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WHOPPER BY A HEAD Displays Sparkling Performance to Win Philadelphia Handicap. Crowd of 22,000 Present at Havre de Grace to Witness Fine Saturday Card at Maryland Track. HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 17. In one of the greatest renewals of the Philadelphia Handicap, Whopper, giant five-year-old son of Pharamond II. and Romance, returned to winning form when he turned in a smashing performance to account for the twenty-fifth running of that valuable prize which was worth exactly ,400, and which featured the brilliant program served by the Harford Agricultural and Breeding Association today. Pitted against the best distance runners that could be mustered for this important event. Whopper, equipped with blinkers, picked up 122 pounds and, under the skillful handling of jockey Harry Richards, considered the best of the riding ranks, made every post of the mile and one-sixteenth journey a winning one to achieve victory by the scant margin of a head, as he turned the distance in 1:45, a fifth of a second better than the time turned in by Black Gift, winner of the same event last spring, but several seconds short of the track record. TRIBUTE TO McLENNAN. The Philadelphia Handicap was a tribute to the handicapping skill of Charles J. McLennan when his weights brought the first two to the line so closely locked the camera was brought into action to decide the winner. New Deal was just a length and one-half before White Cockade, which took third by another head, while back of these Dark Hope finished fourth, and Columbiana, the choice of the contest on the strength of five straight victories, including the rich Widener Handicap, was fifth. With Whopper the winner, much credit was given jockey Harry Richards, as he rode a particularly strong finish and it was his strong handling that enabled hini to handle the Headley horse to gain his goal. Before the biggest assemblage of the spring season in Maryland, the crowd being estimated at 22,000, the start for the Philadelphia Handicap, which was fifth on the card, was effected after a short delay and it saw Whopper first from the stalls. Racing kindly, he went into a lead of a half length as Dark Hope led the pursuit, and Chance Ray, close to the pair, headed the others, of which Columbiana was sixth, with Kievex trailing. OFFER STIFF CONTENTION. Down the far side of the track White Cockade and Chance Ray offered stiff contention as they followed the huge son of Pharamond II., while Dark Hope on the inside was being given a breathing spell by J. OMalley. Unable to get more than a half length in front, Richards had to ask the Headley horse for his best speed earlier Continued on twelfth page. WHOPPER BY A HEAD Continued from first nage.J than usual and the response came quickly. With the field closing in at the turn for home, Dark Hope made a desperate attempt to -dislodge the Kentucky speedster but Richards was riding in his best style and kept the five-year-old going smoothly until he landed across the line. New Deal, from fifth position, surged on steadily until he just failed to overhaul the winner, but he had a daylight margin over White Cockade, which was just up in time to outstay Dark Hope. The disappointment of Columbiana was a shock to her many supporters. The Hirsch filly suffered no interference in the running and she failed to reveal any of the speed that brought her such fame during the winter. TURNOVER OVER 00,000. Wagering on the seven races was the best of the season, the management anticipating a turnover of 00,000. Jockey Joe Wagner increased his score for the meeting when he drove R. L. Hannas six-year-old marc Justa Play to a front-running victory in the first race of the day in which ten were under silks at a mile and one-sixteenth. Sprinting into a clear lead going to. the first turn, the veteran daughter of Broadway Jones enjoyed a well established lead until the final eighth of the journey, when she had to give her best to reach the final length before Pretty-lass. Third went to Letter Box, two and one-half lengths back of the Mrs. H. M. Hartman mare, while Fredalva led the others to the close of the middle distance event. The first two were the better supported starters. One of the biggest fields of the day furnished the contention in the second race and it brought a surprise with the contest when Fair Time from the F. R. McDuff stable took premier honors in a thrilling finish. In this Sir Rose took second place, while third money fell to the lot of Merrily On, choice of the, race, when he took a close verdict for that share of the spoils over Bristle. Eleven were under silks for the six furlongs sprint and from a good beginning Barn Stormer and Skyride went out as a team to supply the pace. Fair Time engaged the leaders in the final eighth, then after going C i, i Jtyy MS ft rt into a short lead, stuck to his task willingly to gain the purse by a half length. BILL DONOGIIUE AGAIN. Racing back to his recent performance here a few days ago. Bill Donoghue, consistent sprinter of the G. H. Marlman stable, earned his second score of the year when he defeated seven other shifty sprinters in the third race, also at six furlongs. Ruling" in the speculation and handled nicely by apprentice H. LcBlanc, the son of Master Charlie forced a fast pace as he followed the early pacemaker, Grand Duke, then after moving into the lead a furlong from home waged a spirited battle to be winner by a half length. Sage Girl, in the thick of contention from the beginning, took the place, beating Grand Duke a similar margin, while Masked Gal was in fourth position just a head back of the Denemark gelding. The co-feature, styled Pagebrook Handicap, was the fourth race on the card, and. it saw Mucho Gusto, top weight of the party, under 122 pounds, scoring in an interesting contest. Ridden by jockey E. Smith, the son of Marvin May, who has been a disappointment since his triumph in the Rowe Memorial Handicap, ran the six furlongs in 1:12 as he crossed the line a length in the van of Mrs. R. H. Heighes Purple Knight, a lightly fancied starter, while Deflate took third for J. P. Jones when she led home Weston and the three others. Mucho Gusto had the speed necessary to be a prominent factor early in the contest, going along abreast of Deflate as the Jones colorbearer provided a swift pace. Unable to get clear while leading the way. Deflate showed her usual tendency to quit as the" stretch was reached, and with Mucho Gusto pressing her closely the Araho sprinter went on by in the last sixteenth to score under light pressure.
