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• . . • i i • , I 1 1 READY FOR THE BIG RACE • Crack Field to Contest the Kentucky Handicap Today. ♦ Favorites and Outsiders Divide Honors Fairly in Yesterdays Douglas Park Racing. • Louisville, Ky.. May 31. — Todays card was an off day MM in every NMMCfl and the lack of features was responsible for a diminished attendance, though the intensely warm weather might also have had a liearing. The difficult program caused a falling off in the total of speculation and the regulars suffered extensive losses by the failure of some favorites to get home in advance. Legal and Melus being the only pronounced choices to succeed. The absence of good class horses did not affect the sport, for close finishes and fast racing was again the rule. A dead heat, the first this spring, furnished an outstanding incident of the afternoon and came with the opening race, when John Jr. ami Hig Fellow-came to the finish on even terms. John Jr. was the favorite in lhe race and probably was liest. but his rider caused him to suffer a loss of much ground when he brought him wide on the stretch turn. Itotli owners agreed to a division of the purse, lis pt-using with tlie necessity of running the dead heat off. The feature race for .0011. at a mile and seventy yards, develoiied a big surprise by the victory of Fell Swoop, running in A. K. Macombers odors, llis victory was due to the blunders of the other riders, who allowed him to steal into a long lead at the half mile ground, while they pursued waiting tactics and kept their mounts under sharp restraint. McGabe. after attaining the lead, gave Fell Swoop a breathing si»ell and lie had little difficulty in keeping command when William the Fourth challenged in the last eighth. Valais. after being far back, came fast aud outstayed the others for third place. Williams Bros. Legal again earned a bracket and his steady improvement shows him to lie a fairish sort of a colt! His victory this afternoon was accomplished ia easy style, with Iwin and Brother Mclean his closest followers at the finish. G. M. HENDKIE AN ARRIVAL. Gi-orge M. Hendrie and W. I*. Fraser, secretary of the Canadian Kacing Associations, were among the newcomers who will witness the running of the Kentucky Handicap. H. G. Bedwell. trainer of the J. K. L. Boss horses, accompanied by joekey Lyke, arrived from New York this afternoon. Bedwell feels supremely confident that Cudgel will acquit himself creditably in the Kentucky Handicap tomorrow. The horse is in superb form and the weight will no; lie much of a factor, in the estimation of the trainer. Jockey Lvke also feels that his mount will lie equal to tlie task. Bedwell. Lyke and Cudgel will leave for New York Sunday. Jockey C. Buxton got in this afternoon and was at tlie track. He will return to New York after the running of tlie handicap, in which he will have the mount on Hollister. Jockey Garner was unable to fill his riding engagements this afternoon, on account of illness. C. Garner was another that had to suspend riding because of illness. Jockey Merimee was suspended for five days by the starter for disoliedience at tin- post. Jefferson Livingston was among the arrivals this afternoon from thicago. He will remain over ta witness the Kentucky Handicap before going to New York. 1". Harrison of New Orleans, who is interested in the ownership of Dioscoride and other horses, was am »ng the "newcomers. He stated that so fir everything appears serene in a raciug way in Louisiana. MAKING RESERVATIONS AT LATONIA. Most of the owners here have already had their reservations at Iatonia allotted by track super- intendeut Larrv I.ourgenschotz. who was here dur-f iug the last few days. Williams Brothers have secured second call on jockey J. Grulior during the Kentucky meetings. Jockey L-ipaille complained of interference that jookov Simpson is alleged to have been rcs| oii-siblc for during the running of the fifth race. but the patrol judge stated that the fault was Lapailles, who guided McAdoo into an impossible opening. Fritz Ernest came out of his race in a bad way. Escoba has seemingly fully recovered from his recent fever, for he was given a good mile gallop this morning and covered the distance in 1:40%. Twelve aristocrats of the running turf are named to go to the liost at Douglas Iark tomorrow to struggle for the fame and fortune that goes with the winning of the sixth running of the Kentucky Handicap. Good judges pronounce the field that las l»eeii named to participate in tomorrows re newal of this famous ra -e, to be the finest from the stamlixiint of uniform quality, in the history of the event and a wonderful contest is anticipated. Cudgel will be the favorite. He arrived here on Wednesday from New York and appears to be in the pink of condition. King Gorin. Iif Jr.. Hollister and Bancher have all been showing form of the highest class in recent racing and the general opinion is that they are Cudgels most to be feared rivals.
