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LOUISVILLE RACING BEGINS FALL MEETING AUSPICIOUSLY INAUGURATED AT HISTORIC CHURCHILL DOWNS. Program of High Class Attracts Generous Patronage Prince Ahmed and Mary Davis Reduce Track Records for 1 Mile and 1 1-16 Miles. Louisville, Ky., September 25. The Louisville Racing Association begun today its fall meeting of eighteen days under auspices most favorable to the success of the sport. In spite of threatening weather, the patronage was generous and the big crowd waxed enthusiastic over the splendid racing that was provided. The card was probably the best ever offered hereabouts for a fall opening, and engaged most of the cracks in local racing. The high quality -f tlw contestants encouraged spirited speculation In most instances. Prices ruled fairly liberal and the major portion of those speculatively inclined had a profitable as well as enjoyable outing. The racing was brisk throughout, and in some cases it was a difli cult matter to prejudge the winner seventy yards from the finish. Track records were reduced in two instances. One of the record-breaking performances came in the .St. Leger Handicap, which engaged eight stars of the handicap division. Swannanoa, which T. C. McDowell left behind expressly to run in this race, was made a strong favorite on the strength of fast preliminary trials. She ran well, but was not good enough to beat Mary Davis and Cherryola. The former won coinmaudingly after having been a prominent contender throughout. Cherryola. after trailing far back, came with a good rush through the stretch to take second place. Adams Express and Spohn showed high speed for the tirst three-quarters, but both faded away when it came to the real racing. The mile and one-sixteenth was run in 1:44H, reducing Olambalas mark of 1:45. The preceding race, an allowance affair at three-quarters, enabled Prince Ahmed, from the II. G. liedwell stable, opportunity to display a high turn of speed when ho ran the distance in l:lli, reducing by a fraction the former track record held by Jcfi" Bernstein. The best sprinters in training opposed Prince Ahmed, and the. early paced forced by Herkimer was exceedingly fast. He went the quarter in IS! and the half in 4!jt. then weakened. Prince Ahmed continued the terrific pace, and had ke been Atforccd he probably could have made a new Amori-T"eau record for the distance. The race had its disappointment to the bettors on account of the failure of Follle Levy. Her rider wns unprepared at tho start, and was responsible for her failure to get away in a more forward position. In addition to winning with Prince Ahmed. H. !. Iledwell took another purse when Sticker scored in the closing dash. He was lucky to get this purse, as Any Port seemed best in the race, and but for being practically left nt the post, would have won by a safe margin. He closed a tremendous gap to beat Colonel Ashmeade for second place. Island Queen showed herself to be a handy, racing tool in winning the opener. She is exceptionally quick in getting away from the post and this gives her a big advantage. Tourist, the favorite, tired badly in the last sixteenth, and was beaten by Pliant and Rudolfo for second and third. Spindle got up after a desperate drive to win the second race from Layminster, with Discontent close up. Forcu and J. H. Keed ran as a team for the first three-quarters, but quit in the stretch. Queen Marguerite showed the way throughout in the fifth race and had much in reserve near the linish. Arcite, the favorite, quit badly iu the stretch. Jockeys Koerner and Loftus divided the riding honors by piloting two winners each. Loftus incurred the starters displeasure in the third race, and was suspended for live days. The Kentucky State Racing Commissions rule applying to wires from the track was rigidly observed by the track management to the discomfort of the representatives of the afternoon newspapers. The local afternoon papers transmitted their reports by telephone from outside the track to their respective otlices and served the visiting newspaper men by relaying the news to Chicago and New York papers. Francis J. Pons arrived this morning from bis farm in Tennessee. He announced that he had again taken up the project of establishing a race track at Charleston, S. C, and would be fully informed on the subject in a week or two. There is a rumor current that the Jacksonville, Fla.. track will not be opened this season, reports to the contrary notwithstanding. It is said that several obstacles have cropped up that make the Jacksonville opening impossible. Benjamin Catlctt, one of the directors of the Jacksonville track, was among todays visitors, and Intimated that the plans to resume racing in Florida hud been practically abandoned. George J. Long, representing the Kentucky State Racing Commission as steward for this meeting, was in the judges stand most of the afternoon. It is said that Mr. Long will take up with Chairman Clay the matter of permitting the newspapers to obtain their legitimate news service as formerly. The two-horse combination, consisting of island Queen and Spindle, paid 77.40 for . Jockey A. Wrispen had the mounts today on horses from II. -C. Halleubecks stable. It Is understood that if his riding suits trainer F. II. Taylor, lie will purchase the contract held by Edward Corrigun. Polls and Princess Calloway were the absentees from the St. Leger Handicap, because of failure to be removed from the cars in time. Both horses were shipped from Lexington this morning.
