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DAMASK BY A NOSE . Carries Off Rich Manly Memorial Steeplechase in Close Finish. Arlington Handicap to Knobbie in Fast Time Boys Believe Me Qualifies Handsomely. PIMLICO, Md., October 31. The fall racing season was inaugurated at Pimlico this afternoon under pleasing weather and track conditions. The Manly Memorial Steeplechase, the piece de resistance of the fall steeplechase events, was the outstanding attraction of a splendid program and it resulted in a thrilling finish in which the Grecntree Stables Damask got up in the final strides to earn a nose verdict from W. G. Wilsons Lieutenant Seas, while third portion of the stakes fell to Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Minata, and Sea Serpent, racing for J. E. Widener, was fourth. The Manlv Memorial was over sixteen jumps at two and a half miles and had an added value of ?10,-000, and was worth ,150 to the winner. Eleven starters answered the bugle call and four failed to finish the course. Decisive and Musty were the early pacemakers, while Lieutenant Seas and Damask were racing under restraint well back of the lead-. ers. There was but little change the first turn of the field while Cheyne, astride, Lieu- tenant Seas, moved up to the leaders. The latter disposed of. Decisive, which had drawn ! into the lead when Musty fell. Damask gained ground gradually and. after taking the last jump displayed his old time speed on the flat and in a terrific finish caught and passed Lieutenant Seas in the final stride. Lieutenant Seas cleared the last fence with a good length lead, while Damask blundered a trifle in landing. FAVOIUTF.S IltOTE DELUSIVE. Racing was welcomed back to Pimlico this afternoon by a throng of large proportions and they were entertained by interesting and spirited racing. The followers of favorites were more or less at sea and failed to land with any degree of success on the winners. Twelve two-year-olds inaugurated the afternoons program and the Sanford Stud Farm furnished the winner in Atherstone, ridden by Butwell, in an easy manner from Rock Bottom, while Ten Minutes was third. The Arlington Handicap, at three-quarters, resulted in a victory for the Rancoeas Stables Knobbie in a drive from William Irvines Mainmast, while Little Chief was third. The winner dominated the running from the start and equaled the track record in 1:11. Knobbie was ridden by Earl Sande and had a head margin over Mainmast. The latter came with a rush in the final eighth and split the Rancoeas pair. Little Chief was well up throughout and had no excuses. Dry Moon, of which much had been expected, had a rough race. Edward R. Bradleys Boys Believe Me made an impressive showing in the Pikes-ville Purse and qualified handsomely for Saturdays big juvenile race when he beat out J. S. Cosdens Crochet by a neck, while the Rancoeas Stables Rigel was third. The winner was ridden by Marinelli and came from behind the fast pace established by Crochet and ran the three-quarters in 1 :12. This contest attracted considerable attention for there were several of the candidates for the Pimlico Futurity among the starters. The winner was overlooked in the betting and netted the largest return of the day, ?59.70. INNOVATION FOR RETTOKS. Instead of using probable odds at this meeting a system of totalizers have been placed in the clubhouse on which tl-e sales on each horse and the total amount of the pool are placed. The amounts and pool are added frequently during the course of the betting and the public calculate their own odds. Several booths have been placed in the grandstand for the use of women. John J. MeGraw came over from New York to witness the running of the days card. Jockey B. Kleeger, who rode Courteous in the steeplechase attraction, sustained a fractured collarbone and a broken nose, while J. Pierce sustained slight concussion. All of the boys were removed to a loeal hospital. J. Rauschs plater Zovian was operated upon this morning for throat trouble by Dr. H. J. McCarthy. W. T. Anderson arrived from New York en route to Tijuana. Anderson was accompanied by the lightweight rider Tudor. J. J. Farrell bought from Gwyn Tompkins, acting lor the Glen Riddle Farm, the maiden Brocklesby. W. P. Frazer, secretary of the Canadian Racing Associations, arrived from Toronto to witness the running of the Manly Memorial. S. C. Hildreth, II. W. Maxwell and J. E. Davis were arrivals from New York. William P. Riggs has been acting as track superintendent during the illness of John P. . Brennan.
