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GROWS IN POPULARITY Thursdays Crowd at Hawthorne Most Enthusiastic of AIL Not Even Ball Scores Detract from Interest Siroccos Sparkling Race. Midsummer weather conditions again prevailed and a crowd numbering slightly above the 12,000 mark gathered this afternoon at Hawthorne for the running of the fifth days program, which was made up of six well-matched races. The absence of a handicap took none of the interest away from the card, each contest furnishing spirited racing. The afternoons crowd was more enthusiastic than any previous days gathering and so intense was the interest in the racing that boys calling out the world series results after each inning attracted little or no attention. In the opening race of the afternoon Roy C, four-year-old chestnut son of Runny-meade Ventura, from the stable of H. L. Munson, ridden by F. Murphy, took an early lead and, with the exception of a threatened challenge by Gen. Petain at the stretch turn, was never menaced, winning by four lengths with plenty of speed in reserve. Little Billie, a well-meant long shot, ran a brilliant race throughout and though hara ridden at the back turn was going fast, finishing second by a full length from General Petain. Sarafax shared favoritism with General Petain in this field of maidens, but the latter ran a poor race all the way. Sundo was also favored by the public but was unable to finish better than fourth. Several photographers were permitted to enter upon the track to snap flashes of the finish of the second race of the afternoon. It was a one sided affair and not the kind of finish that thrills the spectators or that make good display photographs. The race was carded for three-year-olds and over, non-winners of three races since March 1, 1922, at claiming conditions. ARROW POINT ALL THE WAT. Arrow Point, under the able guidance of jockey E. Petzoldt, went to the front at the start and maintained a three-lengths lead under restraint throughout. The remainder of the field were closely grouped and furnished a real contest for the minor portions of the purse. Sweet Apple outgaming Laura Miller at the end. The third race of the afternoon, also a three-year-old and over claiming race, brought the spectators to their feet at the start when Sirocco left the barrier with a rush and raced into a long lead quickly, which he maintained throughout. A. Pickens had the moutn and held the good old son of Sir Geoffrey Helium ready for a sudden challenge at all times. His precautions were needless, however, as Sirocco had the others badly beaten at the finish. Harp of the North, from the B. Beamolt stable, furnished the only real contention from the start and ran a game race. Dad began slowly, but saved-considerable ground on the turns and was racing gamely at the finish, holding third place by a wide margin. Proclamation was the only other starter to show any considerable speed and his was short lived. He dropped back steadily after going a good half mile. Harp of the North shared favoritism with the winner. Jockey H. S. Jones reported sick after the running of the third race and the remainder of his mounts for the afternoon were canceled. TOUGH ON BETSINDA. Harry B., chestnut son of Jim Gaffney Flying Frances, ridden by E. Petzoldt and a well-backed favorite, opened up a wide gap at the start of the fourth race and held it all the way. Brilliant Ray gave him a strong argument at the finish, but was unable to improve his position. Diomed, from the W. C. Weant establishment, was a distant follower to the stretch, where he closed a big gap and finished in third position, going fast Betsinda, from the J. N. McFadden stable, had all the tough breaks of the race and was never able to gain on the leader. The fifth race of the afternoon, at one mile and an eighth, furnished a perfest start and jockey Conway, through some quick thinking and expert horsemanship, rushed Friz, three-year-old son of the famous old Broomstick and Greyhound, from the Mose Goldblatt establishment, into an inside position with a commanding lead, which he maintained to the half-mile post, where he was headed by Brown Bill, under the skillful riding of B. Petzoldt. However, J. Conway outgeneraled the Russian rider, and Friz again took the lead in the last sixteenth, winning from Brown Bill by a narrow margin. Buck Board, the eight-year-old son of Aeronaut Bettie Bouncer, ran a game race throughout, but was unable to improve his position. The final race of the afternoons program, at a mile and a sixteenth, resulted in a stretch battle between C. Irbys Frank Fo-garty, brown son of Wrack Irish Wit, and J. Eckerts seven-year-old Piedra, the former winning by a fair-sized margin, with Piedra five lengths ahead of Lewis. Jefferson Livingston, when asked to bring his good campaigner Firebrand to Hawthorne for the stake race on the closing day of the meeting, told judge Murphy he was afraid the horse could not be put in condition for shipment that soon. Firebrand has been turned over to trainer Al Kirby and is being carefully prepared before again being sent to the races. Firebrand worked a mile yesterday in 1:44, and after this work had been reported to owner Livingston he decided that a race as early as October 14 would be an injustice to trainer Kirby in his efforts to put the stake campaigner in perfect condition.
