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FORT ERIE RACING BEGINS Record-Breaking Crowd Sees the Inauguration of Sport at Track Opposite the City of Buffalo. FORT ERIE, Ont, July 4. Racing was in auguratcd at Fort Erie this afternoon under auspicious conditions, with the running of a well-balanced card, featured by the Fourtn of July Purse, a dash of a mile and seventy yards, and F. Wcnicks Dresden was returned the winner in a drive from Manoevre, while third place fell to Tailor Maid. Sailing B. was the popular choice in the race despite his top weight and was the victim of considerable crowding through the final sixteenth by Manoevre, which had him pinned next to the inner rail. The start was a good one and Turner went to the front with Sailing B. hard pressed by Manoevre, while Tailor Maid was racing in third position, with the winner bringing up the rear. This order wa3 maintained to the backstretch and, roundins the far turn, there was a general closing up. Sailing B. held his advantage under pressure, while lie-Taggart elected to come to the outside with Dresden when the turn for home was reached. Manoevre and Sailing B. were racing heads apart on tiie inside, and the Riverdale starter crowded Sailing B. through the final sixteenth and seventy yards from the end Turner was forced to pull up with the favorite. Dresden closing resolutely wore down the leaders and was drawing clear at the finish. Cloudy weather prevailed during the afternoon, but the conditions had no effect on the attendance which ranked above any previous mark during the past. The track dried out quickly during the afternoon under the efforts of the harrows and could be considered good for the last two races. The card, which was made up of the usual seven races, attracted well balanced fields and spirited racing prevailed. The public failed during the afternoon in locating winners with any degree of success, but several well-backed second choices were home first. LANCELOTS EASY VICTORY. Lancelot had but little difficulty in being returned the winner of the opening dash of the afternoon, which was at three-quarters. Lancelot was away quickly and, sprinting into a long lead, won under restraint from Al Pierce and Lady Luxury. Flea, ridden by P. Walls, accounted for the Canadian-bred dash in an easy manner from Beljoy and Carry On. Jockey F. Sharpe, who rode Manoevre in the running of the fifth race, was suspended by tho stewards for the remainder of tin meeting. Sharpe is a youngster, under contract to Howard Oots, and has ridden in but four or five races. He was substituted for McDermott when the latter was taken i. with an attack of indigestion. G. W. Foreman left a division of his stable at Hamilton to be rested up until racing is resumed at that point. A. Swinke sold this morning the contract of jockey R. Rice to J. Hernandez at private terms. Swinke has secured the contract on jockey Howard Gregory, who has been riding in excellent form recently. Due to the delay which held back the special from Hamilton this morning several horses were withdrawn from todays racing. John Carry was an arrival from Omaha and will accept applications for stall reservations for the coming meeting at Maple Heights. Jockey H. Hamilton accompanied trainer Lou Williams from New York and will ride for the remainder of the summer on the Canadian circuit. Trainer Fred Schelke reported that the two-year-old Ocean Crest was cut down in his last race and will be on the shelf for some time. The accident happened right after the start.
