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ONE RACE DECLARED VOID Heavy Downpour Plays Havoc With Jefferson Park Card. Capt. Hodge and Bombast Only Winning Favorites Douglass S. Victor in Main Race. NEW ORLEANS, La., March 8. The elements are seemingly iu league to make the Jefferson Park meeting anything Imt successful, judging by the branil of -weather which lias been its share and which lias proved the principal stumbling block and main drawback to the racing at this course. Tho tornado-like storm which visited the track at an early hour this morning changed it to a veritable quagmire and. as most of the carded starters were of the fast track variety, the excellent program originally provided by secretary McLennan was riddled. Tho fourth, tho Grunewald Handicap, in which giKxl sprinters were slated to contest, hail to be called off because all but Cobalt Lass and Duke of Latonsi declined to start. This would have left the race a virtual walkover for Cobalt Lass, and the management deemed it wise to declare the race off. No other race was substituted, making it a six-race card instead of Hie intended seven-race offering. The smaller fields proved lencfieial in one way, for it eliminated crowding and allowed the starters to race closely grouped. Some of the finishes were again of the hairline variety, with the winner in doubt until tin: official placing was displayed. Considering the unpropitious weather a surprisingly largo attendance .viewed the sport and took keen interest in the proceedings. Like on former days the favorites were again in eclipse, the exceptions being Capt. Ilodgo and Itombt, which won respectively in the sixth and seventh races. The most grievous offenders of the afternoon were Sosius in the initial race. Ninety Simplex in the second, Ellison in the third and Warsaw in the fifth. The Preece Brothers were again much prominent during the afternoon, and rode winners in three of the races, Godfreys work being especially meritorious in succeeding in piloting Douglass S. and Capt. Hodge to victory. The chief incident of the afternoons sport developed in the feature race, in which Warsaw was the outstanding favorite, and which resulted in a triumph for Douglass S. after a furious stretch duel with Waukeag. Douglass S. was lucky to get the verdict, for he stumbled in the last stride, but was enough in front at the time to stay in advance. J. Heupel. on Waukeag, was suspended after the finisli for the remainder of the racing here for rough riding, as he had caused a bad jam on the first turn and interfered sharply with Emanale. Risiwnde, carrying the colors of "Chicago OBrien," beat Sosius in the oiener. Trusty, racing back to his best form, found Ninety Simplex a ready victim in the second race. Flora Finch furnished the surprise in tin; third race, and Capt- Hodge proved best in the sixth. The final race enabled Bombast to score a lucky win over the poorly ridden Ben Hampson. The consignment of racers which left here Thursday for Hot Springs arrived there yesterday in good condition, according to advices. The only horse to unload badly was A. G. Blakeleys Traction, which , was taken witli fever en route. There was a big exodus of turf followers for Hot Springs tonight and many additional ones will ; depart tomorrow. Rumors of an extension of tho meeting here was 1 set at rest when !. D. Bryan. Jr., one of tiic principal stockholders iu the track, stated tills aft- : ernoou Unit there was no such intention and said the meeting would positively come to a close next i Saturday, as originally announced.
