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ARLINGTON RACES THRILL Spectacular Contests the Rule Rather Than the Exception. Pharatime Outstays Garden Message and Onrush in the Lone Star Claiming Purse. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 23. Thrilling and spectacular racing was the rule instead of the exception at Arlington Downs this afternoon and, although upsets prevailed in most instances, the close finishes kept the big gathering in a happy mood. One of the most exciting contests came with the Lone Star Claiming Purse, which held the fifth and featured spot, when Mrs. E. Haughton and Mrs. Floyd Wests Pharatime, Clarence Davisons Garden Message and Mrs. Raymond Pollards Onrush reached the end of the six furlongs heads apart. Benefiting by Johnny Mattioli keeping him on the inside throughout, Pharatime drove to the front approaching the final furlong and he was able to gain enough of an advantage over his opponents to have something left when Garden Message and Onrush offered their belated challenges. Wise Anne, which led the small field of seven for nearly five-eighths, saved fourth from Indiaritown, Dark Zeni and The Darb, which finished in the order named. Although Wise Anne was far in the van of her field during the opening five-sixteenths, Dark Zeni, Garden Message, Pharatime and Indiantown were putting up a lively battle for minor honors. Turning into the stretch, where Wise Anne began to shorten her stride, Pharatime moved up rapidly and Garden Message began to shorten the leaders advantage. During the run for home Wise Anne steadily gave way, and Onrush, which had come from far back, experienced no trouble defeating her for the third award. While Dark Zeni was done after racing a half mile and Indiantown tired after improving his position, The Darb was always a distant trailer. The winner carried 104 pounds and ran the distance in 1:12. Garden Message was a slight favorite over Indiantown. With only two days remaining before the close of the meeting and summerlike weather prevailing, the largest week-day crowd of the meeting was present for the program which was packed full of thrilling finishes and surprises. The track was at its best. The San Pedro Claiming Purse, which served as the fourth event, and the supporting attraction provided the second straight nose finish and another surprise when Mrs. Samm Orrs Unkie Tom beat March Step by that margin. Third went to Takus, which like the winner, was forced to come from far back and was also lucky to find room when weaving his way through the field. Paul Keester put up one of his best efforts astride March Step, but the horse was not good enough and, after leading the field of ten others to the final stages, he gave way to the winner. During the run to the final furlong, Dozana, Inscription and Clarify offered the speedy March Step stubborn opposition, but they gave way when the winner and Takus made their belated charges. Dozana, however, held on to reap fourth laurels. Running the half mile in :47 and within two-fifths of a second of the track record, Lee Erbs Erb was an easy winner of the Guadalupe Purse that opened the program. Prince Sador was second and the heavily backed Hatty third. . " H. Duncan had the winner in the van immediately and she made every post a winning one to reach the end a length and a half before Piince Sdor, which led Hatty by three lengths for second. Although always the best of the others, Hatty was forced to lose ground during the opening five-sixteenths and only lasted to head the fast-finishing Ruth Scout forminor honors. Rustic Miss, which came in for strong late support tired in the stretch. Another surprise came with the second race for which twelve unruly platers started over the Waggoner course distance when Justa Hymn got up to lead Parma Violet by a neck at the end. Wendover, a-field horse, j was third,, and Homer L., which came in for the most support, showed little after beginning very slowly. After an eight-minute delay, caused by Cold South running away for five-sixteenths of a mile, the field got away in straggling order with Parma Violet taking command in the first few strides. After drawing clear of Albane, Parma Violet set a good pace but she tired fast in the last sixteenth, and Tommy Meloche drove the winner to the front to be drawing away at the end.
