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LADIESDAY POPULAR Large Crowd at Aurora Despite Ordinary Program. ♦ Theo. Fay and Ball Gee Stage Duel in Best Race — Woodface Best Among Juveniles. AURORA, 111., Mar 4.--The Exposition Park Jockey Club played host to an immense crowd today, the occasion being the first of its ladies days when ladies are given the privilege of witnessing the racing without cost. The fair sex took acvantage, even though the program did not promise more than ordinary and the itmosphere carried a strong threat of rain. Showers developed frequently, but the racing was superior to what was expected, several of the finishes being of the close variety with the winners n ooubt until the official placing. This was particularly true of the fifth race, which was accredited the best number of the seven claiming races down for decision. A desperate duel ensued in the race between Theo. Fay and Ball Gee. the pair finally finishing inches apar* with Theo. Fay getting the award. His succs.3 was in the main due to Allens superior riding skill over the inexperienced C. E. Owens, who haa the mount on Ball Gee. Cup o Tee fh.ished in third place. Allen propmtly sent Thex Fay into the lead immediately after the start and had gained a lengths advantage before Owens, on Ball Gee, realized what had happened. Theo. Fay was inclined to tire in the stretch, probably not being key* " to high pitch, it being his first start since the Jefferson Park meeting. Allen had to employ his best skill to keep his mount going, bir Ball Gee was making a desperate bid to take to the lead and he would have done so with a stronger ride, but Allen kept Theo. Fay to his task and made him stick it out to win by a nose. SAVES GROUND. Good racing luck and ability to save much ground throughout the race was a factor in determining victory in favor of Silent Lillian, which beat home Ferseth in ihe opening race by a matter of inches, with Hawes in third place and the favorite, Go Foin, leading the others. Go Foin was probably the best, but he was away poorly and had to race wide throughout, which caused his failure. Ferseth led to the closing strides, where Silent Lillian was up to gain the verdict. Secrecy awarded those who had confidently supported her by making her an outstanding favorite, when she registered over «ieven other ordinary ones that comprised the field in the second race. She had to be best fcr the start found her away tardily and she was forced to race wide. She managed to circle around the leaders when reaching the stretch turn and, thereafter, s.cadily drew out to win by a comfortable ra:u,°.in over Go Away, with Trinket in third place. Countess Claridge and Duffs Time were disappointments, the former suffering from an incompetent ride. The two-year-old race, at four and a half furlongs, resulted in the most spectacular contest of the afternoon, and victory went to Woodface, after he seemingly looked to be out of it as a result of his tardiness at the barrier. Bay Bad and Peggy Bee moved away from the others fast and raced like a team until the stretch was reached, where Bay Lad gave way and Peggy Lee appeared a certain winner, but Noel became careless and allowed her to swerve all over the track. While she was taking a zigzag course. Black Darling made a determined bid and, shortly after Woodface loomed up, having closed a big gap though racing wide. He continued fast in the stretch and caught the leaders and finally boat home Black barling. Sentry Lass, also coming fast, succeeded in taking third pla r- by passing Peggy Lee in the last few strides. TAKE A CHANCE FAILS. The B. E. Major-owned Take a Chance continued to uphold his reputation for inconsistency by his failure in the fourth race, which brought out a band of plater sprinters, to race three-quarters. Take a Chance was beaten off, fading completely out of the picture after he attained the lead in the stretch. The winner turned up in ilarengo, which came with a great rush in the last eighth and was up in the last stride to diypose of the poorly ridden Missionary. Mint Toddy linished in third place, just getting the ver-Mlict from Brazen. Elfkin v. as the early leader. Take a Chance being handicapped by the incompetent Cavens, was away poorly and was raced into exhaustion in an effort to head the leaders and lost much ground by going wide. He succeeded in taking the Continued on twenty -fourth page. « J j " c t V , j ] ! ■ * i t to , a | LADIES DAY POPULAR Continued from first page. lead an eighth out, but quit almost to a walk in the last sixteenth. Seven speedy three-year-olds started in tha one mile sixth race and it resulted in a victory for A. Castins filly Jennifer, an overwhelming favorite at post time. Jennifer had to overcome real contention during the race and the former J. N. Camden colorbearer had an easy time of it through the stretch and gained a length and a half verdict over The Orleanian, the latter securing second place money. Al Garnet was a tiring third. Jockey M. Meyer piloted the winning filly, displaying good horsemanship at all stages, and although taking his mount into a dangerously long early lead, kept something in reserve for the stretch racing. It was Meyers second winning mount of the afternoon. Juniors Nurse, racing for E. E. Major, Jr., annexed the purse in the final race, a mils • and a sixteenth affair with nine starters. She scored a handy victory, defeating Eager by a margin of length and a half, while right in the wake of the latter came Adieu, moving up from the rear in the last quarter take third money. Jockey M. Meyer scored triple for the afternoon with another fine riding exhibition astride Juniors Nurse.
