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HUNT CLUB SETS DAY Billy Barton Steeplechase Feature of Pimlico Program. Gray Gelding Nicias Accounts for Race Vith Graeme Second Ideal Weather Prevails. BALTIMORE,. Md.. May 1. Today was Billy Barton day at Pimlico and the hunt club set turned out in force to witness the running of the steeplechase named for that Maryland-owned chaser, which finished second in the 1928 running of the Grand National at Ain-tree, England. This stake race, a feature at the Maryland Jockey Club spring meeting, brought a field of twelve hunters to the post. The conditions called for a journey over the three mile course, in which the jumpers were asked to negotiate nineteen stakes. Ten of the starters finished the course without mishap. The imported gray gelding, Nicias, racing in the colors of Mrs. William C. Hunneman, Jr., and ridden by Mr. D. D. ODell, was the winner. G. L. Ohrstroms Greame, with Mr. Duffy in the saddle, finished second and Miss Elizabeth Altemus San Romolo, with Mr. R. McKinney astride was third. The winner ran the three miles in G :04. Morning Sun and Oyster Bed were withdrawn and Barb Wire lost his rider at the fourteenth jump and Tod Sloan fell at the first jump. Graeme, displaying fine speed and jumping in faultless fashion, raced to the front in the first turn of the field. Jim K. was right back of him and the pair raced neck and neck taking the fifth jump. Then Graeme began drawing away and at the tenth jump was out in front,: six lengths to the good, San Romolo was running second and Nicias was being rated along in fifth place. ODell was sitting still and not until the last time around did he make an effort. Graeme was losing ground going wide on the turns when asked to show his best speed. Nicias moved up with a rush and in the run to the last jump assumed an easy lead and at the finish won with much in reserve by three lengths. Graeme finished six lengths in front of San Romolo. Then came Markham and Dragon De Vertu and Saratof. TREMENDOUS CROWD. A tremendous crowd turned out. The afternoon was ideal for outdoor sport, the most pleasant day since the racing season opened up at Bowie. All of "the boxes were crowded. Many of Marylands prominent families were represented in the immense gathering that viewed the races from the clubhouse enclosure. It was a great day for the hunt club set. After the running of the race a piece of plate was presented to the owner of the winning horse, also to Mr. ODell, who rode Nicias. The K. E. Hitt stable uncovered a "good thing" when trainer T. Rodrock sent the My Play gelding King Kelly to the post for the third race. This was a race of one mile and seventy yards for maidens, under claiming conditions, for which Behave Cash was made favorite. King Kelly was ridden by R. Workman and when it came to the running he made his opponents look cheap. In the run to the first turn King Kelly opened up a lead of a length and a half and, straightened out on the back stretch, began increasing his advantage. At the half mile post he was two lengths to the good and, on the far turn, had a lead of three lengths. Coming into the stretch he increased it to five lengths and, galloping out the remainder of the distance, finished eight lengths in front of Ralph Beaver Strassburgers Syriac. The latter was tiring and Coltiletti was driving him to the limit to last long enough to stall off Trapland, which he beat out a nose for second place. After the race Syriac found a new owner when P. E. Fitzgerald, acting for the mayor of Waterbury, Conn., Frank Hayes, claimed him for ,500. REDCLIFFE TO FORE. The Black Dot Stables Redcliffe beat a good band of platers when he won the fourth race. Half a dozen went to the post. The Sagamore Stable furnished the favorite in Montferrat, which carried top weight of 118 pounds. Redcliffe, full of life going to the post, lost no time in taking the lead when the start came and Arnold let him race right along. Making the turn into the back stretch he was out in front with a margin of two lengths over Montferrat. They continued in this order until making the turn for home, where Bejshak made his move. At the furlong post Montferrat got within half a length of the leader, but from there on he tired and at the end Redcliffe beat him by a length and a half. Bounding Deep, after making a wide turn for home, finished in resolute fashion under urging and Montferrat was driving hard to beat him by a head for second place. There was rumors that Gold Mint had been showing some good trials. Fator had him under restraint for the first half mile and on the far turn dropped completely out of contention. Gold Mint evidently will show to better advantage some other time. Abduction scored a lucky victory when he won the first race. This was a claiming affair for two-year-olds, in which the youngsters were asked to race four and a half furlongs. Imaginary, from the Walter J. Salmon stable, was much the best, but lost solely for the reason that Fator rode her liko a novice. If the ride that Fator displayed on this filly is his true form, then he has surely gone back. There were a dozen starters and, when the barrier was released, it found Babbie off in front and Abduction second, but before they had gone a furlong the latter was out in front racing head and head with Shield. Imaginary was sixth and on the outside. Fator lost a lot of ground on the far turn and entering the home stretch, and at the furlong post was still fifth, almost four lengths back of the pacemakers.
