The morning call., 1891-08-31
TOPICS OF THE TURF.
The Past and Coming Meetings
of the Local Circuit.
Book Odds on Harness Events at the Oakland
Fair This Week-L. J. Rose to Retire.
A New Press Censor.

Up to date the racing Of the circuit dur
ing its four weeks duration has been, with
possibly the exception of the opening gather
ing, the Breeders, of but mediocre interest,
compared with last years racing for con-
temporary period. 1t is like the man who
fell out of the aerolite-not in it.
This is mainly attributable to the fact
that this seasons harness horses are some
what underclassed, compared with last
years. Glancing over the programmes of
the four past meetings. with again the ex-
ception of the Breeders, a very striking
feature is the number of fixed events that
were declared off because they failed to
fill and the substitution of specials" which
mainly resulted in entries from the Gull
sections. Before real stirring events, de-
cded on their intrinsic merits, are provided
for the public, halt may have to be called
until the bell is tapped at the State Fair in
Sacramento on the Sth Of September. San
JoSe's meeting was only fair, Napas less
SO, and Petaluma's almost failure.
THE OAKLAND FAIR.
To-day the Oakland fair commences its
regular six days fair meeting, the bang
tails holding the track as they will do on
Thursday next, the remaining four days
being devoted to the harness division
There was some complaint about the judg-
ing at San Jose and Napa. Now is Oak
lands opportunity to come to the front and
show the public that their interests will be
paramount, and that they will not be Sacri-
heed In favor of the cinch inside players.
BOOKS ON THE HEATS.
An innovation in the speculative way will
be introduced at Oakland, for, it is believed,
the first time in California. The Oakland
management has arranged that besides the
auction pools and Paris Mutna,s, books will
be made by the Oakland bookmakers ON all
events, including heats and finals in harness
contests. The result of the new method of bet
ting In the State will be watched with much
interest. Whether ii Will lie success or
not remains to be seen. Although the plan
is occasionally adopted at the Eastern trot-
tng ana pacing meetings, opinion as to the
merits OF this way of betting is divided. One
thing Is sure, however, and that is that
the public cannot complain of lack Of
Safilclent opportunities to bet their money,
Perhaps the three chances to wager money
may be too much for the public's guessing
powers. Tomorrow the 2:20 class event
ought TO be great race, and, with all the
horses entered lit 10 go ana answering the
bell. very heavy betting should be had.
However, the success of the meeting lies
entirely with the judges. II the public
believe they are getting a square deal. they
viii attend in large numbers and make the
fair thorough success, while otherwise,
otherwise.
LARGEST AUCTION POOL
In reply to several inquiries on the point,
it Is matter of record that the largest
auction pool ever sold in America was
auctloned off on the four-mile race between
Monarchlst, Harry Bassett, King Henry
and Preakness at Long Branch in 1872 The
pools sold: Harry Bassett S6S00, Monar-
chist S5O05 field $50, making an aggregate
of 10115-the largest on record. IL NAV
be of further interest to note that MOnar-
chist won the race, going the four miles in
:SSh.
BETTER THAN EVEN.
At the meeting of the Pacific Coast Trot-
ting-horse Breeders Association held at
Napa during the recent lair there it was an
nounced by the Secretary that the last spring
meeting at the Bay District Track just about
balanced as 10 expenses and receipts. A
close account showed S23 TO the credit of the
association for the meeting. Considering
the large purses offered and tile meager at
tendance, this showing was most gratifying
10 all the members.
THE BEST Two-YEAR-oLD.
His Highness, by his clever victory in the
rich Futurity stakes last Saturday, carrying
the top weight OF $50 pounds, has fully
demonstrated that he IS the best two-year-
Old of the year. His claims to supremacy
performances.
JAMES GoLDSMITH's DEATH
All the hofsemen of the Coast will sym-
pathize sincerely with John A. Goldsmith,
the popular trainer and driver of The San
Mateo Stock Farm, over the death OF his
brother James last week. The deceased
was to the Eastern track what John Is to
California courses
l.. j. Rose has decided TO dispose of all
his runners. His ill-health is the cause of
his retirement The stations and mares
viii be sold at Lexington in October and
the yeaIlings aud horses in training, at New
York next spring. Mr.. Rose, though he
had lair share of success during the two
years that he tried the bang-tails, was not
as successful as he was with the trotters
when he made the change. lie seemed to
have penchant for making his horses run
their races In trials early IN the spring. and
both at last years spring meetings Of the
Oakland and Sacramento clubs and this
year also his entries seemed as IL they had
just come out Of campaign instead of be-
ing. on the point of entering one. Fairy,
probably, was the best thoroughbred he ever
raced
NEW TURF CENSOR.
A new censor Of the turf press of America
has been evolved from the country back
lots in the person of one Harvey Warde
with an "e) Peck In the columns Of a
weekly publication Mr.. Peck some two
ously attack the ability, correctness and
good faith OF all turf reporters. Mr.. Peck's
EGO" is all right, for since then he has
issued another manifesto in which he states
that he, himself, is one of the greatest liv-
ing satirists aud boomS his own reputation
as writer to the skies. He describes how
editors and business managers of turf papers
all over the entire world implore him to
copdescend to write for them and set his
own price. TO the reporters of San Fran
cisco Mr.. Peck is an entirely unknown
quantity. His name and reputation have
never been heard of by them before. The
word peck. however, is slightly familiar to
them as being used to designate a certain
standard of quantity for measuring rural
products. Mr.. Peck. if there be any such
person, evidently believes in the Biblical
injunction not to hide his light under
bushel, but nevertheless he seems to have
got himself into peck OF trouble.
CHRISTI THE RREAn on TJRH