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EXPECT ENORMOUS CROWD 1 REVIVAL OF RACING AT NEW ORLEANS TO GET GREAT SEND-OFF FRIDAY. I Keen Rivalry Among Horsemen for Distinction of Winning: Inaugural Race Opening Days Racing Program in Detail. New Orleans, L:i., December 29. The program book for the first eight days of the winter race meeting at the Fair Grounds provides for the distribution of 7,700 in purees among tile horsemen, and is regarded as satisfactory by the many owners who have already shipped their stables to New Orleans for the inauguration of the meeting on January 1. Entries for the races on the opening day will close Thursday and it may be taken for granted that keen competition will be the rule. Toe program for the first day of the meeting is as follows: First Hace Iurse, New Orleans Inaugural, puree hB101, for three-year-olds and upward; live and a half furlongs. Second Race Iurse, for two-year-olds, purse 00; three furlongs. Third Race Selling, for four-year-olds and upward, purse 00: six furlongs. Fourth Race The New Year Handicap, for three-year-olds and upward, purse .00; one mile. Fifth Race Selliug, for three-year-olds and upward, purse 00: six furlongs. Sixth Race Selling, for three-year-olds and upward, purse 00; mile and a sixteenth. The distinction of winning the New Orleans Inaugural will be eagerly striven for. It has been nearly seven years since this city has had racing, and much joy is felt not only among lo?al lovers of the sport, but among horsemen, in general over the revival of the sport hoie. V. U. Mizells Robert Bradley is being pointed for the handicap, as are E. E. rocks Jim Raspy ami Ninety Simplex. William E. Walshs Lady Moonot, Frea Xtatons Stout Heart and Shelby Wests Jiinnde Gill. Ten thousand persons, it is estimated, will see the opening days racing. No betting will be permitted on the lawns or in the stand, but an extra admission will be charged for the palm garden and " paddock, and whatever Angering is done will be confined to the former loijulity. Viit-oJVtevai- visitors continue to arrive to spend Alie winter, or a good portion of it here. The old city old. yet modern enough to provide every comfort and more attractions than most places, the cuisine, unexcelled in any part of the world, and I nnted in every clime, the many forms of out-of-door spurts all these and more, combined with the racing, are expected to make New Orleans a busy cily this winter. As the opening of the forty-one-day race meeting, at tlie Fair Grounds, under the auspices of the Business Mens .Association approaches, interest in the sport, which lias been so long dormant, waxes apace and each new arrival becomes intensely impressed with the local interest being manifested in the success of the contemplated revival of the racing. If there is any opposition to the racing, an entire days canvas on the part of the writer has failed to disclose it. On the contrary, every one seems to have turned "booster" for the sport and the outlook is exceedingly promising. The plant has not decayed to any great extoat during the lapse of racing anil will be in excellent shape. The track proper is in perfectly good condition, and fast work is the rule over it even by mediocre horses. Those with class pretentions can work throe-quarters in 1:14 with apparent ease, while juveniles Hurt no dillicnlty in covering three : furl-iiigs in 35 and better, seemingly not fully extended. .lunge Joseph A. Murphy and his associates are . shaping matters up in great style and everything w ill bo in th rrougli readiness when the bugle calls the horses to the post for the initial race on New Years Day. . ihu city is taking on an air of activity, just as in the halycen days of New Orleans racing, and the newcomers tind a hearty greeting from the local people. The Influx of racing visitors began in earnest this morning and will continue for the next lliree days. They are coining from all parts of the country and all bring advices that there will be a banner visiting crowd on band to take part in the snort. The local hotels have big lists of reservations and they will bo tilled almost to the crowding point when the sport begins. Todays arrivals included Harry Shaw, Frank Rain. J. Murphy. Tom Kinney, James MoCIolIan, I. S. Murphy, J. J- Maekessey, II. J. Ortel. Percy Railov, Henry Hendrix. G. Smith, C. McGrath, George Roardiiii. Charles Walters. W. E. ISurke. I. Iliiseinann, R. J. Erath. W. Colo. Max Murphy. Tom McCarthy. J. K. Hughes. It. K. McAfe", and jockeys Schuttiniror and Guy Runts. Most of these came from Charleston. A goodly number also came from New York and Texas. special train of nine ears of racers left Charleston yesterday and is due to arrive here tomorrow; morning. Those who have shipped consignments on this train include E. I!. Elkius. J. Carson, W. I. Fine. J. A. Gibson, J. L. Paul. F. J Pons, J. Raker, II. G. Bodwell. Mrs. G. P.. Cochran, M. A. Vlton, F. Gehring. Jr. J. W. Forninn. T. J. Rrowii. W J. Siilers. J. O. Ibgan. J. 1. Misiek. J. Phillips, E. J. Salt, S. R. Ilouser and C R. Anderson. t here will he no djJirtb of riders here. Among those already on the- ground are Johnny McTaggart. who heads the list of winning jockeys for this season. Frank Murphv. E. McEwen. Guv Burns, A. Selruttlngcr and others. Pool, L.liey, Shilling and others are duo in the next few days. Hard rain which fell yesterday, had a beneficial effect on the course, for it packed t:ome of the loose going. According to present indications there will be at least 400 horses here to start the meeting off and arrivals will be the order daily th?re-after. There is now little to do In the way of preparation at tlie track excent on the part of the concessionaires. The restaurant privilege was let to Abadifl c Larroux, proprietors of a local restaurant famous for Us Creole cooking and black coffee. There will be French chefs and German, too. The popularity of the club idea lias been remarkable, and Secretary William S. Campbell reports that 100 membership cards have already been issued. Hie Far Grounds Club plan was conceived by T. G. Campbell, a member of the executive committee of the association, and when explained to leading society people it met with instant approbation. Many notable social functions will doubtless be given in the club during the race meeting, and many visitors from out-of-town will be entertained there by friends in this city, who are members. The restaurant concessionaire is arranging to. look after the wants of l club yatrons, and provide all the dainties, for which S Now Orleans is noted, in a satisfactory way. I The general public will suffer In no way whatever because of the dull, It is explained, for only a small portion of the stand has been inclosed for the society organization, and accommodation for every patron will be llrst class. A liberal number of new mn seats have been arranged adjoining the club luclosllie. Thousands of chairs have been procured to seat the crowds In the stand. Paolottis military lialld has lieoii engaged to render a daily program. S. A. Beckham of Greenville, Tex., has wired for stall room for live horses.
