view raw text
GOLD STEP POPULAR WINNER Defeats Best Band of Sprinters Starting at Texas Track. Unseasonable Weather Not Enough to Keep Crowd Away From Arlington Downs Track Slow. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 19. With the successful Arlington Downs meeting coming to a close with the running of the Texas Derby and its supporting program tomorrow afternoon, the most inclement weather of the season was not enough to keep the patrons of this vicinity away from the magnificent plant this afternoon. A drop in temperature and intermittent drizzles that began shortly before the start of the first race, was followed by a heavier shower that left the track in a slow condition. The gathering, which was one of -the largest of the week days, was swelled by pre-Derby visitors. Although the entire program was for members of the claiming ranks, several of the events attracted the best of this brigade and they offered spirited racing. Naturally, the change in track conditions caused many surprises but choices held their own against those held in less esteem. The-best band of the sprinting platers met over the Waggoner course in the Ted Fior-ioto Purse, the fifth race, and this was productive of the most thrilling contest of the afternoon and the most popular victory when G. E. Ewins Gold Step lasted to beat J. H. Tates Whisking by a nose, the latter, charging down on the outside in whirlwind fashion a head before the Summit View Stables Lady Federal, which led Herowin by three lengths for minor honors. Lord Tournament, which bore out badly approaching the stretch turn, and Luck In completed the sprint in the order named. Favored by racing on the outside in the best part of the slow track, C. E. Smiths Phyllis R. furnished a surprise in leading Tenney Bell, Gloria Mercedes and four other two-year-olds to the finish of the four and a half furlongs, that opened the program. Away slowly and outrun to the stretch, the winner, a maiden daughter of Happy Argo and Misnot, which had the services of K. Knott responded nobly after reaching the final furlong and taking command in the last sixteenth was a length and a half before Tenney Bell at the close. K. Knott rode his second winner and A. G. Tarns Moonsan registered his first success of the meeting when the four-year-old San-Utar gelding reached the end of the Waggoner course sprint a length before Tad-caster and Flag Time which came to the finish a nose apart. Eight lowly platers started with the winner under a good drive throughout. Disposing of Peter Blues, which headed him for three-eighths, Moonsan ran clear of his field but Knott placed him under strong urging to the end. Displaying a liking for, the slow going, High Finance carried O. L. Fosters colors to an easy and surprise score in the third race, also at the Waggoner course distance. Taking command soon after the start, the winner drew away slowly to be five lengths before Jib Boom, which lasted to beat the fast finishing Lady DeVer by a nose for second. A half a length behind the latter came the well-backed Broadstep at the end. After holding third place from the start, Broadstep tired in the last stages, Three-year-old platers provided the sport in the fourth race, and this resulted in another surprise score when Mrs. J. L. Wilsons High Hand n. was returned an easy winner. Second went to American Emblem with My Surprise third. Ridden by J. Wagner, High Hand II. sprinted into a clear lead in the opening three-sixteenths and, after drawing away to a six lengths advantage, reached the end of the Waggoner course sprint five lengths before American Emblem, which led My Surprise by a length and a half for second.
