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TOPSY-TURVY RACING Everything Goes Wrong at the Fair Grounds Thursday. Weather Man Plays Part in Upheaval -0. Henrys Failure Biggest Disappointment. NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 10. Incidents of an entire meeting were crowded into this afternoons racing: at the Fair Grounds when surprise followed surprise, and it included the leaving of two horses at the post in a field of four starters, the repeated failure of favorites and the overwhelming: defeat suffered by the outstanding and confidently hacked choice O. Henry in the mile and a sixteenth handicap that headlined the program. Added to the difficulties of the speculatively inclined the weather had to indulge in acrobatics and, starting out with a deluge that had nearly everything at the track and adjacent afloat, the temperature dropped suddenly and the racing strip as a result of the steady drenching it had all during the afternoon resembled a quagmire. The " outstanding races suffered most by withdrawals as a result of the changed track conditions, only three horses making the race in the handicap for the ,200 purse. Q. Henry, because of his good performance in the muddy going, was considered almost a certain victor here. This belief was strengthened on the supposition that Dr. Clark was unable to run -well in the going and that John Paul Jones, the other starter, was also not partial to the going. O. Henrys, failure was complete. He showed a dull performance throughout and raced far below the form he showed in his previous start Helrer BR. CLARK SURPRISES. Dr. Clark, on the other hand, furnished an outstanding surprise by the way he raced in the going as if it was particularly to his liking. Parke rushed him into the lead in the first eighth, subduing O. Henry without great effort and, continuing in the van, held John Paul Jones safe during all the stretch. The latter moved up in resolute style after going a half mile and heightened the hopes of his backers all during the last quarter by the determined effort in which he" strove to displace the leader. They finished lengths apart, with O. Henry beaten off in third place. O. Henrys defeat put a damper on the ""sharpshooters," and their chagrin was augmented in the succeeding dash when Colored Boy, second choice, and Fannie Bean, the outsider, were left standing at the post. Their elimination made the issue between Hermis Kemble, favorite, and Soggarth Aroon. Parke lost no time taking the latter to the front, and he had the race practically assured after going half a mile, for Hermis " Kemble gradually began dropping back and Martins hard ride was of no avail during the stretch. Soggarth Aroon and Hermis Kemble were fully -a quarter of a mile in front before the jockeys on the pair left at the post decided to gallop around the course. Fannie Bean, which acted stubbornly, was the first to get going, but after she had led .Colored Boy, the other offender, for half a mile by a margin of a sixteenth of a mile . Fields began easing her and Colored Boy cantered in front of her at a snails pace to the finish and was awarded third place. The stewards -got after Fields and Wallace -for their action in failing to contest for third place. The excuse of both riders was that I as they had been left at the post they did not think it necessary to race their mounts at top speed. They admitted not having thought of third place involved. They were let off with a reprimand. CALIGULA ANOTHER FAILURE. Another loss sustained by the form followers came in the third race when Caligula, at a short price, was beaten in hollow style by Cloughjordan and Mercury. Cloughjor-dan, running in his best, style, raced Caligula into defeat in the first three-eighths and j went on thereafter to win as his rider pleased. Mercury caught Caligula in the last sixteenth and was an easing-up second. Ducky, running in the colors of R. T. Wilson, j Jr., might have been a factor in the race "but for the action of Jones, her rider, in easing her all during the stretch run. He will probably have an Interview with the, stewards tomorrow relative to not riding out mounts, even if he thinks they are beaten. I I The racing began with the usual maiden dash, which on this occasion brought eleven ordinary three-year-olds to the post, and it I enabled the Audley Farm Stables Bench Manager to win in runaway style under Pools guidance. Antiquity, an outsider, landed in second place and Bugler finished third. The latter was favorite. The second race had among its starters a poor band, but it furnished a spectacular finish. Dr. Glenn winning in the last few strides under Harveys vigorous ride from Felicitous, with Romping Home in third place. Royal Dick was favorite, but was never seriously in the running. W. M. Cain, owner of Royal Dick, claimed Dr. Glenn at a cost of ,500. Harvey anergeticness also was respon.- j I I sible for the victory of Payman in the mila and seventy yards dash that brought together a fairly representative band of three-ycar-I olds. Payman displayed an extra game performance by staying with the leaders in the early stages and after disposing of them held to his task in fine style and warded off the determined bid made by Our Star in the last eighth. Repeater had a big call in the closing dash, but after flattering extensively during tlm first three-quarters by racing into the lead displayed fickleness and relegated himself in back of Superbum. and finally gave way tc Bolster for second place. Superbums victory marked the first success that lias gone to C. IL Knebelkamps way at this meeting. I J. B. Maginn, racing exclusively in the West, has requested reservation for twelve I horses that he now has at Culver City. An effort will be made to find room for him at Jefferson Park. I The secorfd issue of the program book was distributed among horsemen during the afternoon by racing secretary McLennan. The I book dates from January 11 to 2G inclusive