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NOEL IN GRAND RACE Beats Blind Play in Thrilling Finish in Laurel Feature. Comes From Behind Under Kennedys Energetic Ride and Wins in Final Strides. LAUREL, Md., Oct 20. E. B. McLeans Noel got up in the closing strides under energetic riding by B. Kennedy to beat Blind Play by a head in the Woodbourne Handicap, the mile feature of an excellent Monday card at Laurel upon the twelfth day of the meeting. Ten Minutes took third money, beaten a length by Blind Play. The attendance was good, but the place looked almost abandoned in comparison with the record turnout of Saturday for the appearance of Epinard and the other stars that competed in the Laurel Stakes. In todays feature Ten Minutes began letter than has been his custom. He completed the first turn in fourth position, clcse upon the heels of the leading trio, Golden Sphere, Blind Play and New Hampshire. The latter was on the inside and well under restraint At the half New Hampshire was shut off and knocked back as Blind Play went to the front, with Ten Minutes reaching for him and Golden Sphere beginning to show signs of crumpling. Noel began his challenge about this time, coming to the outside. Straightened out, he was in second position behind Blind Play and overcame a lead of a length in the final eighth to win by a head. Kennedys ride played an important part in the victory of the McLean representative. The finish was a thriller and aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators to a high pitch. CALEMBOUR US FRONT Calembour, with Morris astride, was home first in the fourth, completing the five and a half furlongs a length and a half in front of Ampolac. Buena Vista beat the remainder of thirteen two-year-olds that made up the field. Foyle was away in the lead with the rise of the barrier, but his sway was brief and Calembour, which got away poorly, closed a big gap quickly and easily taking command held sway to the end. Ampolac was another to close a big gap and, under a stout finish, outlasted Buena Vista for second place. Cleg was prominent until the last eighth, but the others cut no figure in any part of the contest. Good riding by Pete "Walls played an important part in the half length victory of J. E. Maddens Joy Smoke over Silk Tassel in the Alexandria Claiming Handicap. It was the third race on the card. Silk Tassel beat Ten Sixty by half a length for the second portion of the purse. "Wellflnder showed the most speed at the start, but Silk Tassel outran him to the turn and around it, while Walls on Joy Smoke waited on the inside in third position. Nearing the stretch ,J. Smallwood, on Wellflnder nearly fell off his mount and thereafter began to fall back. At the same time Silk Tassel left just enough opening next to the rail to suit Walls, and he slipped- in it and in the final sixteenth his mount began to draw away from the pacemaker. STEEPLECHASE TO CHUCKLE The steeplechase fell to Chuckle, Jim Cof-froth was second and Crest Hill third at the end of the two miles. After Roi Craig dropped back Chuckle took the lead and showed the way to the finish. He fenced cleanly and had sufficient speed on the flat to draw away from Jim Coffroth when the latter challenged, after taking the last jump. Crest Hill ran a good race to finish third, tiring near the end, after keeping in close pursuit of the winner for the greater part of the journey. Only five of the eight starters finished. On Top carried the silks of Samuel Ross to an easy victory over a small band of maiden fillies in the first race. Barnes rated the winner well and finished two lengths in front of Red Hawk. Rin Tin Tin was third. On Top had the speed away from the barrier but Barnes took her under restraint and Rin Tin Tin went to the front into the stretch, leading by a couple of lengths. Straightened out Barnes asked the daughter of Ultimus to level, and she did so willingly, drawing away. Red Hawk was outrun but got up near the end to beat Rin Tin Tin a. length and a half. There was a big surprise in the defeat of Normal in the sixth race, when South Breeze, an outsider, led all the way to score by two lengths. Normal was second, finishing gamely to beat Red Wine in the last few strides.
