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1 1 I 1 1 ! 1 I 1 t I 1 i. i 1 I II S S 7 7 T I r. r, -, _. INTEREST WELL MAINTAINED : • About the Largest Crowd of the Meeting Turns Out. » Main Mobile Race Taken by Old Faithful at a Long Price — No Extension. MOBILE, Ala.. March 17. The St. Patricks Purse of :fS00. at a niih- and seventy yards, which served as the holiday feature here, furnished the big att-iidance that again visited the Fair Grounds with an outstanding surprise in the victory of Old Faithful, whi.-h wou in easy style from Exhorter and Mam John. Old Faithful was making his initial start in the colors of his new owner. T. Hodge, who had claimed him in his race of yesterday when he was badly beaten while in with a band of ordinary ones. As a result of his poor showing on that occasion the "0 to 1 that was on tap against him at the opening found only nibbles from those with a penchant for "shooting at the moon." At that it caused his price to titrable to 20 to 1 at the close. Exhorter and Marse John were those most in demand, with Execution receding badly, and his race indicated the wisdom of the backers in dodging Dim. He finished lame and in a bad way and went back to his stable with difficult v. Exhorter promised fruitfully in the early running, for he showed the most sliced, and when passing the judges stand for the second time around he seemingly had the race at his mercy, but suddenly Old Faithful came with a cyclonic sprint and steadily and surely moved up to the leader and nl.imately passed him wiien reaching the short stretch turn. Marse John was always well up and finished in third place. The W. Bock connections enjoyed a profitable afternoon :iid gave the twenty layers a severe drubbing as a result of the victories of Lieutenant Perkins and Aunt Deda. Both were backed in hearty fashion at good odds and master Steve Wida. who bad the mount on both, never took any serious chance, for he rushed both into commanding leads early and won by big margins as his mounts were capable and by a decisive distance. The near-by close of the racing season here, coupled with the fine weather prevailing and it also being a aal hallday. resulted in one of the record attendances visiting the track. The racing was interesting and interspersed with several surprises in the victories of several from the most unexpected quarters. HELI0CR0SS THE CHIEF SURPRISE. The op-iier. in which Gipsy Joe. Crest and Wireless were the outstanding ones in a speculative way. brought the chief surprise of the afternoon as a result of Heliocross* victory. Wida got him away with a rush and led the others from the. start. Crest landed in second place and Wireless took third. Gipsy Joes chances went glimmering when he was forced wide on the turns. Enos proved best in the second race and won from Sea Beard and Saeajawea. Euos was fairly well backed, as was Sea Board, with Fort Light ruling favorite but runuing a iwior race. Carl Boberts. favorite in the third race, w.u easily, but the race might have gone lo MaHKil which was leading when she stumbled and eaand Becaaawskl to be unseated. Jockey Wida was much in the limelight during the afternoon and scored three victories. The management here took the sensible view and refrained from extending the meeting beyond to. morrow, the announced date for its closing. C011- siderable pressure was being brought for au evil tension and the success of the meeting vas au anted inducement to continue. However, artoer counsel prevailed and it was to to the advantage of racing that it was not being overdone at this time. There is a general des:i.-7 for a mile track and unless adverse legislation is enacted at the next session of the Alabama legi.--7 lature. which convenes in January, an up-to-date track is in prospect. The venture will be financed by local capital furnished by business mea. Old Faithful was "laimed out of the sixth race Thursday from D. McDermid by Tom Hodge for .«00. Tin- was the first claim of the meeting. W. 51. She.-dy disposed of Kcdgwick to W. A. Walker at a private sale today. William Newman parehased May Boberts, a five-: year-old daughter of Muster Bobert — Bose Prim. from Charles Tevis. She w ill be sent to Mao -land. Fort Churchill has been disposed of on private . terms by L. J. Carey to Mrs. J. E. Nagle. lie will be raced in Maryland.
