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SEVERAL TIGHT FINISHES 3 Jefferson Park Patrons Treated to Some Excellent Racing. - Murphy Proves Deceitful in the Chief Race and Hidden Jewel Takes It. . NEW ORLEANS. La., December 24. There was excellent racing at Jefferson Park this afternoon, replete with tight finishes and incidents that kept the. big crowd present in a condition of pleasurable excitement. There was no race carded of superior attraction, what might be regarded as the main feature being somewhat impaired, by the withdrawal of A. N. Akin and Brlnghurst. An upset marked the decision of this race. The speedy but unreliable Murphy, witli C. Robinson in the saddle, was made an even money favorite, but after setting a fast pace to the stretch did his usual stunt- of fading away into obscurity. Some day he will forget to do this. His retirement gave Hidden Jewel a chance to rush into the lead- and outstay American Eagle in a hotly contested finish, with Irish Maid a fast going and close up third. The opening race, a dash of a mile and a sixteenth for maidens, fell to the well backed nnd well bred Revolution, which won in a canter from the outsider Lady Waldeck with Judge David third. Durella ran well in this race and on her showing today will leave the maiden class presently. The winner made a new track record for the! distance. . The fast mare- Sybil placed the second race to tiie credit of her owner, without any trouble with-the westerner Phrone Ward in second place and M. Bert Thurmun in third place. El Mahdl and Ideal finished close up. The venerable Senator James easily took the measure of his opponents in the third artd won from Mack Garner and Miss Wrijht under a good ride by J.. Mooney. Joseph P. Murphy was a well, backed favorite for this dash, but it was a great waste of good money, for he quit like a counterfeit and was nowhere at the finish. The consistent Grove A. took the three-quarters dash for two-year-olds, but Little Sandy was giving him a heap of trouble at the finish, and he only won by a short neck. Rapid Stride came fast through the stretch and snatched third place away frbm Cancion, The latter raced pretty well last spring and here gave some indication of returning form. E. R. Bradleys Biddledee closed a big gap and finished close up. The betting over the sixth race made Dancer a slight favorite over Jack Reeves and McAdoo, but all three were heartily backed. Jack Reeves was in difficulties in the early running, but secured an opsning on the last turn and, coming through the stretch with a wet sail, overhauled Dancer and won by a half length. Dancer had set a good pace and. after being passed, rallied and was coming again at the finish. McAdoo was a respectable third and Little String a close up fourth. The last race resulted in a head victory for the 20 to 1 outsider, Contestant, over Bubbling Louder, with Tanlac third. Dragon Rock led to the stretch and quit. Frank Shannon was a warmly supported favorite, but could not stand such notoriety and modestly raced among the also raus.
