view raw text
GLORIOUS INAUGURA TION _ OF KENTUCKY RACING « « IMMENSE CROWD AT LEXINGTON ♦ See Rinkey Triumphant in Ashland Oahs, Stellar Attraction of Opening Day — Chacolet Scores Impressively ♦ LEXINGTON, Ky., April 26.— The Kentucky racing season of 1924 was formally lnaugu-rrted this afternoon with a remarkably big attendance at the Lexington track, considering the unpropitious weather that prevailed. Persons of prominence in all walks of life, numerous from distant points, composed the audience which witnessed the ushering in of the sport for 1924 in the Blue Grass. If there was any doubt as to its popularity in these parts it was dispelled by the big throng in evidence and its enthusiasm. It was by far the biggest crowd that has been at the Lexington track to attend an opening and would have been considerably larger had the weather been good. A heavy rain began a late Friday afternoon and continued during the night, accompanied this morning by cold and a further threat of rain. The track was deep and the changed g "ing was responsible for the withdrawal of many of the originally carded ones. The racing, however, did not sufter to any appreciable extent, for the different contests were hard fought and the finishes in seme instances close enough to suit the most exacting. The Greentree Stable of Mrs. Payne Whitney was conspicuous during the afternoon, carrying off the stellar honors when Rinkey was victress in the Ashland Oaks, with a monetary value of ,220 to the winner. It achieved a double by the success of Moon-raker in the William S. Barnes Memorial, which began the racing. Jockey Ivan Parke piloted both winners. Rinkey, in spite of the report that she did not like muddy going, was the favored one in the Ashland Oaks. The race brought to the post eight of the ten fillies carded to go a mile. The field raced compactly with the exception of Old Bourbon, which was far cut of it from the start and finished distantly. The early pace was made by Sayno, closely pursued by Rinkey and Beautiful Agnes. Parke had Rinkey under restraint while going t the trying hill, but once over it found little trouble moving by the faltering Sayno, but was stoutly challenged by Beautiful Agnes and it took Parkes be-t riding for a time to j keep the Greentree Stable representative in the van. Beautiful Agnes, however, showed signs of weakening in the last eighth and it left Kinkey to go on unattended to win by a comfortable margin. Spanish Rose, finishing steadily in the stretch, overhauled El-vina for third place. The others were never seriously formidable. On her performance this afternoon in going supposedly not to her liking Rinkey showed herself to be a star filly; one deserving of consideration in the Kentucky Oaks, to be run at Churchill Downs. SHARKS HONORS WITH RIXKEY. Hal Price Headleys Chacolet shared honors with Rinkey during the afternoon. This : winner of last years Latonias $.~ 0.000 prize | accounted for the Phoenix Handicap, at a I mile and seventy yards, from fairly good ones and performed her task in inapreeilve fashion. She had to be ridden steadily In j the last eighth, but responded gam ly and i shook off Blue Nose in the last seventy yards to win by hall a length. Following the I pair closely and a contender to the end cause ! Barracuda. This remarkable racer actually looks better now than he ever did. in spite of i the severe cami aign he pas d through this : winter and spring. The Greentree Stables I Solisa was considered favorably in the race, | but she passed out of the picture after racing prominently for time-quarters. The sport began with a three-quarters deals, in which Moonraker and Anna M. Humphrey vied for favoritism. Both raced forwardly, with Moonraker in the 1-ad until | well into the stretch, where Anna M. Humphrey gave way, the result of being stricken with a hemmorhage. Her elimination per-. mitted Moonraker to score handily, with j Hopeless in second place and Guest of Honor I third. Former Senator J. N. Camden began the season auspiciously when his first repreenta- i tive, Elsass, a youngster by Light Brigade - ANace, scored over eleven Hut juveniles ! engaging in the second race, at half a mile. [ i It was a hard-fought finish here, with Klsass just lasting to outstay Hal Price H-adleys Almadel and Thundcrgod slightly in back of the pair. j
