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SETHS BALLOT AGAIN ♦ Fourth Consecutive Victory for Consistent Butler Gelding. » Ruckus Disappoints Many Admirers by Running Away Before Start of Aurora Feature. AURORA, 111., May 4.— The Leland Hotel Claiming Purse was todays feature at Exposition Park and there were but five sturdy performers that answered the call for the one mile and seventy yards race. J. J. Butlers consistent Seths Ballot was the winner, but only after one of the most thrilling finishes staged at the current meeting. While the victor won by three-quarters of a length, he was forced to top speed to gain his laurels. Star Play, which races for C. W. Bidwill, raced to second place, a nose in front of Golden West, which led home Inferno Lad and Ruckus, which completed the field of five. Ruckus, which came in for heavy support, became unmanageable after reaching the post and got into the center field through a gap used to shift the starting gate. Once in the infield, Ruckus broke into a full run and it was all jockey K. McCray could do to keep him from going through the inner rail. After several attempts to get away, he finally submitted to his riders strength and was brought back to the starting post by the outrider. He acted so fractious that starter Wingfield found it necessary to place him on the outside. When the horses were dispatched he was away slowly, but reached a contending position after going a half, then appeared to sulk and was eased up when eliminated. IMPROVED WEATHER. Weather conditions were greatly improved for todays racing, with the result another large crowd was on hand to view the sport which was conducted over a heavy, drying out track and which was yielding to the efforts of the track crew which were putting forth every effort to bring it back to a fast state. The talent were finding the winners with success in the early races and well played choices rewarded their backers. Jockey J. Hernandez won his first race in many months when he guided S. J. Molays Underdun to an easy win in the five and one-half furlongs fourth race, which engaged seven ordinary sprinters. The winner, never far back, was under occasional pressure to maintain a forward position and it was not until he reached the final eighth that he got on even terms with Dr. Rogers, which enjoyed a comfortable margin turning for home, but which could not maintain his speed and gave way without much resistance, to take the place award with something to spare. Relline, making his first start of the year, turned in a good performance to get away with third honors. There was some delay in the paddock due to the difficulty of identifying Keen Boy, which has not been to the races in these parts prior to his start today, however, some Continued on twenty-first page. SETHS BALLOT AGAIN Continued from first page. westerner, who raced at Riverside Park last summer, identified the Jenkinson representative and he was allowed to start. Altena, odds-on favorite, under the colors of Mrs. John Marsch and which was saddled by trainer Fred Morris, accounted for the first race which engaged six two-year-olds over the four and a half furlongs distance. The winner, in command from the start, showed a smart performance under a clever ride by Jimmy McCoy, who had her away in motion. Morprin, which finished second was the most serious contender, forcing the victress along at a good pace for half a mile where she faltered when her challenge proved to be in vain. However, Morprin held on with good courage for the place award, taking that portion of the purse by the decisive margin of five lengths from Candle Fly, which finished third. The latter, a slow beginner, raced in a sluggish manner until reaching the stretch where she moved up resolutely attaining her placing in a handy fashion. Bill Liutz, favorite for the second race, won his second race of the year when he outfinished Lord Tournament in a drive. The latter was second, while Emmaline H., an outsider, led home five others. The winner was given a hustling ride by Johnny Dupuy and raced in closest pursuit of the leader to the stretch, where he moved up to Lord Tournament and sped past him in the final strides to reach the end with one length to spare. Lord Tournament had good speed during the early racing, in which he had a good lead turning for home, but gave way when the winner drove up alongside of him and was under brisk urging to stave off Emmaline H., which came with a belated rush to take third. Forget Not, which came in for considerable support, failed to keep up when put to a drive. The Lloyd Brothers furnished the third winner when Long John made a show of the seven others that went to the post for the third. The winner disposed of Shady Girl soon after the start and, after going an eighth, never left the final result in doubt, coming to the end six lengths to the good and well in hand. However, Shady Girl never permitted any of the others to pass her during the journey and managed to repulse the strong bid of Upon, which challenged boldly in the late stages, but faltered near the end. Lugen Luggage, the favorite, went down to defeat decisively, which can be attributed to his slow beginning. Peacock Blue, pronounced favorite for the sixth race, made good for his backers when he drove to the end one length to the good, but he was under strenuous urging by the veteran A. Anderson to hold his margin as they passed the judges at the end. Mrs. Let, which was in closest pursuit of the winner from the start, moved up with a dangerous looking threat in the final stages, and it appeared as if the Odham mare were going to take the favorite into camp, but he responded readily to pressure and maintained a safe lead. Saucy Maria raced in third place for the entire distance. Flag Catcher unseated her rider shortly after arriving on the track, and the last time she was seen she was going at top speed toward the head of the stretch. The field was dispatched without her and, due to the rules, those that wagered on her lost as she became a starter after leaving the paddock.
