view raw text
SMILIN ED IN GAME FINISH Novak Campaigner Comes From Far Back to Score in Feature. Houston Races Decided Over Muddy Track Houston Tress Purse Headliner of Program. HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 8. Coming from a long ways back, T. Novaks Smilin Ed gamely fought his way to a hard earned and spectacular victory in the Houston Press Purse, best of the eight claiming events on the program at Epsom Downs this afternoon staged over a muddy -track. C. Andrade IILs Unlawful was a neck behind the winner at the conclusion of the mile struggle, while Mrs. R. J. Murphys Stepinanna was third and fourth money went to W. P. Woodsons Proposing. Eight went postward for the eight furlongs journey and Stepinanna took the lead from Unlawful after completing the first furlong with Unlawful dropping back to second place and Schuie in the third place. As the three-quarters was approached, Unlawful moved up in determined fashion and as Stepinanna swung away from the rail on the stretch turn, the bay gelding came through the opening like a flash and assumed the lead. Unlawful appeared to have the race won as the remainder of the field clustered behind him midway in the home stretch. STRONG BATTLE. From out of the center of the pack Smilin Ed moved up to give the leader a strong battle, which eventually resulted in a victory for the three-year-old son of Petee-Wrack Belle Jardiniere. Though Unlawful held on with the tenacity of a bulldog, there was no denying the superb effort of Smilin Ed and the latter forged ahead within the last seventy yards to be judged the victor. The success of the choices was brought to a temporary halt in the running of the third, a dash of five furlongs, which was taken by W. A. Mikcls John Bane, which came from behind with a fine burst of speed during the last three-sixteenths to register by a length. Rosy Doon was second and Jessie D. M. was the other to figure in the payoff. Jessie D. M. managed to outrace her rivals for the small portion of the sprint but when John Banc charged down on the leaders after straightening out in the stretch, the seven-year-old son of Braedel-bane Tillie "P. quickly picked them up and within the last seventy yards drew into the clear. Kai Harri was the favorite but could do no better than to finish fourth. ALL THE WAY. Seven platers of the sprinters ranks made up the field in the opening race in which Mrs. George Spaeths Jay D., the favorite in the wagering, made every post a winning one and arrived at the finish line with a length and a half margin, over Gale Way, while third place was accounted for by Hip Boots. Alertly, ridden by jockey Francis Maschek, JayD. jumped into a commanding lead soon after the field was dispatched and was never threatened, though Gale Way came forth with a courageous effort during the last quarter gaining slowly on the pacemaker at the conclusion of the five and a half furlongs dash. Board Trade, Abel and Jones four-year-old chestnut colt, captured his third race of the meeting in defeating Scythe and Morley Firth in the second event over the five furlongs distance and made it two straight winning choices. Unlike his previous victories. Board Trade came from behind in the last quarter of the dash and held a length and a- half advantage over the fast-finishing Scythe at the finish of the event. The Jurist was the pacemaker for a half mile, followed by Parva Stella and Board Trade but after reaching the top of the stretch the son of Wise Counsellor stopped badly nad wound up in last place and beaten off.
