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WINS FOR NEW OWNER Song Hit Best on Sloppy Track in Pearl River Purse. JPhange to Bad Weather Cuts Attendance at Fair Grounds Favorites Successful. NEW ORLEANS, La., March 11. The jnost unpleasant weather of the winter prevailed here today and occasioned such a lull an interest in the Fair Grounds racing that the crowd that witnessed the afternoons sport was one of the smallest in several years. Rain, accompanied by abnormally Jow temperature and a cold north wind, made for the meanest weather experienced Jiere during the winter. The rain began falling shortly before racing hours and, .while it did not come down in copious quantity, the fall was steady and brought the racing strip into a sloppy state for the ifourth and later races. Prior to that time the going was good, although, the slippery top surface made for somewhat uncertain footing. Usual late withdrawals came with the change in track conditions and the featured three-quarters Pearl River Purse, for three-year-olds, lost three of the nine programmed starters when Walter D., On Sir and Mexico declined the issue. The six that went to the post furnished an interesting race through rain and slop and the running resulted in a victory for Song Hit, which was making his first start under the colors of U. Mandonia. James McCoy had the son of Dress Parade in front throughout and, standing a mild drive he got home a neck in front of J. Leiters Princess Camelia. R. A. Fairbairns Sarietta was third and Prince Hotspur, also from the Leiter Stable, led Espinaca and Busted into fourth place. SPARKLING FINISH. In competition for the first time since last jfall, Princess Camelia and Prince Hotspur .Vvere installed favorites, but stout backing for the winner developed and his success .was popular. Neither Princess Camelia nor jher stable companion was subjected to Severe pressure. Lacking thorough fitness they failed to get to the wifiner although Princess Camelia succeeded in forcing the Mandonia colt to his best performances to outstay her by a neck. At the finish she led Sarietta by two lengths and the latter had only a head over Prince Hotspur. Espinaca and Busted were fifth and last, Respectively, throughout. Song Hit ran the distance in the fast time of 1:13. Notwithstanding the defeat of the Leiter pair, favorites enjoyed more than average success with Panshala, Paint Box and Gettin Even, all choices, sweeping the second, third fend fourth races. The program opened with a surprise when My Inver proved best in a large field of the cheaper sprinters brought together at three-quarters of a mile. Under a good ride by R. Tilden, she gained the victory in handy order, with Updike, also neglected in the betting, second, and King Halma third. Poly-fon and Agnes Sorel found strongest sup-port, but failed to race up to their backing, the former weakening badly after showing most speed to the stretch and the latter being widely outrun after a sixteenth. Drawing away from Polyfon and into a fairly safe lead when entering the stretch, the winner carried on successfully to the end as Updike, closing with good speed, got up for second over King Halma when within a few strides of the finish. ANOTHER FOR ELSTON. Gilbert Elston added another winner to his score when he guided Panshala, favorite, to victory by five lengths over nine other maiden fillies and mares in the second race, also at three quarters. Judan was second and Real Pardner third. When ready in the stretch, the winner, which easily overcame a big loss of ground, sustained in following Judan far out in the track, made short work of the early pacemaker and in the last eighth drew out rapidly as Judan lasted to save second jover Real Pardner. Paint Box, S. W. Labrots home-bred son pf Happy Time and Tint, registered his maiden triumph when he decisively defeated Merovech, Friend John and nine other colts and geldings at the three furlongs distance Continued on twenty-second page.. WINS FOR NEW OWNER Continued from first page. in the third race. Although some of his rivals led him away from the starting point and he was inclined to swerve in the opening sixteenth, J. Burke brought him around the leaders after going half the distance and in the latter stages he came away to win by a length and one-half, with speed in reserve. Merovech cut out much of the pace and while no match for the victor, widely outstayed Friend John and Catwalk for second. The latter two fought it out to a close finish for third, which went to Friend John. After getting away very slowly, Michigan Lad never closely approached the leaders. Gettin Even proved the third favorite in successive races to win. when under a strong and well judged ride by C. Landolt he registered over a large band of sprinters in the fourth race, under claiming conditions. By this time, the rain had brought the track into sloppy condition and the watery going well suited the winner, which brought the P. H. Krick colors" from behind the early pace and to victory by a length and one-half over Honeyman. A neck back Journeys End captured the minor award, with Array fourth. After keeping in close pursuit of the leading My Hobby and Laughing Boy for a half-mile, the winner flashed around them in rapid order when straightened out in the stretch and drawing clear was safe from the sturdy finishes put forth by Honeyman and Journeys End.
