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FAIR BILL CONSISTENT Earns Fourth Straight Purse . in Tropical Park Feature. Veteran Son of Fair Gain Forced to Make Fast Finish to Win by a Neck. MIAMI, Fla., Jan. 12. J. C. Fletchers Fair Bill, the steady going son of Fair Gain and Speedy Girl, won his fourth consecutive race of the meeting at Tropical Park this afternoon, when he scored in the University Claiming Purse. It was a thrilling finish in a day that was remarkable for thrills when he came from far back to best F. H. Carpenters Tack, with O. A. Simmons Griffin easily saving third. The second best offering of the day, a six furlongs sprint, saw A. W. Abbotts Gay Bird, under a powerful ride by Hank Mills, just win from Single Star in 1:11, time that equalled the track record for the distance. With delightful weather there was another large crowd in attendance and it was a crowd that was more speculatively inclined than any other, of the season. In the feature offering Tack and Griffin were the ones to set the pace and lapped in the order named, they were closely attended by Scarlet Brigade in the early stages and later it was Bird of Prey that chased after them. Fair Bill, as usual, was slow to begin and for the first three furlongs only had Yargee beaten. In the last half mile he began to make up ground on the outside but it seemed a well nigh hopless task. Finally Griffin tired but Tack went right along but Arthur had brought Fair Bill into third place in the short stretch. Under a furious drive the old fellow continued to gain until at the end he was winner by a neck. Tack had beaten the tired Griffin by three lengths for second place and Bird of Prey was half a dozen lengths farther back. Scarlet Brigade had tired after an early effort and Chancellor was never a contender while Yargee ran a disgraceful race. GAY BIRD VICTORIOUS. The fourth was another sprint, this time over the six furlongs distance. It brought out a field of seven. This was another great finish, with A. W. Abbotts Gay Bird just up in the last nod to score over Joe Edwards Single Star. R. B. Aliens Celtic-Prince was at the heels af the pair, beating Black Watch five lengths for that part of the purse. The time, 1:11, equalled the track record for the route, and Hank Mills played an important part in the score for his powerful finish on the Abbott gelding. From a good start Black Watch and Single Star at once drew out from the others, and Black Watch carried the mare along at a pace that had much to do with her defeat. She put Black Watch away at the head of the stretch, but it had cost an effort, and all the time Mills was rating Gay Bird along in back of the pair. As Black Watch dropped back beaten, Mills went to work on Gay Bird. Catrone realized the peril and he drew his whip on Single Star. The mare responded, but Gay Bird would not be denied and, stride by stride, he drew up on the leader until just at the end he dropped his head down in front. Celtic Prince was another that profited by the fast pace, for after breaking last he caught the leaders tiring and in the short run home he easily disposed of Black Watch to take third by a full five lengths. PARNELL BOUND WINS EASILY. G. Mitchells Parnell Bound, a first-time starter at the meeting, was a handy winner of the opening five and a half furlongs race, leading home W. L. Johnsons Dancing Boy, with Mortime, the Morvich sprinter that has had so much racing at the meeting, saving third from Mrs. J. P. Mayberrys Bounder. Mortime, as is his habit, was the one to race into the lead and he was urged by Mills until he was well clear. Parnell Bound was soon second and Catrone was content to rate him along until near the stretch turn, where Mortime began to tire. Turning into the stretch Parnell Bound drew away readily and he had something left at the end when he was winner by a length and a half. Dancing Boy also caught Mortime to save second place by a head, while Bounder, after racing well to the stretch, tired slightly under a drive, but beat the others. The second was another five and a half Continued on thirteenth page.. FAIR BILL CONSISTENT Continued from first page. j furlongs dash, and it went to J. Richs Miss Avondale, with O. A. Simmons Sir Barley; taking second from L.. Perrys Star Royal, Ignite was a close fourth. Miss Avondale was none too alert leaving the barrier, and it was Regal Knight that raced out to show the way with Star Royal chasing after him. Then when Miss Avondale was settled in her stride, she quickly moved into third place and, racing wide, was with the leaders on the stretch turn. In the last furlong she drew away to show the way past the line by a length and a half. Regal Knight had quit badly when caught and Star Royal hung on until right at the end, where he tired, and Sir Barley raced past him to take second place by a length and a half, Ignite had no excuse and ran an even race to beat the tired Regal Knight. 7
