view raw text
COUNTESS ANN FIRST Locally Owned Reigh Count Filly Captures Berwyn Purse. Contest Marred by Elimination of Two Choices, Songmaker and Navanod, by Bumping. CICERO, 111., Oct. 13. The Illinois-owned and well backed Countess Ann, sporting the cerise and blue silks of A. A. Young, raced to a handy victory in the Berwyn Purse, mile and seventy yards feature of this afternoons racing at Sportsmans Park. Ridden by Milton Terry, the four-year-old Reigh Count filly came from behind in the final furlong to win by two lengths, as Erla raced to the place and Exponent took down third honors. The contest was marred of much of its appeal early in the running as the two choices, Songmaker and Navanod, bumped going around the first turn, interference from which Navanod never did recover. Songmaker, after laying far out of the running to the final eighth, closed well enough to finish fourth in the field of seven. Speedy Skippy took the lead early, but after three-eighths he was through and Exponent went to the front to show the way. The latter, in turn, lasted at the head of the parade to the head of the stretch and there he gave first to Erla and then to the ultimate winner, Countess Ann. ANOTHER LARGE CROWD. A crowd which may have been larger than even the fine gathering of opening day, was on hand to witness this afternoons sport. The weather was considerably warmer, and the sun shown brightly all day in contrast to the murkiness of Monday. The track had completely dried out and was fast. Another attractive program was offered with the program evenly divided between sprints and distance affairs. The first four races were at shorter distances with the last four route contests. Well backed horses dominated the running of the five furlongs opening event, with Jim McConnell finishing first. Rapid Bells second and Gold Step third. Jim McConnell. carrying the colors of Mrs. M. Parge and ridden by R. G. Cooper, moved to the front on the stretch turn and, continuing on in the van, won rather handily by a length and a half. Rapid Bells led home Gold Step by four lengths, while another two lengths away in fourth position was Juaneva Baker. The Texas Stable provided the winner of the second event, also decided over the five furlongs distance, in the Panic gelding, Baldy. Taking the lead before reaching the first turn, Baldy led all the way under a hustling ride by apprentice R. McClellan. His margin at the end of the distance was three-quarters of a length. Little Duke out-finished Copper Lad to be second while Gladess, which was well backed, ran third. Mr. James, for which there was some support, failed to prove a factor at any stage of the race and appeared to have been sore. VIAJERO ALL THE WAY. Viajero, recently acquired from the Val-dina Farm Stable by Mrs. Thomas Marsha, scored a one-sided and popular victory in the third race, which brought together eight maiden two-year-olds for a sprint of six and one-half furlongs. With Basil James in the saddle, the son of Flying Ebony took the lead shortly after the start and was never headed, to score by four lengths. Closer was the contest for second money. Florid getting Continued on thirty-fourth page. COUNTESSANN FIRST Continued from first page. . up to nose out Honored Miss for that portion of the purse. Radio Hour was a distant fourth. James also was astride the winner of the fourth event, William Days Neds Affinity, which turned back seven other three-year-olds at six and a half furlongs. James held hismount in slight restraint to he stretch turn where he sent her to the front, there to stay to the finish. The daughter-of Neddie showed some signs of distress near the end, but. under vigorous handling was able to pass under the wire with slightly more than a length to spare. Firm Hand, which set the early pace, finished second, four lengths before Taipan to which third money fill. The others were led home by Blue Bud. The winner was. among the choices. A fall marred the running of the Wheaton Purse, mile and seventy yards sixth race, although, fortunately, neither the rider, Milton Terry, nor the horse, Femme, was seriously injured. They were caught in the jamming at the first turn and the filly fell. Another victim of the jamming was Rose Thatcher, which was knocked completely out of the running and, finally, was eased up. G. Houchins Valley Prince, a rank outsider, piloted by C. Mills, won the race, with Jeffrey second and Tad third. Captain Jef-fers was fourth in the field of ten.
