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MERNE PROVES STAYER Wins Over Mile and Five-Eighths at Fair Grounds. Lutz Filly Finishes Distance in 2:51 on Good Footing Cloudy and Chilly Weather. NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 28 The three-year-old Merne, owned by W. P. Lutz, showed herself to be a marathoner of some merits when she charged to victory in the fourth race, an endurance test of a mile and five-eighths which served as one of the features of this afternoons sport at the Fair Grounds. Sharing interest with this event, the longest in several years in New Orleans, were a pair of sprints which came as the fifth and sixth races. Merne, ridden by diminutive Charles Han-auer, came from a long way back to complete the distance a length and one-half before her nearest rival, Skipsea, while Laura Kiev was third, a similar margin farther away. The Lutz filly ran the trying distance on a good track in 2:51, which was just a second and two-fifths off the track record. EARLY PACEMAKERS TIRE. Penrill essayed to set the pace and for a little more than a mile showed the way by a big margin. Then Laura Kiev assumed command and held the lead well into the stretch, where she in turn faltered, permitting Merne to forge to the front. The latter continued gamely and was well able to meet the challenge of Skipsea. Laura Kiev finished three lengths before the fourth horse, Cardibre, while the others in the field of nine were well strung out at the end. Todays program, presented under cloudy skies, was witnessed by a fair-sized crowd despite the chilly weather. The fifth race saw Miss Dolphin, owned by Mrs. A. M- Creech, score a hard-earned and popular victory over her former stable-mate, Polly Hastings, and six other useful sprinters. Polly Hastings had most of the early speed and showed the way to the last eighth and then Miss Dolphin, ridden by Robert Conley, wore her down and got a head decision after running the three-quarters in 1:12. Miss Dolphin drew slightly away from her most persistent rival just after entering the final furlong, but then seemed to sulk near the end and just lasted to receive the nod of the judges. Third honors fell to Adolf, which displayed his usual finishing qualities, while Monon Lad was fourth. COMES FROM REAR. Fiddle Faddle, owned by Mrs. J. D. Wilson of New Orleans, came from a long way back in the last quarter to be returned winner of the first race, a run of a mile and seventy yards which engaged a field of ten two-year-olds. The daughter of Jacopo was badly outrun to the last quarter, .but then she rallied under the urging of apprentice Albert Snider and got up to win by a length at odds of a little more than 10 to 1. War Trade, also coming from a long way back, finished second and Grecian Time, which made much of the pace, was third. Ellie, the favorite, lacked early speed and failed to rally, finishing in eighth position. Delaynot, another which was well played, wound up fifth after c " Continued on fourteenth page. MERNE PROVES STAYER Continued from first page. racing in closest pursuit of Grecian Times pace to the last eighth. L. L. Westmorelands Jadaan and Charles McTague made up a winning combination j in the second race, at six furlongs. Responding to strong urging in the drive, Jadaan got up just in time to score by a nose as Sym-phon finished second and Whooper a bang-up third. Under stronger handling Symphon might have lasted, for he forged past Prum to take the lead an eighth out and just failed to last for major honors. Another locally-owned thoroughbred, Louis DcLatours Henry M., found his way to the winners circle after accounting for the third race, a dash of three-quarters which attracted a capacity field of twelve. The black four-year-old was always among the leaders and, standing a furious drive at the hands of Warren Cornay, outfinished Hedon to score by a narrow margin. The latter had shown the most early speed and set all the pace until Henry M. came along in the stretch to assume a lead he never lost. Garden Message moved up boldly in the final quarter, but the best he could do was to finish a close third. C. M. Brown, agent for the stable of James C. Ellis, president of the Dade Park Jockey Club, will depart for Los Angeles Thursday. On the coast he will handle the business of the division to be raced at Santa Anita, under the supervision of Wt C, Weant,
