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EONT IS WINNER OF STAKE WELL SERVED BY HEAVY TRACK, PONS RACER TAKES NEW YEAR HANDICAP. New Crop of Two-Year-Olds to Come Into Action Tomorrow Another Novelty Raco Provided as Holiday Attraction Gossip from Moncrief. Jacksonville, Fla., December 31. The ,000 Xew Year Handicap, at one mile, was provided as the feature race of a good card at Moncrief Park thla afternoon. There were eight starters, with Fout and Jack Parker coupled1 as the Pons entry. The race was marked by heavy speculation, with Donald Macdonald the top weight, ruling favorite at all stages. He showed a splendid performance, making all of the pace and being beaten a short head in a stirring finish with the leaders under a drive throughout the last turlong. The winner turnetf up In Font, with McCahey in Uie saddle. Font had a light impost and the heavy going probably Milted him better than any of the other starters. He was forced to overcome a lot of interference, in which jockey Guy Burns on Donald Macdonald played an important part. Entering the Mckstretch he cut across to the inside and threw Font against the fence. WTien McCahev again made a move entering the homestretch he was buffeted about between Ragman and Donald Macdonald. When they straightened out Font dashed up to the leader and passed him near the furlong post. Donald Macdonald weakened for a few strides, j but under a rousing finish responded and came agai I at the end and was almost on equal terms with Foirt I as the pair flashed past the winning mark. Guy lusher was third, four lengths hack. The latter came from last place and finished with a rushi Jockey Davenport, a recent arrival from Pensacola, -had his first mount here this afternoon on Kire- l catcher in the opening race. Davenport should not 1 be confused with .the lad who lms been riding here I for George Land and who formerly rode for J. S. V Ward ami Amos Turney, and whose name is Deaven-port. rifelatter had the mount on Mark Antony II., Jockey Guy Burns Mas suspended Tor one week bv the stewards for rough riding" In the stako race". Jockeys Wilson. Gross and Adams were each lined u by- the starter for disobedience at the post iu the same race. Guy Gray was again active in the selling races. After Miss Xett was beaten in the second race Mr. Gray claimed her. She looks like a bargain at ,02u. Jockey Beil, who had the mount on Bad Aews II., which fell during the running of. the second race siiffered a broken collarbone. Fred Cook arrived from the north this morning and joined the ranks of the layers this afternoon. Charles Ferriss of .Xaskville was another arrival, as was, also jockey Charles Grand. The latter cam from Ins home in Chicago. The novelty race which-was run here on Monday last was such a groat success that the club will give another of these events Monday. This race will be on a more pretentious scale than the previous one. Ihere will be two foot runners, Bob Kennedy and Charlie Campau, ulso two mules, two thoroughbreds, a motor cycle and an automobile. A special cinder path has been constructed close to the inside fence in the infield for the foot runners and a section o-the track next to the fence will he rolled for the motor cycle and automobile. The race will be aV handicap affair. v J. P. Mayberry, who is training the horses that run in the name of Miss A. M. Marrone. has been suffering with tonsilitis for several days. Frank Purcell, the good three-year-old that was a frequent winner for Mr. Mayberry hero last winter, has beet on the shelf for a month. The colt is troubled with abscesses of the throat, but is improving s " On Monday the "baby" thoroughbreds Avill bo seen in action at Moncrief Park. The first of these races will he a quarter-mile sprint and will be one of the big features of the program for the first dav of the new year. There are about 150 coming two-year-olds here this winter and many of them havo been hurried along for the early contests. Those, intended for these early races havo been well schooled at the barrier, the assistant starters having been busy for a month even- morning giving the youngsters their first lessons. There are some really good-looking yearlings here and. taking them collectively, they are a better lot than those shown last season. T. C. McDowell has a bay filly as yet unnamed that can run fast. Recently she broke from the barrier and sprinted a quarter in a shade under 24 seconds. W. J. Young has a couple bv Broomstick in his lot. owned by C. L. Harrison, that are well thought of by horsemen here. W. Shields filly. Drexel Hill, is another that has attracted attention. She is a rapid beginner and has a line turu of speed.
