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SUCCESSFUL OPENING DAY i Great New Orleans Assemblage to View Capita! Racing. Lucky B. First in the New Years Handicap Metem First 1919 Two -Year-Old Winner. NEW ORLEANS, La.. January 1. An estimated crowd of ten thousand at the Fair Grounds expressed amazement at the wonderful building feat of constructing a completed grandstand and appurtenances including several offices adjacent to the grandstand, in such brief time. The task was finished in the appointed time and the thousands who came to the course expecting to find a make-shift structure in place of the former palatial one, expressed genuine pleasure and surprise at the magnificent and commodious grandstand. True, it is crude in spots and lacking in plaint, but it is solid, roomy and built with a. view to permanence for this meeting. The crowd, after a thorough survey of the grandstand and finding vantage points, paid particular attention to the business on hand. They came with the expectation of witnessing high-clas racing and were not disappointed, for the sport was of u mid-summer brand and the starters in some of the dashes were of the crack variety and winners on some of the most pretentious tracks in the country. The New Years Handicap, at one mile," was-the outstanding feature and it brought ten of the twentv originally carded to the iost, with Franklin anil Manister Toi absorbing most attention; but the Kentuekians had the honor of furnishing the first stake winner of the 1919 season, when Lucky B. won from Fnsnkliiv with Gcnrtsdiip- la:dlris- place. Lucky B. and Franklin- are both sired by Jim Gaffney, and the pair of racers furnished an interesting stretch duel. Franklins weight being u strong factor in the final outcome. A hard shower developed- immediately after the running of the stake feature, and sent the spectators scurrying for cover. The rain again came after the fiftli race and slowed the course. There was also a big drop in the temperature at the close of the days proceedings, and changed conditions from a summery to a wintery one. The crowd, however, put up witli discomforts in good natureil fashion. Sharing interest witli the stake feature, was the juvenile dash which formally opened the Fair Grounds season. Ten baby racers made the contest and victory went to A. It. Spreckels home bred California youngster Metem, a slashy looking son of Runnymead Hymir. which out-footed the badly ridden Ogden Girl, Krewer landing in third place. The winner enjoyed a lead from the start and stood the stretch drive in game style. SPECULATION OF LARGE VOLUME. The betting pavillion was a seething mass throughout the afternoon and though of generous dimensions, it became frequently congested. A record number of odds purveyors mouthed prices and were kept at top speed taking care of the wants of their customers. The attendance included some of the most prominent persons in the city, and many state notables were also present. The management expressed extreme gratification over the auspicious beginning and took pardonable pride in tneir constructive ability. The withdrawal of Starry Banner was due to Mrs. Bakers deatli in St. Louis. She wns the mother of Grover and Hundley Baker, who died in the last six mouths. Del Wishard was denied a riding license by the stewards, and jockey Elisor was granted a probationary one; it will be withdrawn if he is found to be misbehaving. 1. 11. Madigin, president of the Niagara Jockey Club, was among the newcomers and expressed wonder at the action of the builders in having the necessary structures, completed to enable the opening to proceed on schedule time. G. D. Bryan, Jr., principal stockholder in the Jefferson track, was among the visitors. He reiterated the intention of the Jefferson Park people to give a meeting after the Fair Grounds closes. Work on the improvements at Jefferson Park will be started at once. Eddie Trile, who did the1 starting at Jefferson Park, departed this morning for his home near Baltimore. There were twenty horses excluded from tomorrows third race. Benefactor in the closing race ran in the name of M. J. Rooney, chief secretary to Mayor Martin Hehnuau. Jockey !. Walls had to cancel his riding engagements for the afternoon on account of illness. John H. McKee was among the newcomers. His horses have lieen turned out for the winter. L. A. Marshall returned this morning from his trip to California. He secured some promising young horses while away. Des Dressen of Louisville was among -todays arrivals. The horses that Will Perkins has been training for W. F. Poison have been turned over to J. Hogan, the string including Basil, Buford, Eddie Tranter and John Jr. Roscoe Troxler has wired his brother here that he will be on hand to start riding at the Fair Grounds meeting. J. T. Looney. well-known sportsman of Lexington, arrived yesterday and will remain for a couple of weeks. E. C. Smith, one of the stewards at the Fair Grounds, arrived yesterday from New York. Other arrivals included T. J. Pendergast from Kansas City and Joseph Murphy from New York. Pat Dunne returned yester1- morning from Kansas City, where he had gone to spend Christinas with his family.
