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; ROYAL RUFFIN VICTOR Breckinridge Golorbearer Wins First Purse of Winter. Bahamas Purse Feature of Hialeah Park Program Hamilton Defeats Good Band. MIAMI, Fia., Feb. 17. Royal Ruffin, the long striding son of Coventry and Pleasing, which races for D. Breckinridge of Kentucky, won the first race of his winter campaign this afternoon when he scored an impressive victory in the Bahamas Purse, feature of the afternoon. This was named in honor of Governor Clifford of Bahama, who, with a party of distinguished companions, was present and the guest of honor. After the finish Governor Clifford presented a silver trophy to Mose Lowenstein, who saddled Royal Ruffin for the race and who represented Mr. Breckinridge. It was an excellent day of sport that was furnished, and the notable visitors from Bahama took a lively interest. The crowd was surprisingly large and weather and track conditions were ideal. It was J. Par-melees good sprinter Jaz Age that finished second in the feature, with W. L. Johnsons Rip Van Winkle saving third from Al Westons Dancing Mack. With scant delay at the post the field was sent away to a good start, and Jaz Age, as was expected, went out to set the pace. Dancing Mack, which also likes to race in front, was right after him, and then came Rip Van Winkle and Raccoon, leading John F. and Marplot, while Royal Ruffin was soon last. JAZ AGE SETS PACE. As Jaz Age set the pace Allen Had him under steady restraint, and though he was two lengths clear of the others as he raced down the back stretch, he was running easily. Dancing Mack and Rip Van Winkle followed him closely, with the last named in the outside position. Allen nursed Jaz Age along with such success that he swung into the stretch with a lead of a couple of lengths and he looked all over the winner. Rip Van Winkle was doing his best back of him and when Kurt-siriger made an effort to send John F. through next to the rail, all he accomplished was to run into a pocket and have his mount knocked completely out of contention. Royal Ruffin swept along at a steady stride and as he drew away on the outside Allen went to a drive on Jaz Age. It was of no avail, for Royal Ruffin was on past to be the winner by half a length. Jaz Age had beaten Rip Van Winkle by three lengths and Dancing Mack was another length back. SILVER TROPHY FOR OWNER. In presenting the handsome silver trophy to trainer Mose Lowenstein, for the Miami Jockey Club, Governor Clifford said: "I wish to congratulate you, Mr. Lowenstein, and I will ask you to convey my congratulations to Mr. Breckinridge, the owner of Royal Ruffin." Turning to Mr. Widener, the governor thanked the creator of Hialeah Park for honoring the Bahamas by naming the day and the feature race for the neighboring British possessions. "I want to compliment you upon your energy and vision in building such a magnificent racing grounds and. I want to thank you for myself and my party for an excellent day of sport in such a beautiful setting." It was the cheapest sort that came together in the opening dash at one mile, and there was a surprise when J. Heelans Plutarch, paying 3.10 for each two-dollar investment, was the winner over W. C. and E. W. Reicherts Banker Sam, and E. Mc-Cuans Morocco just saved third from Crushed Stone. At the start Bozo had no chance, being away so badly, while Morocco, after being off slowly, was miserably ridden and permitted to drop back badly. On his courage he closed a big gap to finish third, and he seemed to be best of the company. But Banker Sam was another that was badly ridden all the way so that the score of Plutarch was an exceedingly lucky one. Deserve and Lord Concord both took a turn at showing the way, while Crushed Stone also raced forwardly. Plutarch went into the command at the stretch turn when both Lord Concord and Deserve had dropped out of the contention, but had to be ridden out hard to be the winner by a length. Banker Sam was run into frequent pockets and messed about all through the running Continued on eleventh page. ROYAL RUFFIN VICTOR Continued from first page. while, as has been told, Dickey was of no help to Morocco. Eighteen maiden juveniles made up the field of the second race, a dash of three furlongs over the Nursery course. It saw a fhting finish, in which J. P. Atkins John Davenport was winner over Mrs. W. E. Martins Blarney Castle, with J. P. Richardsons Revonah saving third from N. J. McClures Seymour, and all four of them were lapped as they crossed the finish line. Considerable trouble was experienced in bringing the young thoroughbreds into their stalls, but the start was a good one and Blarney Castle was the one to show the way as the big field was under way. Woco was in the front division and the others followed in close order. Blarney Castle, showing good speed, drew away from the others and until inside the final sixteenth he looked all over a winner, but he tired there and there was a general closing up, with John Davenport moving up on the outside. He caught the son of Apprehension in the last few strides to win by a half-length. Revonah had his nose at the saddle skirts of Blarney Castle and he had only beaten Seymour by a like distance. Blarney Castle was the one neglected in the "tote: and the price for a wager for place was 4.60. Mrs. E. L. Swikards Hamilton, under a good ride by Hank Mills, was winner of the mile race for colts and geldings, four years old and over, that was the third offering. He scored with plenty to spare over Mrs. V. M. Duncans Clean Play and Bidwill and Lewis Tea Cracker was an easy third before Bobs Play. It was a two-horse race to the head of the stretch, with Clean Play showing the way and Hamilton rating along under restraint close after him. It was going to the stretch turn that Tea Cracker moved up on the outside to be in third place, but he could come no closer and the three drew away from the others. A furlong from the finish Mills moved up to Clean Play and Walls went to the whip on Mrs. Duncans old gelding, but it was of no avail and Hamilton raced past to draw away and be the winner by two and a half lengths. Another fighting finish came in the five and a half furlong race for three-year-olds that was run as the fourth. It saw Mrs. M. Colfords My Purchase the winner, with E. J. Hollands Jambalaya saving second place from Buoyant Days, the starter from the Paramount Stable and one that earned his part of the purse through no help from W. Smith, who had the mount. After some delay at the post Water Falcon refused to start, while shortly after the start Sobieha was pinched back. Jaffa was more alert than the others and as she took the lead Robertson sent her along at a pace that carried her a couple of lengths clear. Song Hit and My Purchase, closely lapped, were leading the others and then came Common, Jambalaya and Buoyant Days. Jaffa tired of the pacemaking when the stretch was reached and there it was that My Purchase took command. In the meantime Buoyant Days was steadily making up ground and as he came into the running, Smith swerved him down towards the inside. Song Hit was hanging on gamely, but Buoyant Days, in spite of Smith, had him beaten when he was taken back right at the end and, while My Purchase was winner by a length, Jambalaya had saved second place by a head. Matadi was a good thing in the sixth race and was made the medium of strong sup- port. He was first home when he beat Sir Byron by half a length in a driving finish. In the early stages Matadi gave his backers some anxious moments. Slow to bejin, he rated along in the middle of the bunch and was out in the middle of the track. Dedicate was out in front and Chicago Girl was second. Swinging into the home stretch Montgomery began to hustle the favorite. The latter made a wide turn and when put to a drive responded gamely. Gradually wearing the tiring leaders down, Matadi got up in the last fifty yards and at the end was drawing away from Sir Byron. Rocktor, which finished third, came from behind with a rush and finished in the middle of the track. At the end he was going much the strongest of the band and gaining on the leaders at every stride. A ruling came from the stewards just before the running of the sixth race, as follows: "Jockey W. Smith is suspended for the remainder of the meeting for a listless ride on Buoyant Days in the fourth race." Buoyant Days finished on the heels of the winner.
