First by a Beak

Many a busted $2 racetrack bettor has complained that racing is for the birds—feathered, not rail. At New Orleans' Fair Grounds the other day it was. In the fifth race a mottled pigeon (its mirrored image is reflected at top) flew into the track camera range to produce this official photo finish of himself crossing the line a good 11 (pigeon) lengths ahead of the favored Marchaneta (far left) and a mere beak ahead of another bird.

PHOTO