view raw text
g OPENING DAY AT WHEELING Golden Jubilee Meetings Inaugural Favored by Good Weather Track Drying Out. WHEELING, W. Va., April 9. The Golden Jubilee meeting of the Wheeling Driving Club got under way under favorable conditions at the State Fair Grounds this afternoon. Although the track was heavy, it dried out rapidly during the afternoon. Overhead the weather could not have been improved upon. The attendance, was good and the management expects this to be the best meeting ever staged at this course. The class of horses attracted by liberal purse and stake offerings is probably the best ever assembled on a half mile track at any time. " i One of the best races, though it did not bring out as good a lot of horses as the Inaugural Purse, which was run as the sixth race, was the fourth, in which Shorty O., which was a consistent performer at Havana during the winter, beat out Tetra Glass, Marshall Seth, The Doctor and several others. It was a very close finish between Shorty O. and Tetra Glass, the former getting up in the last few yards after Tetra Glass had forced the early pace. Marshall Seth was a strong early factor but he weakened in the stretch. The Doctors closing rush added to the uncertainty of the result as the field drew near the finish line. Starry Dawn won the first race for F. Maiers, defeating the favorite, Thelma L. The winner was third choice in the betting. Starry Dawn was first away from the barrier, fell back slightly and then came again with4good speed to take the lead on the far turn. She continued well in the stretch and had a lead of a length and a half at the finish. Thelma L., after cutting up at the post and delaying the start, got away well and displayed enough early speed to dispose of Vinlin. The latter tired, but held on well enough to beat out Weltha Ann, which closed a good gap in the stretch. The field was at the post fifteen minutes. Field horses finished first and third in the second race, the winner turning up in W. L. Magruders Autumn Bloom. Ella Bank was second and J. J. Bambrick third. The winner was ridden by E. Fator, who piloted him next to the inner rail in the stretch. Autumn Continued on sixteenth page. OPENING DAY AT WHEELING Continued from first page. Bloom followed in close pursuit of Ella Bank and, under a hustling ride, got up in the last strides to beat Ella Bank by a half length. Ella Banks saddle slipped as she bore out in the stretch. J. J. Bambrick made a strong challenge near the end and Last Charge also closed well. One of the many rousing finishes came with the running of the third race when Checkmate, the pacemaker throughout, barely lasted to gain a close verdict from Paternal, which was a keen factor at all-stages. Kentucky Colonel was best of the others. Closing with rare courage on the outside of the leaders entering the stretch in the fourth race Shorty O. only headed Tetra Glass in the last few strides. The appearance of the latter marked the first time the Seagram Stable colors were ever seen at this track. Marshall Seth saved third after showing early speed. Twelve Sixty won the fiftli race, at a mile and seventy yards, in handy fashion, leading throughout and having a lengths advantage at the end over Rock Trap. Elmer H. went well until he tired and was an easy third.