the afternoon and were each suspended for three davs by the starter. Jockey Kennedy was given pertolaslaa by the starter to ride Gypsy King iu the stake race. G. Keifs string of horses will be shipped tomorrow to New York. Jockey Page will remain over until the investigation of his ride on Merrick is concluded. If exonerated, the youngster will leave for his home in California, where he will take a long rest before resuming the saddle. His contract witli the Reif stable has but a short time to run and he is at present negotiating with Henderson and Hogan to enter their employ tin- coming fall. Considerable pressure is being brought to bear by influential parties to gain for John Marklein a rehearing before the Kentucky State Racing Commission, with a view to having his license restored. Anavri fell soon after finishing in the stake race and Mountain, his rider, suffered a bruised arm. Todays winning combination tickets, consisting of Merrick. Incision and Ben Howe, brought their backers 49.50 for each investment of K, The present race meeting at Churchill Downs is proving to lie the most successful ever given bv the New Louisville Jockey Club. Ip to date the meeting has far exceeded the expectations of the local officials, of horsemen and those interested in the turf in the middle west. The only complaint so far expressed is regarding the walk up svstem of starting in operation under a recent rule of the Kentucky State Racing Commission. It is a system calling for two schoolings for horses, one to learn to break properly and the other to walk up like a cavalry charger on parade. With a good actor the svsteiu works well but seven out of ten of the racers ou any track are high strung and hard to manage under any condition, while in the hands of an ordinary jockey such a horse does pretty much as he pleases. The new rule has greatlv handicapped the starters work at the liarrier since its adoption. The selling race war so long waged between trainers Will J. Young and Fred I.nzader is a thing of the past both having buried the hatchet to the gratification of their mutual friends. Several fellow-trainers got the two together and thev shook bands, promising to leave the past behind them from now-on. Their misunderstanding of a season or two back has cost the two much money, as most of the run -tips on one another that they participated in were profitable to other owners rather than themselves.
