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/ ■ "v |t ., I at J ,| , |j , _ . , . in . | j . . . , « * i AN EXCELLENT BEGINNING * 1 New Orleans Fair Grounds Jammed with Spectators. a Tippity Witchet Wins the New-Years Handicap Narrowly in a Nobly Contested Finish. 0 i BY J I.. DF.MPSF.Y. NFW URI.FANS. I.a.. Jaiiiary 1. The Business Me ns Racing AAooiation inaugurated its annual winter meeting this afternoon, the seventh in its history, and under conditions tluil e-onld not be surpassed. The weather was delightful and the course its best. The e-ontinuous publicity that the Fair Groundb bus had in Ihe local press about possible happening- as a result of the lietting eontrove|s ron-eel the curious and they added their numbers to the real devotees of the sport, resulting in an overflow attendance for in excess of any crowd that lias been present on any former opening. In the vast throng were many of the foremost persona in the business and social world la these parts: likewise many notables from different sections of the country. No Incidents occurred to mar the sceaslon and the racing was run off in routine style. Sicmiiigly all avenues led to the Fair Grounds and immense throngs begun arriving at the course at an exceptionally early hour ami by noon the congestion began earnest and it continued until long after the second twee. The main entrame- were choked with humanity and emergiiicy ticket -ellers had to be lushed, to diffe rent point- to relieve some of the pressure at ihe different ticket windows. Assurances from chief of Police Mnsnuaj that he would heed the Injunction and instruct no ar-rests for betting served as a stimulus to the mere timid and betting activity was constant, the fifty -seven price- eSUOtera being kept at top speed to minister to the wants of the speculatively inclined. Chief of Police Moloney was at the track in person, an Interested speetnasc of the racing and thoroughly enjoyed the sport. The district attorney- office was represented by special officer Hazel, who noted proceedings anil will presumably report to his chief. District Attorney Marr. The latter has anunwarud that he will net heed the injunction Issued yesterday by civil District Court Judge King. Tippity Witchet. locally owned and carrying the-cni-hing impost of 128 pounil-. carried off the feature rae-e. the New Year- Handicap, after a -e-n-ational struggle with Veto and Sterling, ultimately winning out by a nose, the same margin separating the latter pair. The struggle between Ihe Irio wa- intense ami had the Iliormous crowd in a frenzy, from which it ilid not relax until long after the winner had returned to the weighing scales. Tippity Witchet was ridden fault stanly. Rowan allowing Sterling to make- a fas! pace, but lie kept his mount always in close distance on the leader and look c-omnianil in the last eighth, but al tin- -tagi the- weight began telling on the Bauer representative and Rowan had all he e-onld do to nurse Tippity Witchet along to last just long enough lo get home in advance of the fast coming Veto, on whie-h l.yke was working like a Trojan. Sterling, too. held on ill rare style and finished gamely. There were originally twenty-two carded to start in ihi- race, but Fifteen srere withdrawn. THRILLER IN THE SECOND RACE. It will be a long time before the spectators experience the thrill they did with the running of the second race as a result of the stubborn battle- staged by Muskallonge and 1olythia. respectively ridden by l.yke and Me-Taggart. The pair began their duel the instant they rounded Into the- stretch and thereafter they were at top tension, with l oth riders exerting their utmost skill, with I.ykes slight superiority gaining the verdict for Bud Fishers repri-seutntrve by the closest of margins. Iolythia was by no mean- disgraied by her performance, for she clung tenaciously to the- 0. POO colt and refused to give an inch at any stage. The consistent Kddie Rickenbacher again figured in a winning race, in tin- third dash, in which he was opposed by some of the best sprinter- iu those parts and his triumph was decisive, for he led by a wide margin from Ihe start and won with consum mate ease, Bullet Proof landing in second plate and I apt. Ilcrshler third. Angon figured in Ihe early running, but began tiring badly after going a half mile- and ran far below hi- Ix-st form. The tahiit began auspiciously when they selected Lord Allen as the one most likely to land the "baby" purse contested by two-year-olds, newcomers m racing. He carried the silks of T. .1. IVnih-rgast. a well-known Kansas City political leader, and won from Johnny Dundee, with Ihe locally -owned Teddy B. in third place". The winnii- is a -on of Frizzle -Mary King and has -hown some speedy trials. The Kentuckians added another purse to their see re. whan Harvest King won a close decision oxer Madrono in the sixth race, with Grouud-Swell iii third place. Another sensational finish came in the fifth race, when The Wit managed to get up in time to outstay Tom Mi Taggart after the latter had appeared the winner. Kuklux headed another compact bunch and managed to get the judges eyes for third place-. Former Gesveruor Hall and former Mayor Martin Behriiiaii. two of the most noted personages ri-sponsihle for the restoration of racing in Louisiana. Were among the -pee-tators. Jockey Kings appn-ntiie allowance expired yesterday. Jockey Heinisih. who i- ill. also lost his apprentice allowance. The stewards have taken all the matters before them Under advisement. Parmer President MeLeUnna of the S B. M. R. A. wa- at the i-onrsi during the afternoon. Manager B. S. Bod was highly gratified with the result* attending the opening and said: "The presence at Ihe course of at many piominent persons is a practical demonstration of their approval of racing ami it will be the aim of this association to provide the best I hat can be secured in a racing way. alse to maintain our track iu a way to continuously merit the approval of the best citizens iu this city."
