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THE ROLL CALL FIRST Displays Fine Speed in Capturing IVlain Race at Fair Grounds. Improved Weather Helps Attend-. ance Lorena Marcellia Practically Left at Post. NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 30. The Roll Call, which has figured prominently this winter in frequent performances and has raced consistently in most of his races, accounted for the stellar race of the Fair Grounds card this afternoon when he led home three other good ones to win in the fastest time that a mile and a sixteenth has been run in this meeting. Thimble finished in second place, a nose in front of Barracuda with Roseate II. a sixteenth margin back. The Roll Call raced in his best form, hut he was lucky to be the victor. Corcoran rode him alertly, got him away from the barrier fast and saved ground during the first three-quarters by staying close to the inner rail. He was followed closely in the early part by Roseate II., Barracuda having been allowed to drop out of it and Thimble was in last place. At the stretch turn The Roll Call seemed to be tiring and Roseate II. moved up. Barracuda at the same time was finding his racing legs under urging. Mergler here made the blunder of riding wide and it cost Barracuda much ground. Parke meantime on Thimble rode his mount close to the inner rail and it saved much ground, enabling her to get up in the last stride to take second place. Barracuda, despite his bad handling, outstayed Roseate II. The latter also was given a bad ride in the last eighth. Roseate II. was the favorite, with Barracuda and Thimble also well backed. The Roll Call being the outsider. 3IERGLER SUSPENDED. Mergler was suspended for five days by the stewards after the race for rough riding, being held responsible for the interference that happened in the stretch and in which Roseate II. and Barracuda were involved and suffered from. With the fine weather now prevailing the predicted improvement In attendance is materializing and a generous patronage was noticeable this afternoon. Those in the crowd speculatively inclined did not fare so well for betting choices were in eclipse in most instances, the thirty-six layers operating having by far the better of the argument One of the big upsets of the afternoon came in the second race when the staunchly backed I. orena Marcellia was practically left at the post in the second race and was, as a result, eliminated from contention. Starter Hamilton stated that the filly bolted out at the start causing her to be left at the post. Lugs was a sufferer, too, by the start. Julia M., which ruled almost equal favorite with Lorena Marcellia was the victor, but it was a close shave for her and she only beat home Buck Pond by a short neck with Longboat crowding the pair closely. The inaugural dash brought fourteen juveniles to the barrier to try conclusions for the first time at the three and a half furlongs distance. It resulted in victory for Foxmore, ridden by E. Martin. His victory was in the main due to the hustling ride that he got soon after the start, which enabled him to go into the lead, while timidity grasped most of the other riders. Parole II. , which had begun fast, but eased while racing to the turn, came with a strong bid in the last sixteenth, but Foxmore had" enough in reserve to outstay him. Red Seth finished in third place. Fearnaught and Bill Winfrey, regarded with much favor, were given timid rides, and Dan E. Stewart was weakly ridden. SANDS OF PLEASURE UNLUCKY. The veteran Sands of Pleasure was deprived of a winning bracket in the sixth race because of the poor ride he got, which caused him to fail by a matter of inches of wearing down Harry B. The latter led from the start, but it appeared as if Sands of Pleasure could have gone to the front at any stage of the race after the first quarter. His rider, however, elected to persistently take him back until the stretch was reached, where he began riding hard, but Harry B. held on gamely and just lasted to get the verdict There were exceptions to the judges placing by Sands of Pleasure, who thought he had gotten up in time to beat Harry B. Runquoi. the favorite in the race, was eliminated after going a half mile when he fell lame. Mah Jong, in. the third race, was backed to the exclusion of the other starters and she made good in fine style after wearing down Queen Charming in the stretch. Some fairly good ones started here and the winner might have had a much harder battle for the purse had Stutts been alert at the barrier and gotten Frankman away. He was practically left and closed an immense gap, but failed to get a part of the purse. Attilia won out In the mile dash that brought together fillies and mares. She ap- peared hopelessly out of it after going half a mile, but came steadily in the last quarter and, slipping through next to the inner rail in tho stretch, moved past Margaret Ware to win handily. Six Pence accounted for the closing dash by a short neck from Royal Crown. The latter was far out of it in the first half mile, but came fast in the stretch and would have won in a few strides more. Piedmont, the early leader, landed in third place. George Long, a local sportsman, who has joined tho ranks of owners at this meeting, has made an acquisition to his stable by purchasing, privately, Byron from Sam Louis. On account of the thick fog which prevailed at the Fair Grounds during the early morning hours Wednesday it was impossible for dockers to time all the horses, the number of works being the smallest in several weeks.
