Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-06
GENERAL NEWS.
DOMESTIC.
The Great Stallion gace-saBta Claus Rot


The Great stallion gace-saGta Claus Not
The Victor.
RocuEsTER JAY 5.h-As Santa Claus,
the California wonder, had not started in. a
race since crossing the Rockies, there was a
general feeling that the race lay between Nc
Grssor, Alexander and him, yesterday, ard
although he had entered several races, and
was watched by keen eyes, nobody had seen
him 20 his best, and all were equally in the
dark as to his merits. The track was sticky
in the morning, and there were serious
thoughts Of postpouiug the race; but the sun
dried 1t into fair condition, although fully
three seconds slow, in view Of which the per
formsnce Of Santa Claus was simply remark
able. At the start be was the fayoEite.
Hickoll, his driver, expressed the utmost sur
prise that such should be the case, but
though 0rrin thought his horse could not via,
he backed him, and came near taking away
the s.. 0Go first money. McGiregor was, how
ever, The tayOri5e from the first heat to the
last. although in the last he was the poorest
horse in the party. Over $50 0G0 was bet on
the race and the ST. Louis crowd are opulent.
First hea.-Sauta Claus went to break
Just before the wire was reached, elusing
some confusion, and giving Alexander the
lead last NIcGregor overloaded the leader
halfway d.wn the homestretch, bu. broke
and never caught up till TIE wire was passed,
Alexander winning handily. This speed of
Mctirsgor's made him the fayoiite.
Second hsat-Sauta Claus seemed tired,
the others easily outfootipg him. Alexander
was at the front, but just at the wire he
slackened regardless of the whip, and Me-
Grego- beat him, Santa Claus fourth.
Third keat-Alexander captured the pole,
McGrsgor next, Santa Claus IN rear. Me
Gregor won just as before.
Fourth heats anita Claus for the first
time got even. At the start Alexander took
the pole, Santa Claus and MciIregor almost
abreast for the second place, Santa Claus
leading triae. McGregor was close third,
however, being on the right with Santa Claus.
When the quarter pole was reached on the
down back-stretch the California stallion was
within half q length OF the lower turn. Both
went up to the black, but McGregOr broke
and fell back 2 length. Santa Claus and
Alexander came along together, the black
trotting more gamely than in any previous
heat Mctsregor trosted veiy fast on recOv-
ering from his break, and was in the thick of
the fight again at the distance-stsnd. At this
point Santa Claus broke and went into the
air. McGregor had Alexander beaten. He
also went into the air, but ran under the wire
a neck ahead Of Alexander in 2:l94. After
a long consultation the Judges awarded the
heat to Alexander. the decision being received
with tremendous applause by the crowd
Fifth heat-Santa Claus got the best start
but McGregor gained the lead from him.
Hickok sent him for all there was in it. The
race down the home-stretch between Alex
ander. Santa Claus and McGreger was in
teusely exciting. all under the whip. Santa
Claus passed the wire his nose in front Of
McGregor, their sulky wheels being triHe
tangled.
Sixth heat-0nly three started. Alexan-
der broke so badly at the first turu that he
swerved, and forced Hickok to pull up. He
set sail for Alexander at the three-quarter
pole and got to his wheel, and began sending
Santa Claus along SO that he was even with
the black when the home-stretch had been
traversed Alexander, breaking twice, was
beaten McGregor bad third.
1t was now considered a foregone conclu-
sion that Santa Claus would win the seventh
and deciding heat. The horses being called
M little before O'Clock, both McGregor
and Alexander trotted around Santa Claus on
the first turn, and led him three lengths at
the quarter pole. Going down the back
stretch he closed the gap, and at the lower
turn had MeGregor beaten, but, notwith-
standing all Hickok's efforts. he could not
overtake Alexander, who came in steady and
,rue. and ended the hottest race trotted in
many years.
II ilswino Is 9 compIe summary: