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HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE Jockey L. McDermott Unhurt After Bad Fall. Zander Suspended and His Mount, Al Stebler, Disqualified as Result of the Mishap. NEW ORLEANS, La., Feb. IS. A hairbreadth escape by jockey L. McDermott from serious injury and the disqualification of Al Stebler for fouling were outstanding incidents of Mondays Fair Grounds racing. Both happenings came in the fifth race and were caused by the incompetency or wilfulness of Zander, astride Al Stebler, which crowded Kent L. and caused him to fall heavily. Kent L. and McDermott slid for twenty-five feet in the muddy going, McDermott landing with his head against one of the fence rail posts. Luckily the momentum of the horses fall and slide had been spent, for had McDermott landed with force against the post he would have received grave injury to his head. It was some time before he recovered sufficiently to walk back to the jockeys room. The relief of the spectators when it was seen that he had escaped injury was marked by an ovation for the rider on his way back to the jockeys" quarters. It happened in full view of the spectators, about seventy yards from the finish. Coral Reef, the leader from the start, Al Stebler, a strong contender, and Kent L. were fighting it out strenuously, Kent L. next the inner rail, Al Stebler in the center and Coral Reef on the outside. Wallace on the latter had taken his mount over from the center of i tho track and had ranged alongside of the others, but the stewards, who had the incident in full view, stated that "Wallace had in no way interfered with Al Stebler, and that Zander had repeatedly bumped into Kent L. McDermott at one stage had tried to shove Al Stebler off before he finally fell. Coral Reef beat Al Stebler by a nose, with Super-burn landing in third place, just having missed gong down over the prostrate Kent L. The stewards at once disqualified Al Stebler, moved Superbum into second place and gave Frank Monroe third place. Zander has been suspended and has been ordered to appear before the stewards tomorrow before the racing, when final disposition will be made of his case. MORE RAIX AD MUD. The sudden rain of Sunday and intermittent showers this morning and threatening weather culminating in a heavy downfall after the closing race, resulted in a lowered attendance and the withdrawal from todays .different dashes until small fields were the rule. The racing did not suffer to any appreciable extent, for the starters as a rule had liking for the muddy going and staged same hard-fought duels. There was nothing outstanding on the card on its original form. The seven races were all under claiming attachments, to afford opportunity for the cheaper grade to earn purses. There were ninety-two starters carded originally, with thirty-seven declining. The introductory dash brought to the post a band of two-year-olds and it resulted in victory for Jefferson Livingstons Confluente, which just before post time received confident support, and he won without giving his backers much concern. Martin got him away from the barrier with a rush and led for the entire three and a half furlongs. Honest Mose, an outsider by virtue of his inner post position, landed in second place and Hole Card finishedthird. Dan E. Stewart was a supposed contender, but any chances he might have "had went glimmering when he attempted to bolt at the stretch turn. 0E OF PARKES BEST. Another that had his winning chance destroyed by running out at the stretch turn was Caligula in the second race. His going wide proved fatal, for Venizelos just did beat him home under one of Parkes best rides. Miss Domino proved much the best of the starters in the third race and won handily from the fast-going Fredericktown and the suddenly improved Ducky. Fredericktown began slowly and showed a winning effort. Ducky was always well up and only succumbed for second place in the final stride. Golden Billows won the purse in the fourth race after leading for the entire way. She showed a great likrng for the going and held Lord Wrack and St. Donard safe throughout. Pcrmarcc, favoritic in the sixth race, performed as if best and was the easiest winner of the afternoon. St. Paul, under hard riding, succeeded in getting up in the last strides to overhaul Yorick for second place. Feigned Zeal, far out of it in the early part of the race, moved up determinedly in the last quarter and, finishing fast, got up to win and give Parke a double winner for the afternoon. Eddie Jr., one of the outsiders, landed in second place, with Our Birthday, the favorite, third. Victories of favorites and second choices in six of the races again made inroads in the, layers bank rolls. There were only- thirty-six quoters in line during the afternoon. Heavy going will prevail again tomorrow as a result of the steady downpour after the closing race.
