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LACKING IN QUALITY Mediocre Horses Make Up Fields at Arlington Park Thursday. — c Huon Pine Handily Accounts for Most Pretentious Offering — Slump in Speculation. c * ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. 111., June 21.— f Arlington Parks extensive following found t little to entause over in the racing program offered today. The severe track conditions * that have prevailed for several days were t but little improved, the course showing c streaks of drying places as well as soggy parts. The result was that it was unsuited for many of the mediocre horses that com- prised the majority starting in each race. i The contenders strove valiantly to achieve success, but the more sturdy, possessing stamina, succeeded in wearing down their j rivals that displayed the most speed in the earlier stages of each race. The strip next the inner rail was avoided by the smarter riders, for it was suicidal to race over this j portion of the course. . Because of the lowly fields there was a slump in wagering. Some outstanding sur- . prises developed, several of the victors com-ing from unexpected quarters. The entire card of seven races had claim- , ing clauses and the more ordinary horses ] had opportunity to earn rich prizes. The fifth race was regarded as the best offering. It was at a mile and a sixteenth and had its running over the inner course. C. A. Bernhardts Huon Pine was installed the , favorite here and he made good somewhat handily, good riding contributing to his sue- j cess. John J. S., one of the outsiders, fin- , ished in second place, beating Sandy Lady , in the last few strides. There was consider- | able activity about Fair Catch and Smiling , Betty, but the former was not good enough . and the latter was so incompetently ridden , that she tired when the stretch racing began. SPOUT DKESS GRADUATES. P. T. Chinns Sport Dress graduated from the maiden ranks, when she won in the opener. Mary Seth was the favored one . I here, with Peach Rose, Mildred Wood and several others enjoying betting confidence. Sport Dress, though away tardily, showed a liking for the going, moved quickly into i prominence, wrested the lead from Mildred i Wood when she reached the stretch and, continuing gamely, won well in hand from | the fast-finishing Otilla, while La Sagette took third place. The favorite tired fast after the first quarter, her diminu .ve size proving ; a big bar for her success in the trying * going. Big Bill Thompson was giien confident | support in the second race and, aided by a big advantage he secured at the start, was enabled to win from Oddfellow II., which i was a sufferer at the start, when he met with i interference and was taken back to last t place. Big Bill Thompson continued to race in steady style in the stretch, but Oddfellow t II. had to be urged sharply near the end [ to outstay Polo Star, another that had suffered - from a poor beginning. With an even i break it is unlikely that Big Bill Thompson i could have beaten the pair that followed him i home. BILLY BASIL IMPRESSIVELY. The Basil Manor Stable annexed its first purse of the meeting when Billy Basil was 3 home in front of Empty Glass after a hard stretch run, coining from far back to land * the victory. Evelyn L. finished in third " place. Gunga Din. the favorite, raced in the lead with Empty Glass until straightened in the stretch, where he gave way, having traversed the deepest part of the track most of the way. Empty Glass seemed the winner r until Billy Basil came with his rush that * landed him the victor. Evelyn L. and Glad ■ Effort became involved in a bumping match 1 during the stretch. They finished separated by small margins, Evelyn L. getting the judges verdict for the smaller portion of the purse. Another favorite failed, when Ball Gee followed home Capistrano in the fourth race. The pair had absorbed the most betting attention, Ball Gee having the most following. Capistrano and Twenty One Sixty raced in advance of Ball Gee for half a mile, when the latter began moving up. He raced wide, but it gave him firmer footing, and he steadily decreased Capistranos lead, but failed to wear him down by half* a length. Near the end Capistrano was tiring and inclined to swerve towards the inner rail. With a little further to race, Ball Gee would have reversed the decision with the winner. Twenty One Sixty was third but tiring fast in the last sixteenth. Monastery caused some excitement by a runaway before the start, and also bolted to the outer fence in the race. Having considerable advantage at the start and away fully in motion, Oley raced in advance of his opponents for the entire three-quarters in the sixth race. He was one of the afternoons favorites that succeeded. Hal Side Guy finished in second place, due to the poor ride Joe Junior received and a poor start. The others in the race were far back after the first quarter.
