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LARGEST ATTENDANCE Jefferson Park Entertains Greatest Gathering of Meeting. Dustabout Beats Rama by Inches in One of Most Interesting Contests of the Winter. NEW ORLEANS, La., March 15. By far tho largest and most representative attendance that has heen at Jefferson Park this winter was present today to witness the decision of well-balanced races, in which some of the best horses that have been seen under colors here this winter were among the starters and furnished some of the most entertaining sport that has heen on tap during the meeting. The mile and a sixteenth handicap for a purse of ,000, that featured the program, was productive of one of the best races this winter, the four leaders at the finish having alternated in the lead all during the last quarter and left the result in doubt until the last stride. Itama, with a change of riders from Ro-manelli to Wallace, was made favorite and absorbed the attention of the alleged smart brigade, lie raced greatly improved, fought it out stubbornly, even after he seemed thoroughly beaten, but just missed the victory by a matter of inches, Dustabout succeeding in outstaying him under the vigorous riding that Parke gave him. Llewellyn, coupled with Barracuda, finished third and his stable-mate a matter of inches further back. 1IOLMAN PAIH UNLUCKY. With good riding the Holman pair might have finished first and second. Mergler made the mistake on Llewellyn of making too much use of him when he raced him from far back into the lead in a brief period. He was in command when straightened for the stretch run, with Barracuda in second place. At that stage it looked as if they would have the race between them, but suddenly Barracuda swerved and bumped sharply into his stablematc, causing him to be knocked off his stride and he seemed unable to recover fully thereafter. Rama showed the most early speed, but at the stretch turn seemed beaten, but responded gamely to hard riding and came again to threaten Dustabout. The latter, however, held to his task gamely. The spirited struggle of the quartette elicited the profoundest enthusiasm. Ideal Aveather conditions prevailed. A brilliant sun flooded the course with its warmth and made top coats superfluous. Ring activities were greater than on any one former day at Jefferson Park and the forty-five layers were inadequate to accommodate the public. The track had dried considerably since yesterday, but was still heavy, though a dry strip next to the inner rail contained firmer footing. The talent were still off stride in their deductions, four of the favorites going down to defeat. TWO FOR 3TC3IILLEX. J. McMillen scored a double during the afternoon, both of his horses being ridden by the stable jockey, Sharpe. His first success was astride Vacuum, a winner in his previous, out, which scored today in handy style from the suddenly improved Simplicity, with Lady Rose, the favorite, in third place. There was an overeagerness on the part of three owners to claim her after the race, T. H. Bernhardt proving luckiest in the draw and secured her at a cost of ,000.: Mrs. A. E. Alexandra and J. McMillen were the others that had claims in for her. The McMillen colors second success came in the third race when Raffles won in sensational style. He had been backed into strong favoritism, but in the early running appeared hopelessly out of it. Approaching the stretch his chances still appeared none too bright, when suddenly the leaders began racing extremely wide and Raffles, next the inner rail, was enabled to save considerable ground arid almost get on level terms with the leaders. In the stretch ho finished gamely and, drawing into the lead a sixteenth from the finish, beat home Frank G. The latter had shown most speed, hut continued to swerve out during the stretch run and just barely managed to beat Lorena Marcellia for second place. Jefferson Livingstons Levoy, which has offended on several occasions this winter, finally raced to best expectations of his connections and won from fourteen other maiden three-year-olds in easy style, Benigna, which had been the early leader, landing in second place and Jim Kenney third. Pequot suddenly recovered his good form and was a handy victor in the fifth race from an outsider. Our Star, with Servitor, the favorite, in third place. Al Stebler gave an acrobatic performance in the sixth race which he won in a big romp from EI Jesmar, Smarty finishing in third place.
