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RECORD BREAKING COMMON ♦ Pit Jr. Takes His Turn at a Mile and Seventy Yards. — : — • Wipes Out the Joint Record Held by Cudgel and The Porter — Cudgel Arrives. • Louisville. Ky.. May 29.— The mile and seventy yards record, which has l eei! a target of attack for tlie past three days, was reduced to a new figure this afternoon, when Pif Jr.. a first-time starter in nearly a year, accounted for the ,000 handicap, contested by eligibles for the Kentucky Handicap, to be decided Saturday, and serving in the nature of a preliminary to that affair. He ran the distance in 1:41%, which is one fifth of a second better than the mark made by Cudgel last fall at Latonia. and equalled yesterday by Tin-Porter. On a previous day Rancher, also a Kentucky Handicap eligible, had reduced the track record for the distance to 1:42. and his performance was regarded as wonderful and, when The Porter, in yesterdays- test, reduced .it and equalled the American mark, his showing was considered phenomenal. There is this to The Porters credit: His victory was achieved in hollow style and. had he been urged, there is good grounds for the critics contention that he could have run in 1:41 or bettor. Pif Jr.s showing this afternoon qualifies him as a serious factor in next Saturday*! big fixture, in which he is asked to carry 117 pounds, three pounds less than his impost today. The additional distance, the Kentucky Handicap being at a mile and a quarter, will be Iteneficial to Pif Jr., as lie K noted for his ability to stay over a long distanc" of ground, having among other victories to his credit the Latonia Cup at two and a quarter miles, in which he triumphed over the noted Star Haw*. Because of his long absence from racing and the fact that Midway had shown several recent fast trials, the latter was given preference, as a matter of fact was regarded as having todays nice at his. mercy, but the Parrish representative was deemed to failure ami was lucky to land in third place. This, too, in spite of showing a capital ] erform-ance. He almost fell in a heap at the start, when he stumbled and. by the time he had regained his stride, the others were far in advance. Connelly then allowed him to make up the lost ground too rapidly with the result that when the real struggle began in the stretch, it found him exhausted. Green Jones was away fully in motion and. displaying high s]»eed. led the others under restraint, hut when Pif Jr. challenged in the stretch Green Jones gave way unexpectedly and the last sixteenth Wiis rather easy for the Baker horse. William the Fourth and Capt. Rees. other starters in the race, showed to good advantage and are not wholly out of the big fixture. BACKERS OF FAVORITES FARE POORLY. Todays racing developed a plethora of upsets, chief of which were the failures of Fern Handley iind Ballistite, in addition to the overthrow of Midway. The talent began auspiciously when Iwin. a consistent one running in the colors of A. B. Spreckels. scampered home in front of a band of maiden fillies that tried conclusions in the opener. Thereafter disaster was in store for the backers and their selections met with constant defeat. Iu the purse that brought together three-year-old fillies, the Morris and Walden r -preseiilalive. Quietude, a recent comer from Maryland, and whici up to the last minute was considered by her connections good enougii for a Preaknoss Handicap prospect, showed a rattling good performance and won with ease from March Wind and Fern Handle.-. Silk Lidy. one of the starters, and ridden by Garner, almost fell at the start and this eliminated her as a factor. The defeat of Ballistite was a stunner, for that racer was never dangerous at any stage. The victory of Colonel Livingston in this was totally unexpected and his showing was an improvement over his last race. Jockey Roscoe Goose, who was severely injured at Lexington by a fall on James Fost-r. was at the track for the first time since his mishap. He is recovering steadily and will be fit to accept moliiits during the Latonia meeting. Eseobas withdrawal this afternoon was du ■ to his developing a slight fever and the s;evvards gave trainer Ward permission to withdraw him. Jockey I. Buxton is en route here from New York to ride Hollister. The latter worked a mile and a quarter this morning over the Churchill Downs track in 2:00"-.:.. King Gorin, winner of last years Kentucky Handicap, and a starter 111 this -years, worked a mile and a quarter trial this morning over the Douglas Park track in 2:04%. LADIES DAY BRINGS OUT CROWD. Ladies day. tlie first this year on any of the Kentucky tracks, was instrumental in bring ins out an immense throng to the traek this afternoon. The heat was intense, but the many ladies present so -ni-il unmindful and took a wholesome enjoyment in the racing and attending incidents. Originally i! had Is-en planned by the management to entertain 10.001 soldiers from Camp Taylor, but at the last minute, orders calling for a transfer of many of the units to Camp Sherman from here, caused the absence of the hoys in khaki from the track. Manager Haehmoister has announced that Saturday would be Military day and this will enable tlie soldiers to witness the decision of the rich Kentucky Handicap. There was considerable disappointment over the eleventh hour wthdrawal of Escoba from the feature race. The Alexander three-year-old is a itopul.-ir racer with turf patrmis in these parts, but sin«-v The Porters phenomenal showing, many have flocked to his standard and there is becoming a keen desire for a meeting of the pair of three-year-olds. Tlie ease with which The Porter equalled the American record for a mile and seventy yards, has convinced many of the shrewd observers that he is a racer ranking with the l est in the country and. if it transpires that a meeting between Escoba and T!v Porter becomes a reality, the McLean representative will not lack for supporters. Mr. McLean has already expressed a hankering to pit his three-year-old against the Alexander phenomenon]. J. K. L. Hoss Cudgel, which will be a starter iu the Kentucky Handicap to Is- run S.ilurilay, wa--: n arrival from N.-w York this afternoon and is quartered at Churchill Downs. The colt shipixil here in good condition. Trainer H. G. Bedwell an.l jockey Lyke. the latter coming here to ride him, wilt arrive Friday. Cudgel will be returned east immediately after the race.
