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OAKLAWN MEETING ENDS Grand Rock Goes Route in the Au Revoir Handicap. Best Season in History of Hot Springs Track Ends With Big Crowd Present. HOT SPRINGS, Ark., April 4 The thirty-six-day meeting of the Oaklawn Jockey Club closed at Oaklawn Park this afternoon with an all-star program featured by the Au Revoir Handicap, a race of a mile and a sixteenth for three-year-olds and upward. The honor of winning went to the Spring Valley Stables Grand Rock. Carrying 113 pounds, the five-year-old raced the distance in 1:44, which was good enough to put him in front at the end of the journey by a half length. It was a rousing finish and a fitting one for the climax of the season, which has been hailed the best the local track ever enjoyed. Suspected of being only a sprinter, Grand Rock was overlooked in the betting and paid better than 12 to 1. He was ridden by the veteran Harry Louman. My Blaze, another outsider, finished second, earning that part of the purse by a nose over the favorite, Sunport, the only three-year-old in the field of eleven. The latter took third by a length, with Repaid fourth. My Blaze and Sunport fought it out for the early lead, with Sunport assuming command after the first quarter. This colt held sway to the final eighth, where he succumbed to the winner and My Blaze. Grand Rock was never far off the pace and responded gamely when urged in the final drive. The others which completed the field were Even Up, Anklets, Pat C, Busy Spain, Aunt Myrtle, Getalong and Prince Torch. Todays card was particularly appropriate for closing day, for all of the races brought together well matched fields and many favorites, which have, been performing here all season, were seen under colors during the afternoon. The day was cloudy and a trifle cool, but the crowd was large and compared favorably with other Saturday gatherings, despite the fact that many visitors to Hot Springs already have returned to their homes. The presentation of todays program marked the close of. the most successful season the Oaklawn Jockey Club has ever had and further entrenched the sport in this resort city. Large crowds have attended daily since the very first day, and the mu-tuel play has been correspondingly larger than any which this organization has handled here. Joseph E. Martin, general manager, is more than pleased with the success of the meeting and already is forecasting an even bigger meeting next year. It is fair to comment, too, upon the high quality of the sport which has been offered here, for never before has the Oaklawn Jockey Club been able to attract horses of the class which performed here since the meeting opened on February 22. The f irst running of the Arkansas Derby did much to attract the larger stables to Hot Springs, and Oaklawn will not be without them next year, for the Derby, according to the management, is an annual fixture. Todays card was particularly appropriate for closing day. The players got a rude setback in the opening race when Dr. C. N. Finchs Goforth, under a weak ride by apprentice Joey Tinker, failed to share in the purse. The winner turned up in the Serenata Farm Stables Billies Orphan, which led her rivals to the end to win by a. length. Tombereau closed in second place, while third went to Morley Fifth, which was lightly regarded by the talent. After getting away in stride Tinker allowed Goforth to drop far out of contention and his effort thereafter was a feeble one. , Another upset occurred in the second race when Red Flyer, the favorite, went down decisively, while Onwentsia raced to another victory which marked her third success of the current meeting. The winner, cleverly ridden by the veteran R. Montgomery, came from behind the pace to score her impressive win, leading Infinata home by a length and a half, while third went to Ina Dear.
