view raw text
SPORTSMANS OPENING Cicero Half-Miler Staging Its Final Meeting Near Chicago. Big Fields for First Days Program Twelve Named for Main Event on Card. ; CICERO, 111., Oct. 8 The National Jockey J Club opens its nineteen day meeting, the last racing session of the Illinois season, on Monday with a program of eight races, topped by the Inaugural Purse. This feature is a condition race at five furlongs and although only ten horses will be permitted to start, twelve useful sprinters were named for the contest. All of the races drew capacity i fields, assuring keenly contested sport for the initial program. Among those named for the Inaugural Purse, to which is attached a purse of 00, are such speedy ones as Floragina, Panic Relief, Dora May, Grey Streak and Chance Queen. The latter won five races in a row before her engagement this afternoon at Hawthorne. A Monday opening is not generally conducive to record breaking attendance, but interest manifest in the meeting at this popular half-mile plant seems to indicate a big turnout, particularly if the weather is good. That Sportsmans Park will be able to offer an interesting variety of racing can be seen by the heavy entries for the opening card and the large number of registrations on file with the racing secretary. Many of the larger stables which have been campaigning on the Illinois circuit all summer, are on hand and these establishments have been augmented by horses from many other racing points. More thoroughbreds are quartered here than in several years. All of the officials except starter Geo. 1 Palmer are on hand and he will be here over the week-end.
