view raw text
; KENTUCKY SEASON OF BRILLIANT PROMISE OPENS TODAY All in Readiness for the Meeting at the Historic Lexington Course, Where Great Horses and Prominent Turfmen Have Gathered Inauguaral Card to Be Run Over Heavy Track I . : : JL. Lexington, Kj, April 2S. The Kentuekj Association will have a muddy track for the opening of its spring meeting tomorrow afternoon, the result of several lieav.v showers todaj.. The forecast, however, is for fair weather tomorrow and if it is clear and warm, one of the largest crowds ever seen here will be at the historic racing grounds to witness the running of a good inaugural card, the feature of which will be the Phoenix Hotel Handicap, at one and one-sixteenth miles, with an estimated value of ,400. There are thirty-six oligihles to this race and ten were announced through the entrj box this morning as probable starters. Any one of the other twent.v-six, however, may be added up to within fort.v-iive minutes of post time for the race and It is entirel.v likelj that there will be some changes. R. F. Carman has not made up his mind whether he will start both Bonnie Kelso and Starhottle or only the latter. In any event joekej George Archibald will ride his preferred entry. Countless the only superior mud runner of the ten, will lie piloted bj J. Delivenport. Ilenrj McDaniel said tonight that he is in doubt about starting Polls, but if he goes. J. Howard will have the mount. Roseoe- Goose will have the mount on Console. Jack Keeiie has not fullj made up his mind about Boola Boola. but should lie start A. Thomas will he his pilot. Cherry -ola is almost certain to go and J. Moore Is slated for the mount. Bound the World, Any Port and Exemplar are doubtful. There is a probability of the addition of Foxj Mary, 101: Royal Report. 105. and Comity Tax. 07. Countless will lie the public choice and will have heavy support. The card is well balanced and keen contests will lie produced in a majority of the races whatever the state of the going. The officials have ever.vthing In readiness for the opening and onlj good weather is nocessarj to make it the greatest ami most successful period of racing in the history of Lexington. There were never as man.v horses here readj for racing as at present and noser was there keener interest in the sport. The .city is rapidly tilling with visitors for the meeting and there will be large parties tomorrow morning from Louisville, Cincinnati and waj points, to say nothing of the hundreds from the towns in the immediate lime TrrasTTTegioir. - Ah innovation tomorrow will be the free field and it is expected that the ground within the rail of the mile oval will he swarming with people who, if required to paj for admittance, could never have the pleasure of witnessing a days racing,. Captain Thomas II. Clay will bo the presiding judge and his associates in the stand tomorrow will be President Catesby Woodford of the Kentucky Association and Racing Secretary William II. Shelley. Mars Cassidj", who arrived from Norfolk todaj. will do the starting. John Rodegap and John T. Ireland will serve as timers. John Walsh will lie paddock judge and Tom Brown is the eutrj clerk. There will be ample riding material here, among them some that rank with the lopnotchers and including the following: G. Mountain, G. Archibald, E. Martin, N. Kennedy. R. Troxler, G. Molesworth, J. Deavenport, W. Obert, B. Steele, A. Thomas, .1. Allen. T. Rice, C. Ganz, R. Goose. J. Howard, G. Warren, T. Koerner, A. Walsh, T. McTaggart, C. Hufnagel. W. Gargan, J. Dennv, C. Aker, M. Mc-Gee. J. Moore. R. Higgins. II. Skirvin, J. McCabe, .1. Patrick and F. II. King. Harrj Morrissey and James Osborne, assistants to starter Cassidj. arrived this morning from Norfolk and were bnsj during the day fixing the starting posts in position. Morrlsey stated that the scarcity cf stable room at Pimlico is forcing the .Maryland Association to turn horsemen away and the latter will of necessity have to come here. A majoritj of those that raced at Norfolk could not be accommodated at Pimlico. There is also a rumor current that the MarllKiro track will not be operated this spring because of failure to secure a license from the county officials. Matt J. Winn, general manager of the Churchill Downs, Juarez and Empire City tracks, will head a delegation from Louisville that will- arrive late tonight. Charles F. Price, the well-known presiding judge, will be among those to come from the Falls City. John Haehmeister will arrive tomorrow from Cincinnati with a party of friends to lie on baud for the opening. Mr. Haehmeister has "been occupied of late in supervising the improvements now going on at the Lutonia track. During the early hours today and prior to the hard rains several fast work-outs were recorded. Joe Morris worked a mile and an eighth in impressive fashion in 1:54$. New Stars seven-eighths in 1:31 was also accomplished in superior style. Sam Bernard sl.owed to advantage bj going "a mile and an eighth iu 1:57. the last part of the journev under restraint. Other creditable work-outs were as follows: Bettie Lester Mile in 1:45. Charley Straus Three-quarters in 1:17. Dolanoj- Three-quarters in 1:1S. Etta Louise Three-eighths in 30. Joe DielNild Half mile in 41IJ. Myrtle Marion--Mile in 1:45. Sin Three-quarters in 1:102- Track superintendent James Ross is of the belief that If no more rain falls during the night the track will -be- hv fairly good condition and that a mile will lie run over it in better than 1:43. The "dogs" will bo kept on the track throughout the morning and trainers will be forced to give their charges breathers over-the sand course adjoining the main track. Todays arrivals of horses from Louisville consisted of those owned by Pat Dunne. W. II. Fizer. Henderson and Hogan and J. II. Meade. Pat Dunne shipped eight, including his fast sprinter. Sohago. which Is a carded starter in the Inaugural. Henderson and Ilogans lot comprised six head, W. II. Fixers seven and J. II. Meades three. Eugene EIrod, who will be in charge of the information department and the men operating the nuituel machines, arrived tonight from his home in Louisville. There will be seven machines, three of the S2 denomination, a like number for 5 bettors and one 0 straight machine.
