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WOTAN WINS HANDICAP Bunting Gelding Defeats Cracks in Mardi Gras Feature. Twelve Thousand Witness Program at Fair Grounds Surprises Numerous During Day. NEW ORLEANS, La., Feb. 9. A crowd of 12,000, the largest of the meeting and one of the largest for the day in the record of the Louisiana Jockey Club, saw Wotan, the .ungainly four-year-old Bunting gelding which races for Edward Haughton of Lexington, triumph over a brilliant field in the eleventh running of the Mardi Gras Handicap, the important and coveted feature of todays big holiday program at the Fair Grounds. Proving his superiority over his rivals at the prevailing weights, Wotan won by a length and a quarter, under mild pressure from Playtime, which carried the Southland Stable colors of Charles Bach-arach, local owner, and Spanish Play, favorite, owned by Knebelkamp and Morris, finished third, a half-length back and a length before C. V. Whitneys Bargello, second choice. A nose back of Bargello followed Broad Meadows, third choice, and the latter in turn led Glastonbury, Abdel, Surf Board and Nellie Custis. The crack field, all four-year-olds or older, raced one mile and a sixteenth and over a fast track, and the result was one of a number of surprises that thrilled the large and happy crowd. Although placed in his previous two Fair Grounds engagements, the victory marked the first of the meeting for the winner, well remembered star of the recent Jefferson Park meeting, during which he was victorious in three of five races. Todays success added ,730 to his earnings. Ridden by Earl Pool and under an impost of 108 pounds, he ran the distance in 1:46, just two seconds slower than the track record, held by Quatrain. POOLS SKILLFUL RIDE. Pool rode the Haughton gelding with all liis skill and the faultless manner in which he timed his ride was an important, if not leading factor in his success. Pool was content to rate the gelding under restraint and in fourth place as Bargello, Playtime and Broad Meadows led the way in the early stages. He had a clear course when he made his bid through the final five-sixteenths. While Bargello and Broad Meadows tired after the stretch was reached, Playtime continued in determined fashion and it was only after a spirited tilt with the local hope that the victor gained the lead. This accomplished, he drew away as Playtime, tire-ing badly, managed to outstay the fast finishing Spanish Play for second honors. The latter encountered a bit of adverse luck in the run to the first turn where Glastonbury also met slight interference and Abdel went to his knees. Carrying top weight of 116 pounds, Spanish Play came through with a belated challenge and while unable to get up, was going jgamely as the race drew to a close. SUMMERLIKE WEATHER. With summerlike weather prevailing and the carnival spirit at the very peak, the jiear capacity throng was the merriest and most enthusiastic that ever gathered at the picturesque home of the Louisiana Jockey Club. Patrons included an unprecented number of the citys most prominent and score upon score of distinguished visitors from all parts of the country, attracted by the world-famous Mardi Gras festivities, Which concluded today. As in the general enclosure, the club house contingent well compared with the largest in the history of the track and, but for the excellent weather, which permitted use of the spacious lawns and stadiums, all sections would have been crowded to a most uncomfortable degree. Much interesting sport came out of the races that supported the handicap. A mild surprise developed when Chimney Sweep, ne of the shortest priced choices of the day, was decisively defeated by W. A. Hangers Rusty in the three-quarters Greater New Orleans Purse, the secondary feature, fourth race. Chimney Sweep finished second, two and one-half lengths back of the Hanger speedster, and Fiddler, a length and pne-half farther back, saved third over Justinian. It was Rustys race at every stage, for the son of Wise Counsellor and Teacake had his pest speed and there was never a time when SL Continued on twenty-second page.. WOTAN WIMANDICAP .Continued from first page. the favorite, which occupied second place throughout, seriously endangered the victor. M. Lewis had the mount on the winner. The first race, for maiden three-year-olds and at three-quarters, resulted in a big surprise when Distant Drum, from J. O. Keenes Keeneland Stud, proved the winner. Under a strong ride by Pete Groos, he got up to win by a length from Nick D., and third went to Trinchera. Much used racing with Mad Finn in a bristling duel for the early lead, Trinchera tired after regaining the Jead when Mad Finn tired badly hear the end of five-eighths and readily gave way to the winner and Nick D. in the later stages. Both the victor and Nick D. were formidable from the start. Gorgeous, which ruled favorite, failed to furnish noteworthy contention after beginning slowly. Another stable furnished its first winner of the winter when Green Wave, racing for A. B. Letellier, local owner, scored by a nose over Chu Chu, odds-on choice in the second race in which twelve of the cheaper three-year-olds started over three-quarters. Third fell to Dollys Baby, and Miss N. Con-Ian drove home in the van of the others. After holding a small advantage over Lampoon, while setting the early pace under strong restraint, the winner sprinted away from Chu Chu and Lampoon quickly entering the stretch and Chu Chu just failed to wear him down as he tired badly in the final stages. The effort of Dollys Baby was a fairly even one, while Miss N. Conlan came from far back as Lampoon quit badly in the stretch. Edward Haughtons consistent Master Ogden registered the first victory for the favorites when, under a well judged ride by G. Elston, he defeated Wrackell, Rave and eight other platers at nine furlongs in the third race. Rated off the early pace cut out by Troll, the winner easily disposed of the pacemaker when called upon and, holding on in his best style, stalled off Wrackell, which charged boldly when entering the stretch, but failed to maintain the rush after the closing furlong. Raves performance was a good one and the veteran Rejuvenation came through creditably to account for fourth money over Troll, which quit badly in the drive.
