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Tremendous Crowd at Aurora * e WELCOME KING HORSE « Over 20,000 Illinois Turf Enthusiasts Turn Out for Return of Racing. « Auspicious Beginning of Exposition Park Spring Meeting — Gold Step Disqualified. ♦— — AURORA, 111., May 1.— A racing season which is expected to compare favorably if not eclipse any held here in the past got under way at the improved Exposition Park plant in the Fox River Valley today. Thousands of fans of the district, the majority of whom have been anxiously awaiting the opening for several months, thronged through the gates to view the splendid opening day card arranged by the management, and from the time the horses paraded to the post in the opening event until the program was concluded, intense interest was sustained. It would have been difficult to imagine more perfect weather for the inauguration of the long Illinois turf season. It was an ideal spring afternoon, a bright sun shining from above and just enough breeze to make conditions comfortable. The racing strip had been whipped into tip-top shape under the supervision of track superintendent Smith, and fast time was the order of the day. CLUB HOUSE POPULAR. The club house, which is the latest innovation at the Aurora plant, was a popular rendezvous during the afternoon. Many club house parties had been arranged by patrons from Chicago and surrounding towns. A twelve-piece band supplied music between races, which helped enliven the proceedings. The Aurora Inaugural Handicap, the afternoons feature race, was marred by a disqualification in which Gold Step, which finished first, was set back. The stewards ruled that he had interfered with T. S. Jordan, which finished second, to such an extent as to hamper the latters chances, and lost little time in having the numbers changed. T. S. Jordan, from the stable of S. Peabody, was placed first, Celtic Prince got second money and Princeton obtained the third award. The disqualification did not come as a surprise, and the stewards are to be commended for their stand. The foul was apparent to all close observers of the race. T. S. Jordan, which had set the pace, was running strongly in the center of the track, while Gold Step, which had been prominent from the start, was on the outside. At mid-stretch Gold Step cut sharply across, knocking T. S. Jordan off stride, and the latter, in turn, bothered Celtic Prince. Gold Step then drew out to finish first by a half length, but when jockey Richard, on T. S. Jordan, made a complaint the numbers were Continued on ticenty-first page. WELCOME KING HORSE Continued from first page. changed. The majority of the large crowd present loudly applauded the stewards decision, and their ovation was a tribute to their sportsmanship. King at Arms, a five-year-old son of Fair Play, with jockey J. Longdon in the saddle, had the honor of winning the first race of the season. He was fairly well backed and, racing with the leaders in the early stages, forged to the front when straightened out for home and held Sorrento safe in a bitter stretch struggle to win by a head. It was an excellent finish. Sorrento was always close up and earned second place, while Harpoon was third. The race, which was over six furlongs, attracted a capacity field. After the running of the race it was announced that jockey A. Dickey, who was astride Sorrento, had been suspended for five days for interfering with French Lane at the half-way mark. La Belotte, recently unloaded from the cars after a long trip from the west coast, displayed enough speed to win the second race. Apprentice Fage got her off quickly and, sprinting away from her rivals on the far turn, she held on well to withstand the final challenge of Bocaratone. The latter was a bang-up second and might have won but for his bad post behavior. He was slow to get going, but, once in motion, gained steadily and was racing fastest of all at the finish. Thomas Seth took third place. Jockey T. Swigert, on Alto, lost his stirrups after the start and had his hands full remaining astride the horse to complete the journey. The winner was the medium of quite a plunge and paid .50. Anitas Pal, a winner at Havana during the winter, had enough speed to remain in advance of the large band of two-year-olds that traveled four and one-half furlongs in the third race. The veteran jockey Pender-grass, who was astride the filly, sent her into a long lead during the first half of the trip and she had little trouble retaining a good advantage until the wire was passed. Wise Cheer closed fast to beat the others, while Beggar Lady took down the short end of the purse. Anitas Pal had her share of admirers among the audience and paid 6.88. The fifth race, named the Princeton, brought out the smallest field of the afternoon, and Racketeer, an outsider from the Rosehome Stable, surprised the talent by winning with ease. Taking a handy lead rounding the first turn, the son of Sir Martin toyed with his rivals and, never in trouble, registered by seven lengths. The bad acting Bozo finished second, while Bosky, under a weak ride by jockey Richard, was third. Jockey G. Cimerak rode his second winner of the day when he scored with Willing in the sixth. The fillys victory likewise made it a double for the Rosehome Stable, whose horses are trained by S. Hutcherson. Willing got off slowly but raced in courageous fashion and, heading the others in the last furlong, was going away at the finish. Black Stockings, after getting to the front on the stretch turn, lasted to take second money, while Rasuli was third. The program boys ran out of supplies shortly before the first race, which means that some 15,000 of the cards were sold.
