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FROST BITE FURNISHES UPSET Torrential Rains Visit Epsom Downs Track on Wednesday. Jockey De Prang Virtually Lifts Kceton Col-orbearer Over the Finish Line Wood-lander Stops March of Outsiders. HOUSTON, Texas, Oct 7. Incessant, rains virtually inundated the Epsom Downs track here Wednesday afternoon, when a most attractive program of eight races was offered. However, one of the smallest crowds of the autumn season was on hand. Beginning with a rain and windstorm in the early morning hours, the rain continued throughout the day, and mud runners had the program to themselves. Scratches were numerous, but the Resac Handicap, chief attraction of the day, and supporting feature, the Shriners Claiming Handicap, were not greatly affected by withdrawals. The day was dedicated to the members of Arabi Temple of the Houston lodge of Shriners, and many of the members of the fraternity and their families attended despite the inclement weather. Favorites experienced some difficulty in the early races, as the first three choices of the afternoon returned mud-splattered and in defeat. The march of the outsiders was continued by George Keetons Frost Bite, which was up in the last few strides to register by a head over the well-played Dixie Fox. with High Bottom in third place in the six furlongs third event. IIEAD-AND-IIEAD DUEL. Slipping through on the rail as the field rounded the stretch turn, Frost Bite and Dixie Fox engaged in a head-and-head duel all during the run through the stretch, with the public choice holding on in tenacious manner. However, apprentice Eddie De Prang, who had the mount on Frost Bite, literally lifted- his cliargd "across the wire to gain the decision. Shouldering the. top impost of 116 pounds, "Butsey" Hernandez consistent and courageous five-year-old gelding, Woodlander, accounted for the Shriners Claiming Handicap over the mile route, which served as the secondary attraction of the days offering. The chestnut gelding came from behind to gain a head verdict over Lunsford, while Brilliant Light was third, with Min Ormont and Porcellus, the only other contestants, fourth and fifth respectively. Lunsford took the lead rounding the club house turn and managed to retain his forward position until straightened away in the stretch, where Woodlander swiftly took command and appeared to be destined to register an easy triumph. However, the son of Rolled Stockings Rose Wood hung, as Lunsford continued in game fashion and gradually neared the victor, but was unable to regain the lead. BAD RACING LUCK. "Sunny Sam" Holman saddled his first winner of the meeting when he sent out Mrs. Leo J. Remms "Flight of Gold to annex the major part of the purse in the opening race on the program, a. dash of five and a half furlongs. Moonsan, the odds-on favorite, finished second after overcoming bad racing luck in the early stages, and Yehon-ala.was third. The start of the race was delayed more than twenty; .minutes by- Ye-honala, which tossed, her rideC en route to the starting point and galIbpedoff amile before being captured. When the field was finally dispatched, Take It Easy stepped into the lead and showed the way to the stretch turn, but was easy prey for. Flight of Gold, and the1 latter took a- commanding lead in the -last three-sixteenths. Moonsan was forced back when in tight quarters on the back stretch, which undoubtedly accounts for the defeat of the gelding. Making his initial appearance under colors for the first time since last March, W. Mc-Kdwns veteran sprinter, Kai-Finn made every post a winning one in the second event, but it was a staggering victory that the eight-year-old horse, registered oyer the fast-finishing Barney Allis. The Point landed the show portion of the purse. Displaying most speed in the gooey going, Kai-Finn jumped away to .a good lead, widening his margin as the last quarter of the dash was reached and it was well that the chestnut horses did,, for he faltered badly in the closing sixteenth.
