view raw text
SANDY FORD BIG SURPRISE r 6a WINS DIXIE HANDICAP Mike Hall and Toro Unplaced irj it. Rich Fixture. Inception Finishes Second and Sir Harry Third -Race Feature of Pimlico Inaugural. BALTIMORE. Md., April 23 William Sheas Sandy Ford, recent conqueror ol Desert Light at Jamaica and a campaigner through .the winter months in Florida, was winner of the rich Dixie Handicap at Pimlico this afternoon. It was a victory attained after a hard driving finish with Inception, j which raced for Rigin McKinney and old Sir Harry, from the Seagram Stable, was third. This was by long odds the greatest race ever run by the son of Sand Mole, which has been rated as a plater. He forced the pace all through the mile and three-sixteenths and by his gamely fought-out finish, earned G,-025. He was ably ridden by Frank Catrone, and the race was run in 1 :59. The result was a stunning surprise to the big crowd out for the opening of the Pimlico meeting, for back of these there followed the best of the handicap division that could be gathered, fifteen going to the post. Fourth was the portion of Walter J. Salmons Dr. Freeland, winner of the Preakness Stakes over the same course last spring. Mike Hall, winner of the Dixie two years ago, was soundly beaten. Milton lost little time at the barrier and the big field was sent away in excellent alignment, though just as they. left Dr. Free-land broke out rather sharply and collided with Frisius, the starter from the Belair Stud Stable. In this Frisius was the sufferer, though it probably had no effect on the result. TAKES EARLY LEAD. Sandy Ford left straight and Catrone at once took command, rating the gelding along under a steadying restraint. Beacon Hill began in second place, but he did not hold to that position long. Montanaro was also in the first flight, as was Hot Toddy and Solace. Toro was right there and going along so smoothly that it heartened his spectators, while the manner in which his conqueror in the Philadelphia, dropped out of the running in the first quarter, was surprising. Into the back stretch Sandy Ford held to his lead and was a length and a half before the others, with Solace and Dinah Did Upset racing closely lapped back of him. Inception followed these closely, while Toro, on the outside, was holding his position and galloping in a fashion to suggest that he could go to the leader at the first asking. Before the stretch was reached the Toro threat had passed and Frisius dropped back. Sir Harry was gradually making up ground and Dr. Freeland was coming into the running, but a furlong out Sandy Ford and Inception had drawn out from the others so that there was no danger of either being beaten. It was a desperately fought finish and as game an exhibition as has been seen in many a day when Sandy Ford, responding like a bull dog to the furious drive of Catrone, refused to surrender and still had his hc..;l in front as he swept over the line. Inception was five lengths before the swiftly closing Sir Harry, and then came Dr. Freeland with Toro just a nose back of the Salmon colt, and a length and a half before Sortie. The others trailed along with Beacon Hill last. SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL. At both Bowie and Havre de Grace Mary-landers have a delightful introduction to racing each season, but to some of the old guards the Maryland Jockey Club meeting at Pimlico is the real opening of the racing year in the state. The day was a bit cool and there were occasional sprinkles of rain but the track was at its best and there was enough rain to thoroughly lay the dust. As is usual the crowd arrived early and it was one of the most successful openings in the history of the old club. It was a representative gathering, with New York and Kentucky represented. Twink, the imported son of Blink II. and Bannlere, which races under the silks of Mrs. L. G. Kaufmans Loma Stable, was an easy winner of the Druid Hill Purse. Ten went to the post after Chlo Boy, a stablemate to Twink, was withdrawn. In a dozen strides Twink was showing the way and Workman was rating him along at a pace that had the others perfectly safe. As far as winning was concerned, there was nothing to the running. Continued on twentieth page. SANDY FORD BIG SURPRISE Continued from first page. for Workman had the son of Blink II. under restraint all the way to score by four lengths. Colossal saved second place by a length and a half, while Chief Executive, after saving ground on the stretch turn, finished with excellent courage, while Coin Collector just beat the tiring Ante Bellum for fourth. The opening race was a four furlongs dash, for maiden juveniles, and it brought victory to the Walter J. Salmon silks when Snow White, a daughter of Ladkin and Snow Captain, led home Mrs. Herbert Pulitzers Queen Herod, an imported daughter of Tetratema, which was making her first appearance. II. Teller Archibalds Jolly King beat A. G. Bost-wicks Mate, a son of Prince Pal, for third. There was a good finish in the second race, when Robert II. Davis Jr.s Nayior, after a long" stretch drive, was winner over J. P. McGoverns Frances St. L., with Charles Amorys Shepherdess a distant third and beating Jane Rinehart for that division of the purse. Max Hirsch sent the winner of the third race to the post when he saddled Utmost, a son of Supremus and Selective, for E. M. Byers. It was the first appearance under silks for this fellow and he showed becoming gameness when he scored over B. O. F. Randolphs Sustain, which had the advantage of some education by actual racing. Third fell to G. D. Wideners Alpin Girl when she easily led home Hal Price Headleys Tryor, an in-Ivader from Kentucky.
