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j r ; t N j j j j , j . J , . J j IMPROVING ATIJEFFERSON Better Weather and a Drying Track Leads to Good Racing. Big Holiday Attendance Cheers a Great Finish in the Mile and a Quarter Dash. BY J. L. DEMPSEY. NEW OKLEANS. La.. December ITS.--Burners ancnt possible happenings at the Fair Grounds with the In-ginning of the racing there are as thick as snowflakes in a New England village during a winter storm and it is all a matter of the angle that you are located in to obtain its drift. Meantime the present management is going along steadily witli its plans for the conducting of a successful meeting, despite fieqiient mention of District Attorney Marrs possible interference witli the betting. Attorneys for the Fair Grounds have announced that there will not be any betting violations of the law and that speculation will be in conformity witli the decision of he supreme court in the Austin case. Todays racing was under considerably improved conditions, the weather, though crisp, was clear and a high wiml during the night aided materially in drying tlie track, creating firm footing for the horses. While there was a lack of features, the racing was spirited, due to the even grade of most ,f tin- starters. The attendance again caused a jam and was the biggest midweek assemblage of the present meeting. King activities were in keeping with these conditions and kept the many layers working at top speed. The public began badly with the overthrow cf Philanderer, a pronounced favorite in tlie opening race, which suceumbud after a drive with Itosc clirf. ridden by Lyke. An unwieliliy band started in the second race, with Marie Maxim given the call and she made good without the semblance of leaving the result in doubt. Plain Bill, at a long price, followed her home and Trackstar just managed to outstay Old Sinner for third place. The recently acquired Sea Court scored for her new owner. M. F. Hiiseh. in commanding style in tin- third race, with Bit of Green ami Hope Princess dividing the smaller portion cf tin; purse. Sea Cov.rt showed a good performance under a capable ride and had to race to his Ivest form to win. as lie was away pooily and had to close a considerable gap. A poor start in tlie fourth race was responsible for the defeat of Title, which finished third. This race was won by Trooper, which beat Port Light. J. Brown, owner of Trooper, claimed Title at a cost of s:i.:!0t. Waukcag. another favorite, scored his second successive purse since lK-ing claimed by C. N. Freeman, when he won the fifth race in somewhat easy fashion over an outsider. Plenty, with Nolle Yorke in third place. Lads performance in tlie sixtli race was in keeping with the short price at which lie was quoted, for he won in :i canter from Sasin, with Ben Hampson in third place. One of the best finishes ever witnessed came witli the riuinii.g of the mile and a quarter dash, which closed the days racing. Five of the starters came to the finish in cavalry order, with the sulking Corydon coaxed into doing his best and getting the decision by a nose from the poorly riiblen Austral, with Keep in third place a nose farther back and the same margin separating Lottery and I.oicna Moss. A. Swenke, owner of Austral, claimed Keep for iH.JOO.
