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JEFFERSON PARK DAMAGED Severe Storm Unroofs the Grandstand and Does Other Mischief. Saturdays Racing Carried on Anyhow with Capital Attendance Marion Goosby Wins. New Orleans, La., December !. This city is rapidly recovering from the unusually severe norther, which struck here early Saturday inorning, following a heavy storm of Friday night. The present indications are that the patrons of racing will not have to sulTer so much discomfort, when tins sport is resumed at the Jefferson Parsh track tomorrow, as they did on Saturday. Workmen labored from sunrise this morning until darkness set in repairing the damage done at the race track by the storm. It is hoped to have the roof of the grandstand replaced within a few days. Both the track at Jefferson Park and the old Fair Grounds was frozen early this morning and it was well along towards noon before owners and trainers could get their charges, out for exercise. Not many hoses were brought out at the new course, but at the Fair Grounds things took on a lively aspect when the ground thawed out. Horsemen are of the opinion that the recent rain and the freezing of the track will help the Jefferson course, as it served to pack it and, baring further rain, it should be faster in a few days than at any time during the meeting. As evidence of how well form is being preserved at the local meeting, twenty-five favorites have won out of the first fifty-four races rim,, ending .with the sixth race Saturday. The victories of so many of the public choices have been costly to the layers, but the latter come back, for more each day. The racegoers here have taken to the new wagering system which was defined by the Supreme Court as being legal, much better than they did to the old stakeholder system ,Jinl it is not near so com-plfciUMir "The management of the tract IS" "ever oil the alert for infractions of the wagering rules and countenances nothing that is not entirely within the law in this respect. As was the case last week, considerable distance racing again will be featured at Jefferson Park. The condition book for the next six days calls for twenty races at one mile or more out of the thirty-six scheduled to be run. The big feature of the week will be the Old Town Handicap, ,000 added, for all ages at one mile. It will be decided on Saturday. Entries to this race cost each and they will close on Thursday. The starting fee will he . XADIES DAY ON TUESDAY. Tuesday will mark the second Ladies Day of the Jefferson Park season and on this day members of the fair sex will be admitted free as the guests of the management. Kighty-thrce owners have shared in the distribution of the purse money to date and forty-one of them have won 00, the minimum value of a purse to the winner, or in excess of that amount. W. C. Capps, whose horses seem to be in unusually good condition right now, is the leading purse winning owner thus far. his stable having earned 2, 500 in nine days. Others above the ,000 mark are M. C. Moore, IS. Williams and Harry Perkins. Jockey Frank Robinson is leading the riders with ten victories to his credit. His closest rival is jockey Albert Johnson, who has won eight races. Fifty-seven riders have been seen in action here thus far and twenty-five have ridden one or more winners. Those who have scored twice or oftener are Willis, M. Gamer. Walls, Lapaille, Kelsay, Martin, W. Collins and Donahue. The Jefferson track was visited during Friday night by a storm of almost cyclonic velocity, causing immense damage and demolishing the entire roof of the grandstand, leaving it in bleacherlike appearance. It will require at least a full week before the damage can be repaired. There will, however, be no cessation of racing for, with the exception of the injury to the grandstand, other parts of the plant escaped the violence of the storm. A big force of workmen were at once put to work repairing. At first reports spread through New Orleans that the entire plant had been demolished, but later advices followed by announcement that there would be no interruption of the sport, was cheering to the many racing people gathered here. The storm carried in its wake the overthrow of telephone and telegraph wires, interrupting service by this medium. The lighting system was also disarranged. Considering the cold weather and the knowledge that the storm had destroyed much of the shelter at the course, a surprisingly large attendance was present Saturday afternoon to view the sport. A fairly good program had been provided, with the Dixieland Handicap serving as the feature and a three-quarters race as a, secondary feature. FAVORITE BACKERS FARE WELL. Marion Goosby, carrying 120 pounds, triumphed in the main race, which was worth 10 net to the winner, Libyan Sands landing in second place. The three-quarters handicap went to Assume, a pronounced favorite. The talent were in great form during the afternoon and landed on most of the winners. Forty-three layers were in line and they all reported a big loss. The talent began well when selecting Producer, an English colt, as the likely one to win. He did and in easy style. Lady Eileen, ridden by E. Donahue, gave a disappointing exhibition and it promptly earned him an indefinite suspension. Another rider came to grief during the afternoon. It was M. Howan on Libyan Sunds in the fourth race, who was given a three-day suspension for rough riding. Many of the better grade horses here are rounding into racing condition and will be seen in action shortly. Some of those intended for stake features at the Fair Grounds may be given a race or two before the first of the year. Turco, the winner in the closing race, was claimed by W. Stormont for ,550. Jockey Lykcs was absent from the saddle Saturday afternoon on account of having incurred a three days suspension for rough riding in Fridays closing race. Saturdays newcomers included William Ryan and lien Shane, both well known Chicagoans. Jockey L. McAtee Joined tho riding colony Saturday morning, arriving here from Baltimore. William Shields, who will campaign a good string this winter, including Bringhurst and Top o th m- Morning, got in from New York Saturday morning. Guy Burns is seeking to gather a stable to cam paign here this winter. Clarence Buxton was a late comer from Tijuana with ills horses. The arrivals from California aver t lia t there is little chance of any racing this win-- "fcr at Tijuana, unless a modification iii the passport restrictions is had.
