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LOWERS TRACK RECORD Our Count Runs One Mile and a Sixteenth in l:4335. Scores First Victory of Year in ,000 Fort Worth Handicap at Popular Arlington Downs. ARLINGTON, Texas, March 30. Speeding over the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43, which clipped one-fifth of a second from the track record, Our Count, .R. C. Rum-ages fashionably-bred Reigh Count gelding, was an easy winner of the Fort Worth Handicap, which featured a brilliant program offered at Arlington Downs this afternoon. Ridden by Howard Hughes, the first foal of the 1928 Kentucky Derby winner reached the finish two lengths before the Eskay Stables Sweeping Light, which carried the top weight of 118 pounds. Mrs. Edward Haugh-tons Bold Lover was third, a length back of Sweeping Light and a head before the Brentwood Stables Late Date which, but for being blocked near the final furlong, probably would have been closer at the end. Eleven of the best handicap horses met in the first of the three ,000 added stakes to be decided during the Texas Jockey Club spring season, and Our Count, which had yet to win a race this year, earned ,180 for the Texas sportsman. Starter Dickerson sent the field away in fine style, and it was the terrific pace Rock X. provided that probably was the undoing of Sweeping Light. The latter moved into second nlace after reaching the back stretch and with Rock X. a head before him and Bold Lover alongside him from there on, he id little left after he raced the speedy Rock X. into submission. Although Sweeping Light forged to the front when Rock X. gave way in the final furlong and Bold Lover held on In fine style, Our Count swept past them with consummate ease. Hughes chose the "overland route" with the winner and he was fortunate, for Paul Keester, who drove Late Date through the field, was forced to ease her up when he was caught in close quarters during the stretch run. With the exception of My Dandy, which Continued on twenty-second page. LOWERS TRACK RECORD .Continued from first page. was done after five-eighths, and Chance Line, which was rushed into contention on the outside of his fields, the others were never factors. Late Date was a slight choice over Sweeping Light, with Our Count returning 2.10 for each straight. The winner carried 110 pounds. Although light drizzles fell during the early morning hours, the skies cleared gradually and no better weather could have been provided for the first Saturdays program, which was dedicated to the city of Fort Worth. Dallas provided its share of patrons, while many of the smaller adjacent cities were well represented. Unlike yesterday, when choices swept the card, favorites failed to fare so well today. One of the several surprises came with the Hotel Texas Handicap, that served as the fourth race and supporting attraction, when Quatre Bras II., which was making his first appearance under colors in nearly a year, got up to beat G. L. Hamiltons well-regarded Civil War at the end of the Waggoner course. The seven-year-old horse, which carries the Three Ds Stock Farm silks, had the services of Paul Keester, who had previously entered the winners circle. Well ridden while following the fast pace of Civil War and Band Wagon, Quatre Bras II. responded in fine fashion on reaching the stretch, and the finish found him a neck before Civil War, which led Band Wagon by one length. Bissagos was fourth. Where Away, Texas Derby eligible, showed little to merit his good support, trailing his field throughout. Empty Bottle, sterling juvenile which Mrs. E. B. Carpenter acquired during the Hialeah season, chalked up the fifth victory of his career in winning the Waggoner Refinery Purse, which opened the program. Under 117 pounds, equal top impost with Kingsbury and Imperial Bill, Empty Bottle, a 2 to 5 choice, ran the distance in :53, within three-fifths of a second of the track record. Taking command soon after the start, he was never threatened and reached the end of the four and a half furlongs three lengths before Richstrike, which lasted to beat Plucky Jack by a nose for second. The latter, which raced on the outside of his field throughout, was a length before Liz F. The winning streak of choices, which started with the first race Friday, was halted when Teeter Totter followed Hereon, a "fielder," Bonnie Pan and Coil to the end of the Waggoner course sprint that served as the second race. Unlike Teeter Totter, which held a contending position .from the start, the winner, under a splendid ride from Paul Keester, came from far back and around his field to beat the tiring Bonnie Pan by a neck at the close. The latter, while pacemaking, was forced to dispose of Just Imperial and Bunty Ann and had little left when the Treat and Felkner horse made his determined charge. Another surprise came with the third race, also at the Waggoner course distance, when the Tranquility Farms Miss Purray got up to beat Rapid Bells by a neck at the end. Hueu, favorite over Rapid Bells, was third, a half length back of the latter and three lengths before Plucky Baby, which showed a sparkling effort. Although the first in motion, Miss Purray was unable to keep up with the speedy Rapid Bells and Plucky Baby, but, moving up on the outside of the pacemaker entering the stretch, she wore him down, to be drawing away at the close. After losing ground throughout, Hueu moved up with a rush during the final furlong, but Was unable to overhaul the leaders.
