view raw text
CLOSEST OF FINISHES Marks Decision of Main Race at Jefferson Park Track. Arabian Triumphs Over Cloister by a Nose, After Spirited Stretch Duel. NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 4. In one of the closest finishes of the meeting, after a spirited stretch duel, Arabian triumphed by a nose over Cloister in the outstanding feature race on the Jefferson Park tracks program, a handicap under claiming conditions at a mile and an eighth. The battle between the pair roused the big crowd to a high pitch and it was a lucky win for Arabian. The victory likewise was a questionable one, for, according to Mergler, rider of Cloister, J. A. jUooney, on the winner, was guilty of "coasting." The incident, according to Mergler, came in the last few strides when Cloister was about to pass Arabian. Mooney then reached out and took hold of Merglers leg, retarding Cloister long enough for Arabian to win out by inches. Merglers complaint was not acted on by the stewards, who allowed the race to stand accord. ng to the original tinish. Cloister was the favored one, weh supported and was best. He was away well and was leading under restraint in the first quarter when suddenly Arabian rushed by before Mergler realized and, taking a good lead, kept in the van next the inner rail and on several occasions made it necessary for Cloister to go wide. Cloister knuckled to his task gamely in the stretch and gained steadily, the pair fighting it out almost on even terms in the last seventy yards. Arabians showing was a vastly improved one over his previous start. There were five starters in the race, Polvo proving best of the others and landed in third place but a considerable distance away from the leading pair. RAIN REDUCES ATTENDANCE. A hard downpour before race time caused the attendance to be confined to regulars, but a goodly number were on hand to view some excellent sport. The rain helped the track considerably and it continued firm and fast all during the afternoon. The earlier rain had cleared the haze and for the first time during the meeting a clear vision all over the course was possible. Jockey Harveys riding featured during the afternoon. He rode three winners. The youngster seems possessed of ample confidence and he has a knack of making a horse run. He is destined to be among the leading apprentices here this winter. E. R. Bradleys colors were carried to their initial success of the meeting when Benedict Vow, an Idle Hour Farm bred youngster, won in a spirited drive with Mose Goldblatts Barrage second. Both battled hard through the stretch, with the Bradley youngster triumphing in the final few strides. Mabel C. headed the others in third place. The start was somewhat ragged, with Barrage, which had been acting badly, having somewhat the best of it when the barrier was released. Buttress, the favorite, and Sancy, a heavily backed one, were away slowly and not fully prepared when the start was effected. Both were back in the running and did not figure seriously, though Buttress closed a good gap in the last quarter and finished in fourth place. LITTLE ALFRED AGAIN. The opening race found Little Alfred, a winner in a former start at this meeting, again leading the way home. This time he beat Mcintosh, with Boot Black in third place. Little Alfreds high early speed carried him into a long lead and it stood him in good stead, for he began tiring during the last eighth, but Mcintosh missed by a full length of getting up. The claimers became active here and two of the starters changed owners, Little Alfred being claimed by E. Marmouget, represented by Anticipate, and Boot Black going to E. Lutz, represented by Mike Morrissey. The price in each instance was ,000. The band that made the contest in the third race comprised what was probably the lowliest at the course. The winner turned up in Old Paige, which led for the entire way and beat home First Call, St. Quentin landing in third place. The winner was probably lucky to score at that, for Roehm, on First Call, and Heupel, on St. Quentin, both rode amateurishly, the veteran Heupel particularly offending by taking his mount back sharply when his getting cut off was imminent. Another poor band met in the fourth. The merit of the race was that it was at a mile and seventy yards. Carnarvon, which performed impressively "Wednesday when he landed in second place, was made an outstanding favorite, but he was away in a tangle at the start and raced hard to keep in a contending position with the result that lie tired badly in the stretch. Previeux, Continued on twelfth prise. CLOSEST OF FINISHES Continued from first page. which had gotten away fast and fully in his stride, made good use of his advantage and led throughout, but just managed to outstay Arragosa, with another outsider, Richelieu, in third place. The closing race, another mile and an eighth dash, held much interest and five of the six starters making the contest were held to be well matched and attracted more speculation than any previous race of the afternoon. Tuialip was the victress. She was benefited by the improved riding she got from Harvey and it enablecl her to go into the lead at once and hold sway throughout. Lugs was pressing her hard at the end and had McAuliffe taken a chance to go through next to the inner rail a quarter from the finish he might have wrested the victory from Tuialip. Staunch, an outsider, finished in third place, with Superbum and Fair Orient failing to figure to any noticeable extent. Kinsman, favorite in the sixth race, was another that benefited through Harveys good riding. The youngster hustled him into the lead soon after the start and, continuing his hustling tactics, he led Rubien home to win by a length. Rubien was ridden by the newcomer, J. Shanks, and he rode him better than was expected, for he followed the leader closely throughout and forced Harvey to ride Kinsman out to gain the victory. Jaunebar, at long odds, finished, third.
