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1 " , f i J r J ; i I t • : - 1 f s OPENING DAY AT MOBILE a * Ten Days Meeting to Be Inaugurated in Southern City Today. I I ! Much Interest Aroused in the Racing by the Constantly Increasing Crowds. i a . MOP.1LK. Ala.. March 7. The evening oT the opening of the ten days meeting of the Mobil" Business Mens Racing Association finds this hurtling city bubbling over with enthusiasm and everybody busy aud eaget for the initial bugle that will call the horses to the post for the inauguration of what is predicted will be a splendid race meeting. The invasion of turf enthusiast- has caught the city unprepared and created an overflow demand for accommodations, the hotels and boarding houses lieing comnletely filled. Near-by resorts are being called upon to aid in accommodating those who neglected to make reservations and some of the late arrivals with the intention of taking part in the full period of racing are considering the advisability of making the trip daily to New Orleans, as the train schedules fit in admirably in this respect and the journey none loo tedious for a hard-ened regular. The constant arrivals and the filling up of the tow u of mushroom fashion as a result of the coming meeting has aroused considerable interest in the s|K.t. It is really the first time that racing has had an impetus since the social period in famous Baveaaabe track, when society and the higher strata of the siorting element in these parts gathered annually for a limited period to witness contests between noted horses over the Cottrell and Browu-owned course. The cessation of racing at the Bascombe tratik still found it playing a part in tiie countrys racing .history, for it was at this track that some of the famous racers, as Troubadour and Blue Wing, wintered when owned by Captain S. S. Brown. It was on this track that the noted Riley. Phil Dwyer and Huron had their first racing lessons taught them, when owned by the one-time colossal turf figure Kdward Corrigan. It was also on this racing strip that Tom Stevens first had an inkling of the fortune that he was to accumulate through the prowess of his sensational mare Wary and her slightly less illustrious stable mate. Potheen. It was alea on this track that the noted Clifford first went through his paces under direction of Cliff Porter. Others of high degree found the Bascombe course a wintering point after hoof beats had cea-ed. HALF HOLIDAY FOR CITIZENS. of such paramount interest has the meeting be-•c.me that most of the more pretentious business e-tablishineuts here announced that they would c-all a half holiday for tomorrow to enable lle-ir employes to be in attendance to witness The iu-aagaaal days racing. The plant has been extensively improved over thft trade affair it was last year, when a spring meeting • 1 si .lays racing was attempted under unfavorable conditions, but it demonst rated by its une petted success the high peaaMllttee of Meddle as a racing point if a meeting followed close on the heel • of New Oilcans. From present indication- at least thirty Ipyrra will cpiote prices in the pavilion and administer lo the- want- of those -peciilatively inclined. No intricate betting system will be iu vogue. That to b" used has had its trial at New Orleans and will simply entail tin- knowledge of the quotation ou u lic.rse. the tendering of a memorandum and the amount desired wagered with the layer and the bettors name attached to the memorandum. If the beraee wins the bettor steps ground to the cashier employed by the layer with his original memoramluoi aud collects his winnings. Ben Holmes will be in charge of the pavilion aud act as adjuster general iu all dltpaU l or misunderstandings. jje ;« ;IU 0|,j hn.d at ring supervision aud is thoroughly conversant with haudliug this business, having warked continuously in a ■rtflllar capacity at Jefferson Park and at the Fair tiromid-. 1* has been decided to make the admission charge for men . 0 pin- war lax and the ladies fee will he fl.OO. with the customary war tax. RACING STARTS AT 2:30 P. M. The first late here will be called to the post at 2:;i0 oclock each afternoon instead of 3:10, as Was the original plan. Racing .secretary J. B. Campbell has raised The limit for the number of lior-cs starting on the front stretch to ten. while only eight will be per mitted to contest iu the rates where the start is made ou tie far side of the track. I pou J. B. Campbell, for years an official on the Kentucky circuit, will devolve the heaviest burden in connection with the local meeting. He Mill serve in the dual role of steward and racing -ecretary. and between the two positions he will be kept pretty busy. Julius H.immel and M. Lyons. Ipeal men. will occupy the roles of assistant stewards, but as ampliell is the only one of tie- trie who is a practical racing official, it will be up to him to keep the sport up to its highest standard. M. N. Macfarlan and John Carey will be the placiug judges and the will double up as clerk of the scales and paddock judge respectively. Macfarlan officiates as a steward at -cveral of the Canadian tracks and the Fair Oronnds, New Otlean-. while Carey is a man of years of experience in every capacity of racing. Arthur Mc-Knight will wieid the barrier and tho-e who have nea him send the fields away at the western tracks say thttt he is a competent starter. H. C. Murnan. a leader iu commercial c-irc-les hereabouts, is president of the Business Mens Racing Association and he has worked untiringly in an i-ffort to give this section t lie best possible iu the way of thoroughbred sport. I-eo Zieuiau, secretary. and John Itmey, treasurer of the organization. likewise have performed their tasks in an excel lent manner, arranging the preliminary details incidental to tiie opening. The minimum purse value here will he S.OO. with a daily feature worth either 00 or 00,
