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BELOW THE STANDARD Wednesday Card at Fair Grounds Lacking in Quality. Gondolier Has Narrow Escape From Defeat in Principal Race Ruby Finally Makes Good. NEW ORLEANS, La., Feb. 13. One of the poorest racing cards that has been provided in years at the Fair Grounds was decided this afternoon, but the lack of features seemingly was overlooked for a big attendance was on hand. There was evidence though, in the betting pavilion, that the offering was below standard judging by the stagnant operations. The racing did not suffer to any material extent by the poor calibre of starters. Their even class made for good sport, several of the finishes being of the thrilling variety, with the winners margin just barely perceptible. All tho dashes had claiming clauses, with non-winners at this meeting participating. It brought together starters that left little to choose from in the matter of superiority and they raced compactly "from the start, the ultimate contenders driving hard to score. For the want of something better the mile and an eighth dasli served as the outstanding contest. There were five starters in it, with Gondolier slightly preferred over Stump Jr. This pair fought it out in strenuous style, though Gondolier was pounds the best The latters close shave from defeat was due to the incompetency of Lang, his rider. He was unable to guide him properly, and in" the last sixteenth he kept him under tho stoutest kind of restraint, probably to keep him from swerving over against Stump Jr., next to the inner rail. Langs action was almost fatal, for his mount barely won by a nose, and he .. would have been passed by Stump Jr. in another stride. UNSATISFACTORY RESULT. The racing began with a dash for juveniles at the three and a half furlongs distance. It was an unstaisfactory contest and half of the field was eliminated at the first turn. Master Billy was the winner. He was lucky to be in tho forward flight from the start and he held gamely to his task in the stretch drive, winning from Bill AVinfrey, a sufferer soon after the start by interference. My Biddy, which secured a lucky break, landed in third place. Hole Card, the opening favorite, was handled by E. Martin, and, failing to get off in front, his timidity asserted itself and he pulled his mount up. Fourteen ordinary horses engaged in the second race witli Jackson the favorite, but Corcoran gave him a timid ride, accounting for his failure to wear down Lady Chcco, which won handily. Kilbowie managed to outstay the others in third place. Ruby, which has been a disappointment in former starts here, was benefitted by a rousing ride she got from Parke and it helped her beat home Golden Billows, one of the outsiders. Lugs landed in third place. There was extensive support in the race fcr Mom, but any chance she might have had went glimmering in the stretch where she was surrounded by the others and could not extend herself. Exchange, which in a preceding start was badly beaten off, found his speed in the fourth race and led for the entire way. He was helped to his victory by the ground that Lang saved on him and he beat home tho favorite, Lady Rose, on which Corcoran again showed a weak stretch effort. Kindred was going fastest at the finish and in a few strides would have beaten out the leaders. Normal and Majority, tho former favorite, and the latter an extreme outsider, put up a rousing battle all during the stretch with Normal just managing to win by inches. Royal Charlie finished in third place. The closing race fell to Juno, which was somewhat lucky to outstay Sword. Thorn-dyke, on the latter, barely managed to sit on h:s mount. He was pounds the best and, with a good ride, would have won off. A
