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VICTORY FOR HOT SHOT Outstays Miss Melody in Thrilling Finish at Cicero. Jockey E. Arcaro Stars With Three Winners at Sportsmans Park Track Records Lowered. I CICERO, 111., Oct. 17 In one of the most thrilling finishes witnessed at Sportsmans Park since the current meeting got under way, Hot Shot, from the stable of Clarence E. Davison and under the guidance of jockey E. Arcaro, who was astride his third winner of the day, was winner of the Douglas Park Purse, the outstanding offering on todays card, which was for performers of all ages. Miss Melody, the only two-year-old to start, was second, and Volta Maid finished third. The winner began fast but was soon outrun by Toltec, which was racing head and head for the lead as they made for the first turn. At this point Toltec bolted and ran to the extreme outside, and Diaquri followed her. Arcaro sent Hot Shot up on the outside and sent him into the van. In the meantime Miss Melody had moved up to force the pace and got on terms as they made the stretch turn. It was from here to the finish that the two leaders indulged in a spirited battle, and Miss Melody obtained a brief lead, but Hot Shot was not to be denied and came through with a good effort to get the decision by the shortest of margins. Volta Maid, which began slowly, made a steady gain, which earned her the third portion of the purse. Diaquri failed to be a contender after a quarter of a mile, and it was quite obvious that her heavy impost had some bearing on her disappointing performance. TOUCH OF FALL WEATHER. From a bright sunshiny afternoon, the sky clouded and a touch of fall weather was in the air. The crowd was as large as could be expected on an off-day, following the exceptionally large attendance of the latter part of last week. The track was at its best condition since being built, the best times of the meeting being made in addition to two track records being lowered. Raffles Chance, under the colors of Clayton Morris, Texas breeder, graduated from the non-winning ranks when he was winner of the opening race in a driving finish, taking the measure of Rosehome Stables Miss Sparklig, while Stuyvesant Peabodys Pent House was third. The winner, forced to race wide at the first turn, gained rapidly when straightened as they turned for home, with Pent House showing the way, but the son of Raffles got to him and, after a brief duel, took the lead. Miss Sparkling closed with a belated rush to beat the tiring favorite, Pent House. The second race brought together ten of the lower grade sprinters for a test of six and one-half furlongs and in this Princess Black scored her second win of the year when she led home the highly regarded Free Helen, Bounder and seven others. MAINTAINS LEAD THROUGHOUT. The winner found her best stride shortly after the start, but High Pockets was right with her and it was nip and tuck for the opening quarter when the latter found the pace too stiff, but held his position until they reached the stretch, where he gave way. It was Free Helen that took up the task of forcing the winners pace after offering a bold bid she faltered in the final strides and as they closed the engagement she was giving way rapidly to Bounder, which had worked his way from last place to be in the thick of the contention. Jim Ormont, which was installed second choice, failed to be a factor throughout the running. Stuyvesant Peabody furnishedMfce winner of the third race when his Blaze Or got away with major honors. Joe Macaw raced to second place and Brilliant Girl was third. It was a rather courageous effort for the victor, which gained his conquest despitie falling lame during the late stages. Jockey J. McLaren rode the winner in clever fashion, reserving him off the early pace and biding his time. It was not until they turned into the stretch for the drive that McLaren called upon the son of Blaze. Once under urging the winner moved up to the leaders and gained the lead near the end, where he held sway in game fashion to out-finish Joe Macaw. The faint-hearted Brilliant Girl raced into a good lead from the start and quit when .Continued on txoenty-second page VICTORY FOR HOT SHOT Continued from first page. the real racing began, although under hard riding. Hugue was rated behind the pace, but could not withstand the fast pace and quit in the run home. Seven of the better grade performers furnished the contest for the seven-eighths fourth race, and Mrs. R. L. Rogers Finnic was the winner in a driving finish, with Full Up accounting for second place and the well backed Out Bound third. Full Up sprinted to the front after the start, and it was Sally Irene that followed closest in his wake, while Out Bound led the others. They raced in this formation for a half, then Out Bound displaced Sally Irene, and Finnic also moved up. Full Up still maintained an advantage as they swung for home, and the three successful ones indulged in a brisk duel. Full Up displayed signs of tiring, and it looked as if Out Bound was coming through with a victory, but Finnic continued with his determined challenge and got on even terms near the end, then passed into the lead to win drawing away. Sally Irene was decisively beaten. Vagabond, Switch and Port o Play completed the field of seven but never figured in the running.
