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HAVRE OPENS IN BLAZE OF GLORY Immense Crowd Despite Unfavorable Weather— -Exterminator Beaten by Blazes and Careful in Harford Handicap — J. S. Cosdens Colors in Double Victory HAVRE UE GRACE, Md.. April 16.— Blazes, bearing the colors of J. S. Cosden, in a thrilling finish won the Harford Handicap this afternoon from Careful, while old Exterminator, hero of so many brilliant deeds on the turf and winner of the same race last year, was a fast coming third. Six lengths back of these followed Carmandale, Southern Crosa Champlain, Stoto and Rubien. It was the opening of the Havre de Grace meeting and while the skies were overcast and the weather unseasonably cold for this time of year, an immense crowd was out for the occasion. The track condition resulted in many scratches from the Harford Handicap and it was a condition that played an important part in the victory of Blazes, which, more than any other starter, was favored by the going. Little time was lost at the barrier and starter Milton had the field off in excellent order with Carmandale, Rubien and Blazes first to show. Careful was not far away and the -Qothers strung out a bit with Exterminator slow about getting into action. Butwell made his move with Careful after leaving the backstretch and, bringing her around on the outside, she was showing the way when headed into the homestretch. But Dang had saved ground with the lightly weighted Blazes and he was racing fast on the inside, while Exterminator was seen to be moving up to the others well out in the track. Sande was hard at work on the old cup gelding and he was coming like a whirlwind, but he had two fast ones in front of him. When well inside of the last sixteenth Careful swerved out slightly and stumbled as she did so. All the time she was giving up her best and Blazes, running straight and true, showed his head in front to win by a neck. Exterminator was closing up right to the last stride, but could not quite reach them and finished ncse and tail with Careful at the end. The others had been distanced in that three-cornered battle through the final eighth and they straggled along home. The time hung out was 1 :15, which was remarkable, considering the track con-■ dition. EXTERMINATOR SOUND. Exterminator appeared to be sound when he came out of the race, but it is doubtful that he is the horse he was last spring. It was his courage that made him finish third. An evidence of his tremendous popularity was shown in the storm of applause that greeted. him in the parade to the post. Then when lie came back to the scales beaten he was again applauded, as warmly as was the winner. Each of the placed horses ran a thoroughly good race. Probably the track conditions turned the scales in favor of the winner and with firmer footing Careful might have been first instead of second. Mr. Salmon expressed himself as delighted with the showing made by his mare. Careful has come back to the races with all her former speed and seems suie to hold her own among the sprinters of the year. Louis Garth began his racing campaign auspiciously when his gelding Star Cloudy, a son of Wrack and Stellarina, in a game finish beat Neptune, also a gliding and a son of Sea King and Harvest Queen, with Beau Nash, a good looking son of Jim Gaffney and Lady Brighton, third. The race brought about an excellent finish with the horses of father and son fighting it out, for it was "Colonel Bill" Garth who sent Neptune to the post for Mr. Cosden. It is possible that Neptune might have been the winner had it not been that he stumbled badly a few yards from the finish, but Star Cloudy was under a drive and showed great game ness and a thorough education. Neptune left the post fast and while he showed a disposition to run out on the first turn Kummer straightened him without los-I ing command and showed the way until the closing strides when Star Cloudy came with his winning rush. EASY FOR STAR REALM. A dash of three-quarters for selling platers was the second race and the winner tr.rned up in Star Realm, a solid old campaigner that found the going favorable. He raced in the lead all the way and easily beat " Paul Micou home. The latter was coupled with Staunch in the betting. Copyright beat Tlcacey for the short end of the purse. It was a good looking band of three-year- olds that went to the post for the Tiptop purse, at five and a half forlonsja, that was the third offering, and Fred Hopkins saddled the winner when lie sent Harry Payne Whitneys Fly by Day to the post. At the finish she was showing the way to J. S. Coadens Golden Rule, and Heeltaps beat l- rest Lore for third money. Golden Rule is one of the Cosden candidates for the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby and he is undoubtedly a colt of considerable speed. This, his first race of the year, was a creditable one and Lang did not abuse him in the last eighth, or he could have made Fly by Days task more severe. Five and a half furlongs mean3 nothing as an index to a Preakness chance, Continued on eighth paje. j | I i j I ! | j [ ! ] i j | j j : I ! I I I | I ! I HAVRE OPENS GLORIOUSLY Continued from first page. but iolden Hu.e can at least run fast. One rear-on for his being pointed for the Preak-neaa Stakea is the fact that he lias twidve pounds allowance under the conditions of the lu 1imlico race. The fifth race was the Chester Purse and it brought out some good horses, but Paul Jones was too fast for the others in the going, lie took the lead shortly after the start and the result was never In doubt. Rouleau raced second most of the way and tinished there while Tippity Witchet saved third place from Eulalia. Mountain Hose II. accounted for his fourth consecutive victory when he won the sixth I race, at a mile and an eighth. Day Lilly took second place, while Ettahe was third. Then Bravo took the last race and the people went home well pleased with their entertainment.
