view raw text
:HAS A NEW LEASE OF LIJE OLD SIR JOHN JOHNSON RUNS SMART RACE IN WINNING AT NORFOLK. Several Races Attended by Unsatisfactory Results Scandal Brewing as Aftermath of , J. H. Barr Ruling. Norfolk, Va., November 20. The Bevcrwyck Stable accounted for todays" feature at the Jamestown Jockey Clubs course with the aged horse. Sir John Johnson, whjch beat a shifty band iu a mile condition race, for which he was a well-backed favorite. Sir John Johnson was ridden by Joe Byrne, made practically all of the pace and beat Water Welles by a length aud a half. It was Sir John Jnliusons lirst victory over the Norfolk track. The old horse had never showed a liking for the footing here and todays victory would seem to indicate that he has rounded to his best recent form. Apart from Sir John Johnsons victory, the race was marked by a Kor performance by El Oro. The latter was a distant trailer in the early stages, dropping out of contention about twenty-five lengths behind the pacemakers. He closed a tremendous gap in the last quarter aud it was plainly evident that he would have been a serious factor had lie been closer up in the early running. Results were unsatisfactory in several instances. There Is no question but that Golden Prime and Northerner were best in their resiiectlve races. The former was crowded out of contention in the first twenty yards. McCahey took a desperate chance In sticking to the inside rail and the ground he saved enabled him to get within striking distance of the leaders on the stretch turn. The filly finished fast and was beaten only a neck in a driving finish with the favorite, Undercover. Bey, odds-on favorite for the fifth race, showed a flash of speed for about live furlongs and then quit to a walk. Butwell was iu as big a hurry as McTaggart and he tiptoed Little England In an effort lo get to the leader. The result was that When Ella Grane challenged in the homestretch. Little England had nothing left and in a driving finish was beaten a head. Rey was last but one at the finish. Warbler scored his third straight victory of the Hiieting when he wou, the- third race. It was a selling affair and many expected a run-up, but it failed to materialize, probably on account of the bad condition of Warblers front legs. Hedge Rose showed a jsudden return to form in beating a shifty lot of platers in the closing dash, which she won by half a length from Mary Ann K. It was a selling affair and the winner was bid up 00 bv R. 1. Miller, but was retained by her owner for 05. As ah artermath of the ruling of the stewards in the J. II. Barr race, a nasty scandal is likely to develop. The officials toot exception to the comments on the ruling made by a local scribe and have called on him to furnish them with some, proof of his insinuations. It looks as if they have stirred up a hornets nest and if the proof is forth-comiug ther will lie forced to take action against other horsemen racing here. In. the meantime this airing of scandal is doing the sport no good locally, more especially as racing iu Virginia Lis on pretty thin ice. The jumper, Orowoc, struck her knees when she hit one of the fences yesterday and is quite lame. The Miller-IIcdrick.-case Is still hanging fire, despite the fact that the charges made are serious. It looks as if the officials can ill afford to pass over this matter without some sort of an announcement as to their findings.