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AURORAS INAUGURAL » ■ Spring Meeting Begins Auspiciously With Large Attendance. * Broomster Victorious in Chief Attraction — Public Takes Kindly to New System of Wagering. ♦ AURORA, III., June 4. — The racing season In Illinois was ushered in in a blaze of] glory at the Aurora course this afternoon when the twenty-one day meeting under the I auspices of the Exposition Park Jockey Club: got under way. A large crowd was present : and the fans appeared to take kindly to the new system of. speculation. The track: had dried out over night and good time was ; made in the various contests. The weather continued Intensely warm and summer attire j was much in evidence. The Inaugural Handicap, feature event of the day, was won in hollow fashion by L. T. I Coopers ISroomnter, W. S. Heatons Dust-j about finishing second, with Gold Mount, carrying the silks of J. Kellar, in third ! place. Of the eight originally carded to] start, two of the three Cooper entries, Bonnie Omar and Slice, were scratched, trainer j Crawford of the Cooper establishment elect- I Jng to pin his hopes on Broomster to carry off the purse and the son of Broomstick did not disappoint. | Beginning rather slowly from an outside I position, he was forced to go around his rivals and before the horses had gone a I half mile he had passed them all but Gold Mount, which bad started quickly and was running strongly in front. Gold Mount led until midway of the stretch, but the winner was not to be denied and after catching the 1 leader drew away easily. j In the meantime Dustabout had been gain- j lng steadily and nearing the finishing line, i he too caught the tiring Gold Mount to earn j second place by a neck. The other three! ! starters never figured seriously, although The Cheetah showed a flash of early speed. I mauiom:tte ix front. | The third race attracted another large field, but after the start it soon developed into a two-horse contest. Marionette and Pocket Mouse opening up a good gap on : the others. The latter was leading by a half length until the final eighth, where he 1 e- j ■ gan to tire and interfere slightly with Mari- I i onette. but the mare gamely overhauled him ■ ; and the finish found her winner by a half ; length, with Pocket Mouse easily disposing ! of the remainder. Strut Miss Lizzie out- I I gamed Clarence for third place. The Cooper entry. Senor and Corinth, of which much . had been expected, were never sorious contenders, but the latter had some excuse, as he was away slowly. W. Caywoods Kddie Jr. accounted for the fourth race in handy fashion. Phyllis Gentry was second and Glory third. The winner began in front, but was outrun to the first turn by Phyllis Gentry, but laid close up, however, and indulged the latter with the lead until midway of the stretch, then over-j hauled her and was increasing his winning margin at the end. Ten maiden two-year-olds paraded to the post in the days opening race and after a short delay at the post they were away to a good start. Vacation Time, earning the silks of John Dowell and beginning from the I extreme outside, jumped into the lead almost immediately, soon opened up a good gap on his opponents and. running as if much the best, led until the finishing line was reached, [ winning with ease by two lengths. J. W. , Brackmans Jad fell soon after the start and : jockey L. Neal was thrown heavily to the! ground and was still unconscious when picked up by the ambulance. The horse escaped injury and was soon caught. I.ady Allen raced in a prominent position from the start and bad little difficulty holding second place safe from Mary Connors. LARGEST FIELD OF DAT. The largest field of the day faced the starter in the second and there was a long post d*-lay due to the bad actions of Clnugh-jordan. When the webbing was finally sprung Peggy O. took command and after j 1 reaching the stretch turn three lengths in advance of her company she swung wide at this point, but held to her task gamely and, finishing in the middle of the track, was returned the victress by two lengths. The filly rewarded .her backers with JH6. :0 for 12 certificates and the fortunate ones made quite a demonstration after the figures were posted. Monastery raced well and was a game wifiMti. while Lavinia finisheu third a length la front of Armcdee. Seven long-distance performers contested the sixth, the running of which resulted in J. W. Brackmans grey mare Sequel taking the major portion of the purse from Annie I.yle after a driving finish. Fausto finished third. When the honaa got to the barrier Annie I.yle refused to line up with the rest • and it was only after much work on the part of starter Morrisseys assistants and a rost delay of several minutes that the field was dispaithcd. Annie Lylc soon wen to the front, closely followed by the ultimate winner, and they raced in this manner until well in the tretch, where fennel drew upon even terms. It was a real horse race from there home, with Annie I.yle hinging on with determination, hut Sciuil was best and secured the verdict by a neck. This pair finished many lengths in advance of the others, t f which Fausto was best.
