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SLIPPERY ELM OVERTHROWN 4 - At Odds-On Runs Unplaced: o the Erratic Waukeag. Atta Boy and Sleeth the Only Winning Favorites Track Extremely Difficult. NEW ORLEANS, La., February 5. Mud racing over a difficult track by small fields was the rule this afternoon at the Fair Grounds. -Threatening and cold weather was responsible for a falling off hi former big attendances, and. betting activities also was curtailed to some, extent. Backers of favorites fared poorly, the veteran Sleeth and Harry Payne Whitneys Atta Boy being the only victors during the afternoon from the ranks of first choices. The biggest upset, resulted with the running or the feature, a mile and one-eighth handicap for a purse of ,000. iu which Slippery Elm was a pronounccdfavorite, but failed to get a portion of the purse, the winner turning up in the erratic Waukeag. with Opportunity and Douglass S. following liim closely. Waukeags victory was, not wholly unexpected. Burke, who is fast coming to the front as a riding star, had the mount on him this afternoon, and favored by his light .weight, lie raced close up nntil reaching" he "stretch, where he came with a rush to overhaul Opportunity. The latter was mostly to blame for Slipiiery Elms overthrow, for he forced the latter along at a fast la.ce and practically into exhaustion in the first three-quarters of the race. Mountain Rose 11. which has been, masquerading as a. selling plater-for some time-and has lieen winning regularly, again showed a winning performance, and after triumphing, over. Nepperbaii. in the easy-style he did this afternoon, he svill have difficulty escaping the handicap division. Nepper-han was favorite, but Mountain Rose II. Held hi:ii safe at all ioints and won without trouble. Sleeth. which has" been racing consistently over the rough track here, was an outstanding choice in the third nice, and he made good easily from Dollna and Tom Goose. The rail running Jack Reeves again came in for much attention from the local brigade -in the- race, but he foniid himself mired in the sticky bog next to the inner rail, and his defeat was certain before lie reached the stretch. ROUSIKfx BATTLE IN OPENER. Atta Boy and Hidden Sliip furnished a rousiug battle in the opening nice, with Atta" Boy just managing to get up to win in the last .strides.. . II. I. Headleys Astraea threatened Vto emerge from the maiden ranks fat- the second race, but- at the end she -again had to content herself wjth second place, as Eddie Tranter beat her. home by a length. The sixth race brought together a. poor collection and enabled Amalgamator to wlii from Thirst, with Bill Hunley following and the favorite. Progressive, failing to get any part of the purse. - 1 The final race found Aztec an overwhelming choice, but lie also failed to get a..piirt of the purse. Brown Favorite beating Bluebannoek in the list stride, with the suddenly improved Fairly following. The -Sunny Stable, in whose colors Miss Sherwood started in the third race, put in a claim for Dolina. but tin; judges ruled the claim irregular and the mare remained the property of Crist and Buckley. The weights for the Foch mite find a. ,iuiir0p-handicap to be ruli next Saturday "1vere "ahnouhced this afternoon by secretary Mclenn;ui ns follows: Courtship. 115: Lucky B.. 112; Slippery "Elm, 1.11; Bondage. 107; Brilied Voter,. 107; MonntalmKose II.. 107; Moscowa, 100; .Opportunity,. 105"; Waukeag. 105; Bolster. 104; Douglass S.. lttJr. Dim Bright, OS; Irregular. 95, and Bombast, .911. War Mask was excused from starting, due to an ailing leg. " : There was some difficulty in tilling ;thc racing program for tomorrow, owners beliig. loath, to eriter over the rough track, particularly when all the races cull for at. a mile or over. Four, of the original races had to be called off, and races at live and a half furlongs were substituted." "There is -also a disposition on the part of some of the owners to resent the 0 entrance fee charged while the track remains bad. Jockey C. Robinson ivga in carried off the riding honors when he piloted Atta Boy,; Sleeth" "and Amalgamator to victory.
