New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-02
TIE UNEXPECTED IN FACING.

The last DAYS of racing meetings are always
full of food for thought to the contemplative
observer. Public fancics almost always ca
astray on such occasions and the most startling
variations from the expected line OF action frc-
ouently take place. Yesterday ut Shecpshead
Bay was full of amazing and exciting incidents.
The finest thoroughbred in America, the ac-
knowledged Queen of the Turf, Miss Woodford,
was outrun by lhackeray. The darkest OF
dark horses, owned by man who had once
with Justice been expelled frsm the turf for
frauds but had boon taken back with mistaken
leniency won the race for two-ycar-olds, ana
the French pools paid 5000 for each s. put in.
The pride of California turfmen, Hldalgo,
winner of the Emporium, and Wanda, the star
of the great Rancocas Stable, both failed in the
rich Spindrift Stakes, which fell to George l..
Lorilard's steady-golng, all. day colt St:
Augustine.
The experiences of the day were full OF les
sons to wary and unwary alike-lessons OF the
kind that lac may run who readeth One Is that
there never lived thoroughbred too fast to he
beaten at a difference in weights. Tens OF
thousands of levers of the turf in all parts OF
the country thought Miss WoodlOrd invincible.
SO she was while she met other racers on even
terms. But Thackcray Outran her yesterday
because he had twelve pounds the better OF the
weights. II was a pity to break the mares
superb series of victories in this way. She
should have left the turf with her fame nD-
dmmed. Owners who felt n true pride i'll such
a model of symmetry and speed would not have
exposed her to such risk. But sentiment too
often gives way to greed on the rnce-course ms
elsewhere.
Another lesson il that owners who want to
win should employ the best riders they can get.
Electric's chances for the Goodbye Stakcswcrc
pitched overheard when an incompetent boy
was put in the saddle. Mclaughlin, who had
no mount in the Spiudrilt Stakes, could have
won that big prize for Pierre Lorillard if his
hand had controlled Wanda's bit.
The "pungcis " on favorites had wry faces
yesterday. One out of six won. But men who
cannot wean themselves from the folly OF
speculation on uncertain and transltory
quantity as the relative speed of horses are hard
to convince that moderate sums put on outside
horses, that may yield large returns, are better
investments than much larger amounts hcapcd
on favoritcs only to disappear in the iusatIate
nav of the bookmakers.
The Concy Island Jockey Club should carry
ont some badly needed reforms in order to set
fast their handsome, spacious and convenient
course in the affections of the public. They
should get competent starter who will not ex-
haust public patience by intolcrablc delays or
outrage fairness by starts that take away all the
chances of half dozen horses. They should
have fewer of the wretched lightweight handi-
caps and selling races that encourage the breed
ing and training of hobblng scarecrows and the
pitiablc riding of pulpy babies that ought still
to be in long clothes. They ought TO try
to keep away instead of seeking to attract tho
clouds of yoracious .locusts that swarm over