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KENTUCKY SEASON OPENS RACING BEGINS AT LEXINGTON UNDER RATHER INAUSPICIOUS CONDITIONS. Startler Seats Fireman in the Autumn Cup Handicap, 2 1-4 Miles Auction Fools Abolished and Betting Restricted to the Pari-Mutuels. Lexington, Ky., Septemlier 14. Under adverse weather and track conditions, a change in the betting .system and an increase in the price ot admission, the Kentucky Associations fall meeting opened this afternoon with an attendance of approximately 2,500. President Catcsby Woodford, Secretary AVil-son and Racing Secretary W. H. Shelley said it was a good crowd under the circumstances. It had rained during the morning and this probably kept a numler of out-of-town people from coining 1o the course. In the afternoon it turned warm and by racing time it was sweltering. The track was heavy. Under the rule adopted by the Kentucky State Racing Commission at its meeting this noon, the auction pools were eliminated and he betting was under the pari-mutuel system only, there being ten machines in operation six , two each, straight, place and show, three , oue each, straight place and show, aud oue 0 straight. The total amount of money handled during the day in these machines was .t.S30. On the first day of the meeting last spring the mutuels handled 5,715 and the auctions i?7,J5i;, making a total of $:5;,,G71, or ,7."5 more than was handled today. On the first day of the meeting last fall, the mutuel machines handled 0.:S14 and the auctions 1911.sh,475, making a total of 9,780, or ,05:! more than today. There was practically no life in the ring without the auctions. However, it would not be fair to pass judgment entirely upon the results of this first day as to whether or not the removal .of the auction system will have the effect of making a letter game for the tracks and all concerned. The consensus of wise I opinion here today was that it was a mistake to have eliminated them entirely. The heavy track mitigated against rousing contests, the winner in each instance achieving victory in rather haudy fashion, but the spectators seemed well pleased and gave liberal applause to the successful ones. From a speculative standpoint, the majority -were disappointed, due to the signal fail-tires of live favorites, including Raleigh P. D., Gold .Mine, Fireman, Tourist and Tom Big bee. Fireman was the cliief disapjiointiuent of the afternoon. He was engaged in the Autumn Cup, a handicap which featured the opening days offering. Ten were carded in the overnight entries, but the blue pencil played havoc with the lield and brought the contest down to Fireman and Startler. The latter, while conceded a splendid chance to land the prize, was not thought to lie up to Firemans class and the latter was made an overwhelming choice. The Odoui representative might have been best, but under the restraining tactics pmployed on him today for the major portion of the race, he did not have a chance lo down his lighter weighted rival. I.oftus. on Fireman, was instructed to pay no heed to Startler, but to center his attention on owner Odom, stationed in a prominent position in the inlielil, it being the intention of the owner to run the race hi the "clock." Owner Odom showed decided lack of judgment, lioth as to Startlers merit and Firemans capability, for the latter was permitted to trail distantly, at one period almost a sixteenth out of It. Loftus got the "go on" signal alter a mile and a quarter of the trip hud been covered and Fireman responded in line style by reducing Startlers twenty-five lengths lead to live lengths in the last quarter, but at this point Startler again drew away, ultimately to win by ten lengths in a canter. It was a question, if Fireman could have beaten Startler even by going out from the start. W. O. Yanke put over a double with Quartermaster and The Hague, winners, respectively, of the inaugural dash and the third race. The Hague was "the only favorite to score. Then; was some trouble tilling the card for tomorrow, due to bad track conditions. The handicap failed to fill, only two horses being entered, which necessitated its being declared off. K. C. Hopper was among todays arrivals. He came from Houstouville. Ky., where he lias been at his home for some time. Judges Clay and Shelley had all the jockeys assembled before them previous to the racing and impressed uin them the necessity for clean riding. They also informed the riders that nothing of an unsavory nature would he tolerated and that the offenders would bo dwelt with in a drastic manner. Jockey R. Hoffman, who, at the meeting of the Kentucky State Racing Commission was granted a license to ride for R. F. Carman only, was suspended by starter Cassidy for the remainder of the meeting immediately after the third race. Hoffman had the mount on Stare and incurred the starters displeasure. In the judges stand today were Capt. Thomas Clay, presiding judge. President Catesby Woodford and Secretary G. D. Wilson of the Kentucky Association and Maj. Foxhall Daiugerlleld as steward representing the Kentucky State Racing Commission. John T. Irelands .Marsand stepjied on a nail and it came out of the hoof. She is getting along well and will not 1m thrown out of training. Jockey Taplin will be here from Louisville tomorrow. General Manager Hachmeister. of the Latonia Jockey Club, left tonight for Tyrone to spend a ooiiple of days with President Harvey Meyers at his houseboat on the Kentucky river. .Manager Id Kane of the Nursery Stud shipped last night to New York to sail for England next Saturday to lie sold on October 11, ten yearlings by Rock Sand, the property of August Relmont. They include four colts and six llllles. the colts being Liuicnxk. Rock Rib, Olympius, High Rock and the Ullies Surcingle, Topsand. Livesand, Midsand, Sa-gasta and Ginsllng. , C. J. Quinii and Frederick Johnson, for whom J. W. Mav trains, have arrived from New York and will remain throughout the meeting. The J. 15. Respe.ss string arrived today from Iiilsvllle.
