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BY MARGIN OF A HEAD Royal Business Beats Ocean Roll in Charles Towns Main Race. Jockey Machado Big Factor in Tri-. umph by Strong Finish Track Fails to Show Improvement. CHARLES TOWN, W. Va., Dec. 7. Coming back with a performance that was better than her last outing here, Royal Business, from the Ewart Johnston stable, chalked up her second victory of the meeting in three starts when she turned the tables on John A. Manfusos Ocean Roll to account for the featured fifth race, a dash of six and one-half furlongs, listed as a handicap, which was the best offering on the mid-week program at Charles Town today. Victress in the Inaugural Handicap on opening day, then beaten by a short margin here on Saturday, Royal Business claimed her ninth success of the year when her head was poked in front in the last few strides of the number, which engaged a half dozen of the best sprinters on the grounds. In a measure, jockey Lou Machado was responsible for the score by his strong finish, which enabled the three-year-old filly to beat her older opponent. Third in the feature went to Mrs. K. N. Gilpins Teddys Star, with Cornwallis in advance of French Trap and Grumpy, the latter a stablemate of the winner. TRIBUTE TO HANDICAPPER. Ocean Roll was top weight of the half dozen under silks with Royal Business second high weight and it was a tribute to the handicapper when they came to the line closely locked. In the running no delay took place at the post, the starters leaving in good order and Ocean Roll first going into the lead before the field got to the first turn. Showing good ability in the footing, Ocean Roll raced along before Cornwallis, while Teddys Star, some distance back of the pair, held third place before Royal Business. In the run down the far side of the track no change took place in the running order and Ocean Roll came to the front lane enjoying a clear lead, but Cornwallis was wilting as Teddys Star had Royal Business began bettering their speech In the closing furlong Ocean Roll folded suddenly and as he weakened Royal- Business swung up fast on the outside then battled determinedly to get up in the last few strides under a powerful finish. The racing strip, made heavy from rains of Monday, showed no improvement since that date and once again the racing took place over a stiff and holding track. With the temperature rising and a warm sun shining the attendance was of good size. DIAN BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. The talent received their biggest shock of the afternoon when Dian, a notorious "mud performer and a winner of his last two races, finished unplaced in the mile and one sixteenth of the sixth race, for which he ruled an odds on choice. Meeting seven other older middle distance performers, the Mrs. G. C. Brenton colorbearer, in an indiferent showing, could do ho better than finish sixth as jockey Lou Machado rode his second winner of the afternoon when he drove Inactive from the Mrs. M. N. Bond stable, to a front-running victory. Leading from end to end, Inactive beat J. Skarbeks Two Aces by five lengths as H. Neusteters Chief Evergreen landed third. Eight shifty sprinters, racing under allowance conditions, met in the first race of the afternoon, which was a dash of about four and one-half furlongs, and it gave the Mrs. K. N. Gilpin stable its first success of the meeting when Tedmelia was a surprise winner of the short sprint. Her victory, marking the third of the season, came at the immediate expense of the heavily supported favorite, Last Chase, the pair reaching the line inches apart as D. J. Scanlons Rise and Shine took third. Jockey D. West was entrusted with the Gilpin filly and although she lacked speed to be with the leaders early, she was never far from the pace established by Foggy Morn. Moving up from sixth position to be second behind Last Chase on the stretch- turn, the daughter of Teddy luckily found passage on the inside of the Mrs. J. B. Bond colt and in a game finish got up in the closing strides. GEODESIAN SURPRISES. Two-year-olds of cheap grade furnished the contention in the second race, which was decided over the Charles Town course, 120 feet more than six furlongs, and the result was another upset when Geodesian, from the Mrs. M. E. Clemons barn, was winner. The victory came in a drive over H. W. Jacksons Gin Fritters, while Tanganyika, the better-fancied starter, landed third after a rough trip. Eight starters met and it saw Gin Ff itters setting the early pace and Vendors Lien in pursuit to lead the chase. These two held their positions until reaching the home stretch, where Geodesian made his move and came through on the inside to drive on past for the victory by a length and one-half. After the finish jockey A. Vesseli made a claim of foul against the winner, claiming that Geodesian bumped his mount, but it was disallowed. Another lowly band of sprinters met in the decision of the third race, at about seven furlongs, and it saw Doctor C. N from the J. Stillman stable, making a show of his opposition to score one of the easiest victories of the meeting. It was the second success for the four-year-old son of Jock this year and he registered by eight lengths as he led E. Shockys Oriental Miss to the finish. Third was taken by the veteran This-way, which performed for R. V. Parsons, and Envious led the others in the field of eight. After going to the first turn last of the party, jockey A. Vesseli drove Doctor C. N. through on the inside to step into the lead on the back stretch. Once in front the Stillman gelding gained on his opponents and had a lot in reserve at the end of the distance. The fourth event was a split of the third and it gave opportunity for The Swagman five-year-old son of Display to achieve his fourth victory of the year when he proved best of the seven that met. Racing in the interest of R. H. Leith and ridden by jockey R. Klein. The Swagman drove to the finish two and one-half lengths in advance of C. L. Donaldsons Hair Trigger, with third falling to Petee Lad when he easily defeated Kaleida and the others. The number was contested at about seven furlongs and the winner was one of the better fancied starters.
