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SPECTACULAR CONTEST 1 Gene Oliver Handicap Thrills Big Crowd at Aurora. » Proverbial Blanket Finish, With First Four Horses in Almost Perfect Alignment. ♦ ACPOPA, 111.. June 18.— The Gene Oliver Handicap, for three-year-olds and over at three-quarters, which served as the leading feature on the card at Exposition Park this afternoon, provided the closest and most exciting finish of the meeting and one of the best and most interesting ever witnessed at this course. The first four horses to reach the finish raced through the final seventy yards in almost perfect alignment and not one appeared to give or take an inch even unto the last stride. The decision was in the balance and hung in doubt. until the official result was posted by the placing judges. H. C McConnells Jack Alexander was awarded a hair line decision and was winner by the shortest of margins over Strut Miss Pizz:e. she in turn leading Polton for the place by the shortest head. Then next in order finished was Deep Thought, not more than a half head in rear of the horse placed third. BOLTON FA KM.VKER. Bolton had set the early pace, closely-pressed by Thundering to the stretch, where the latter began showing signs of distress from keeping up with the fast pace which prevailed and fell back. It was then that a general losing up by all came. Jack Alexander taking to the inside and Strut Miss Lizzie and Deep Thought closing strongly on the outside of Polton. This formation was maintained all during the stretch drive, which was most strenuous, the aforementioned Jack Alexander being the one to bo granted the verdict. As this was Padies Day, the fair sex turned out in large numbers, the attendance again being enormous. Favorable conditions existed when the days races were run over a rapidly drying out track, which was termed slow. C. H. Trotters Pealize. racing in her best form and hard hustled for the entire distance, hold sway at all stages and came away from her opponents steadily in the final eighth to register an easy win in the opening race. The winner was capably ridden by the apprentice rider P. Barnet. Pittle Betty seeured second place with Sentimental Tom-mie gaining third. During the first quarter First Consul, one of the starters in this race, while trailing in the rear of the leaders was seen to stumble suddenly and was pulled up. It was found that the unfortunate racer had sustained a broken leg and had to be detroyed following the running of the race. ■Mill ItOlSING RIDE. Another purse fell to the lot of Haughton and Moran in the following event when Yoo-hoo under a rousing ride from jockey Moser, triumphed over eleven others at five and a half furlongs. The winner easily overhauled Intake, the early leader, in the stretch and was rapidly drawing away at the end. Battle Shot after suffering much early interference closed fast in the last eighth and gain- I second place in outstaying Floy Pillie. Tamea and jockey P. P.arnett made it a double for the elay for c. H. Trotter in annexing the third after leading throughout. Tamea held Jane Flizabeth and Jonteol safe through the last eighth, to score easily with speed in reserve. Jane Flizabeth saved second place easily, with Jonteel gaining the show decision. In the following race. T. H. Bernhardts Huon Pine proved a surprise, taking the measure of a fair band of sprinters at five and a half furlongs. The winner was content to attend closely to the early pace until reaching the stretch, then came strongly in the last eighth and, rapidly overhauling New Moon, held the latter safe in the closing strides. New Moon gained second place.
