view raw text
SPIRITED RACING MARKS SPORTSMANS OPENING BUSHMASTER SUPERIOR Crowd of 5,000 Witnesses Inaugural at Popular Half Mile Track. Palm Island in Game Performance to Take Place in Feature Davison Horses in the Limelight. CICERO, 111., Oct. 12. The National Jockey Club inaugurated its eighteen-day fall meeting at Sportsmans Park here this afternoon with a fine program and before one of the largest opening day gatherings ever assembled at the sporty little half-mile course. The day was chilly and cheerless, but approximately 5,000 persons were on hand to welcome the sport back to the west side and they were rewarded with a brand of competition that left little to be desired. The Columbus Day Purse at six and a half furlongs was one of the principal features and it resulted in a victory for Bushmaster, carrying the colors of the racing partnership of Hardy and Ger. Ridden by Joe Sylvester, the three-year-old son of Cherokee took the lead on the stretch turn and then won easily, having three lengths to spare. Palm Island was second, with Honored Sir third, a length and a half away. Roberta led home the three others which completed the field. The best horse in the race might have been Palm Island, for he was away slowly after being made to break from outside the stall gate and then gradually improved hi3 position to be right in the thick of the contest at the end. With a better getaway, he might have even overcome the winner. MASTERPIECE FAU.S. Masterpiece, after being taken back several times, dropped back of his own accord and failed to rally when put to pressure. Salaam, which was the choice in an open-betting affair, also gave a disappointing per-formance, never threatening. Had Salaam won he would have completed a triple for the stable of C. E. Davison who previously saddled Captain Red and Karkie for winning performances under his colors. Bushmaster ran the sis and a half furlongs in l:2l7i over the prevailing good track. Distinction of winning the first race of the meeting fell to C. E. Davison, an Illinois horseman, whose Captain Red, under a strong ride by Henry Hauer, earned the victors award in a very close finish with The Nile. The race was over seven furlong3 and Batting Eye was third, with Julia Grant next. Ten competed. The Nile set the pace here and led to the last few strides, where the well played Captain Red, which never was far back, forged to the front in time to receive the decision. ANOTHER FOR DAVISON. The Davison stable also provided the winner of the second race, a sprint of five furlongs, in which Karkie beat nine other two-year-olds. Goldman, after cutting out all the pace, finished second, a length off the winner, while Lcona Rcigh was third. Maxine Continued nn thitiz-tourth tuiof. SPIRITED RACING MARKS SPORTSMANS OPENING Continued from first page. B. led home the others. Hauer also was astride Karkie, one of the rank outsiders In the betting. Goldman was the favorite. Mrs. E. E. Kellers Ogee, ridden by L. Wilson and well backed in the mutuels, made every post a winning one in the third race at seven furlongs, although he won the race by only a neck. Gaining on the pacemaker, Jolyon raced to second place with Bay Mem-I or taking down third honors. The race brought out ten starters, the favorite, Sassafras, leading home the others. Clyde Troutt. another Illinois turfman, saddled the winner of the fourth event, which was decided over seven furlongs, with the veteran plater Kapena. Outrun early, Ka pena moved up fast on the outside after a half mile and, getting to the front in the final quarter, won going away by thtee lengths. Johnny Leyland had the leg on the winner, which paid a little more than 8 to 1. Black River was second to complete the sprint, while Anna V. L. was third and Harpen Belle fourth. Witan was well backed but quit suddenly after racing forwardly for three-quarters. A claim of foul by jockey Basil James marred the running of the Inaugural Purse, sixth on the card and the chief supporting piece. James, who rode Teddy Green, claimed Ipso Facto, ridden by Dale Edwards, interferred with him on the third turn, but the stewards decided to let the order of finish stand and Teddy Green had to be content with second money. Ipso Facto beating him a head. Palan was third, with Sir Midas fourth in the field of six juveniles, which met over six and a half furlongs.
