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CATOMAR A SURPRISE Field Horse Romps Home in Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds. Favorite Carvola Stumbles Leaving v Start, But Finishes Fast to Earn Second Place by a Nose. - NEW ORLEANS, La., Nov. 24. Mrs. C. C. Winters Catomar, much of whose campaigning has been done among members of the claiming division, charged to a decisive victory in the sixteenth running of the Thanksgiving Handicap at the Fair Grounds here this afternoon. With Tyrus Meloche in the saddle, she completed the mile-and seventy : yards of muddy footing with a lead of two and one-half lengths, to add to her achieve-ments the ,000 added stake, which marked the opening of the long winter season of the Louisiana Jockey Club. E. K. Brysons Carvola, which with her J" running mate, White Cockade, was made the j favorite, stumbled leaving the start but I finally recovered in time to finish second by i a nose as Mrs. A. M. Creechs Gato, perform-J ing as part of an entry with Shining Heels, ran third. C. E. Davisons Chance Ray, a Infrequent winner here last winter, led home 1 the others in the field of ten. j CARRIED OUT ON TURN. 1 Among those which failed to finish in the picture, Sangreal and White Cockade had little chance after being carried out on the first turn by Shining Heels. After he was carried extremely wide, White Cockade ran , out farther "of his own volition and finally " beat only Sangreal, which eventually was pulled up. Catomar, a member of the mutuel field and the third of such a group to win this afternoon, was well back of the leaders early, but after going about three-quarters, she began to move up steadily. She forged to the front after entering the stretch and then held her advantage to the end. The Winters filly covered the distance in 1:46 under her impost of 104 pounds, and the victory netted her owner ,485. Gato led by a good margin until Catomar came along, and then held on fairly well, being beaten out for second place by Carvola only in the final strides. Shining Heels was closest to her stable companion for about five-eighths, and then she began to tire, finally finishing fifth. DISAGREEABLE WEATHER. Although the weather was cold and the track off, a large crowd nevertheless turned out to welcome back the sport to the Fair Grounds. The sudden drop in temperature caused many to remain in the steam-heated stands, which were crowded to near their capacity, but there were a few hardier fans - who ventured out into the open when. the races actually were being run. Included in the inaugural gathering were many prominent in the social, business and political life of the community and official New Orleans was represented by its mayor, Robert S. Maestri, ardent racing enthusiast and sports fan. The mayor was accompanied by Mrs Maestri and a number of other city officials. General manager Robert S. Eddy, Jr., was much gratified with the turnout of fans and he feels sure the gathering would have been considerably larger but for the unseasonably cold weather. He and his associates in the management of the Louisiana Jockey Club reiterated that they believe this will be one of the most successful seasons the track has had in many years. The numerous withdrawals from the Continued on twenty-sixth page. I 1 ! 5 1 ; 1 I - i j s e :- CATOMAR A SURPRISE Continued from first page. Thanksgiving Handicap took something from the feature, but it was an interesting spec- tacle anyway. Many fans had hoped to see Mrs. E. H. Bartletts Zevson and R. A. Cowards Waxwing renew their rivalry of a year ago, but they were satisfied that a splendid field was brought together, even after they were withdrawn because of the condition of the track. POPULAR FEATURE. The Thanksgiving Handicap has always been a popular feature at the Fair Grounds and listed among its previous winners are many well known thoroughbreds. Waxwing won it last year and Zevson the year before, while other previous winners were such performers as Contraband, Galahad, Paul Bun-yan, Sun Altos, Cherry Tree and Nassau. ! Zevson set a new track record of 1:41 when he triumphed in the old stake, which this afternoon was run for the sixteenth time. The first race, a contest of six furlongs for two-year-olds, approprietly went to a New Orleans owner and a Louisiana-bred juvenile. The winner, which also was the public choice, was Michigan Flyer, racing under the colors of Joe W. Brown, and the son of Michigan Boy and Well Behaved got up near the end to get the decision by a neck. Second by a neck to complete the distance was High Place, winner of her last four starts before coming here, while Bright finished third and Patrol Scout fourth. Michigan Flyer was on the inside throughout and a good distance back until he reached the turn. Then he began to move up steadily and lucky enough to continue to find sufficient racing room next to the rail, gradually wore down the pacemaking High Place. DUPUYS FIRST WINNER. In the second race apprentice Hayden Dupuv rode the first winner of his career by driving Jadva, owned by his brother, Maderis Dupuy, to a nose victory at the end of six furlongs. The finish was a real thriller, for, while Jadva got the decision for first money by only a nose, Glowset took second place by no greater margin over Sport Heel. Jadva was never a great distance back and, after reaching the final quarter, began to move up between horses, ultimately getting up in the last stride to be acclaimed the winner. The Dupuy filly was a member of the mutuel field along with Texas Boy and High Fire, the latter finishing fourth. The favorite, Vote Boy, showed the way until reaching the final quarter and then began to shorten stride, being far back at the end of the sprint. Thomas Powells Eva R. was made a 3 to 10 choice in the six furlongs, third race, and under the guidance of Robert Conley did not disappoint. She had a hard time holding Sailorman safe, but she did stick it out after getting to the front in the last quarter and finally got the decision by a neck. While Sailorman found himself unable to pass the Powell mare, he did prove himself easily best of the others, taking the place six lengths in advance of the third horse, Daria. Hedon, which with Daria, dominated the running to the last quarter mile, wound up fourth in the field of nine. Through the combined efforts of Jadva and Eva R. the "Daily Double" paid 51.80. FIELD HORSE SCORES. The fourth race brought together a better grade of sprinting platers and the winner, a member of the mutuel field was Charles Goffs Anna Grand. Successful in three of eleven previous starts this year, the three-i I year-old daughter of Quarter Deck, scored her fourth victory by the barest of margins. Rough Diamond finished second, while Gar-l den Pool was third. Anna Grand, handled by the capable young apprentice Earl Dew, made all of the early pace and then lost the lead momentarily a furlong out to Gar-1 den Pool. The latter then tired and Rough Diamond moved up to all but catch the Goff filly at the wire. Porcellus, the heavily-e supported favorite, followed in closest pursuit of the winner, until they were deep into j j the home stretch and then faltered, winding up fifth, fourth money going to Woodlander. In spite of running out badly all through the stretch, Gay May, owned by W. W. Adams and piloted by Edward Robart, got a head decision at the end of the mile and one-sixteenth of the fifth race. Gay May finished so close to the outside fence that she could not be caught by the camera. Morris Griner, holding to a straight course in the run through the lane, was awarded second 1 honors, with third money falling to Unpar- ailed. After battling for the lead for about a half mile, the favorite, Glasby, began to tire and finally finished last in the field of I seven. Gay May forged to the front ap-Jproaching the second turn, increased her j advantage going around the turn and then I lost most of her lead by bearing out badly 1 in the drive.
