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THEYRE OFF AT LAUREL Immense Crowd Is Present for Opening of Autumn Meeting. rr- 1 Billy Kelly Defeats Crocus in. Capital Handicap Tippity Witch-ets Pine Performance. r - n LAUREL, Md., October 4. Never were conditions more favorable for the opening of a race meeting than those that prevailed here today when the Maryland State Fair threw open the gates of beautiful Laurel Park for twenty-three days o racing. Clear skies and a warm sun dried out the track so that when the bugle called the horses ;to the post for the inaugural dash the course was fast. Train after train brought the crowds from Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and surrounding cities. Great was the enthusiasm displayed and everywhere were heard praise for the management on the beauty and splendor of this magnificent place of amusement. The principal racing attraction was the ,000 added Capital Handicap, at three-quarters of a mile. Withdrawals left only six of the thirteen overnight acceptances, Tryster, Captain Alcock. and Tippity Witchet being the most prominent of "those that stayed away. II. P. Whitneys beautiful and speedy filly Crocus was the pronounced- favorite. She ran a smashing race, but had to lower her colors to Commander J. K. L. Ross ever popular. . , ... , RillyJvelly. The latter,,, carrying 12Spoundsr, followed Crocus closely from the start and the pace was certainly fast, the half in 40. At the sixteenth post Billy Kelly answered Kelsays call with the speed that has often brought victory, quickly passed the game Whitney filly and was only cantering at the end. Careful was third, finishing fast and almost overtaking Crocus at the end. No horse is: more popular in Maryland than the ever green Tippity Witchet and great were the cheers that rang out as the little Broomstick gelding overtook Dark Horse and in a game finish beat him by a small margin in the sixth . race, at one mile and seventy yards. Dark Horse was the "dark horse" of the race. The extreme outsider in tins betting he surprised them all by opening -up a big lead at the stnrt and showing the way throughout, only to fail right at the eud before the superior speed and sameness of Tippity Witchet. Moco, a daughter of Zens Sans Gcnp, by Rock Sand, won the first dash of the afternoon, a race for two-year-olds at three-quarters of a mile. Fair Virginia, with F. Coltiletti iu the saddle, was the choice in a betting way and, although she raced forwardly all the way, was never dangerous. Brilliant Ray set the pace, but gave way to Mow on the far turn and, tiring badly, fell an easy victim to the superior speed of the Zeus filly, which drew away into a two-lengths lead at the end. STEEPLECHASE TO CREST HILL. Steeplechasing has always been popular at Laurel and todays contest through the field attracted much interest despite the apparent superiority of J. II. Lewis veteran jumper Crest Hill. The old fellow was at his best and, after racing under restraint all the way and outjumping his opponents easily, drew away when called ou. Distant Shore was second after a hot finish, with Le Marsouin third. All seven starters fiuished the course without mishap. Backed to the exclusion of all the other starters in the third race, W. L. Olivers Dexterous, a cast-off from the Whitney stable, furnished one of the biggest upsets of the Maryland fall season when he was decisively beaten by J. W. Beans All Fair. Everything pointed to an easy victory for the Peter Pan gelding when he opened a big lead on the first turn. He was a length and a half ahead of All Fair entering the stretch and his backers found no cause for alarm when the daughter of Allnmeur challenged. But instead of drawing away as they expected Dexterous suddenly exhibited signs of tiring and despite Penmans vigorous riding could not successfully resist the great closing rush of All Fair. After a brief dying struggle in the final eighth Dexterous gave way and All Fair drew clear in the last few stride. Merrimac made every post a winning one in the running of the fifth race. He was neglected by the public in favor of Lady Lillian. The latter, was bothered at the 6tart, but at best would have had to run a wonderful race to beat the winner Hello Pardner accounted for the closing race. when he was returned winner in a drive from Scotch Verdict and Franklin. The winner sprinted into a long lead rounding the first turn, but was doing his best to win at the end. Bigheart will be unsexed this fall and put to steeplechasing next year. Richard Pending, the track superintendent at Bowie, has sent out word that no yearlings would be allowed stall room for the coming meeting. The demand for stabling is greater than at any time in the history of Bowie racing. O. E. Pons and E. W. Moore arrived from the Woodbine Park track yesterday and the latter had a starter in one of todays races. AVilliam Porter journeyed from Toronto and assisted trainer Henry McDaniel with the routine work in connection with the J. K. L. Ross stable. James Rowe, Jr., will make outside engagements for jockeys Coltilleti and Penman. The latter is still entitled to the apprentice allowance.
