The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-14
CROOKED RACING.
Ferguson Does Some Very
Vile Starting.
THE PUBLIC HAS NO CHANCE
Seaside Demonstrates That She Has
Been Stiffed by Turning Tables
on the Ariola Colt.

The racing yesterday was characterized
by two of the worst starts ever witnessed
in these parts.
They occurred in the first and fourth
races. and as thousands OF dollars of the
race-goers' money was abs olutely burnt
up before the two races were under way
the public, if they do not steer clear of the
track altogether, are likely to refrain from
betting on the various events while Fer
guson is handling the flag.
Ferguson is man of wealth and does
not need to start races for living. and it
might be well for him to retire before his
reputation is badly furnished.
In the first race he ruined the chances of
the favorite, Gypsy Girl, by making a
struggling start. which nearly lett her at
the post, and in the fourth race his start
was so ragged that even the small boys
threw up their hands in holy horror.
The race had seven starters, and Fer
guson in his bungling effort to dispatch
them on even terms made such failure of
it that the hackers of Steadfast will cast
opprobrlum on him throughout eternity.
The finish showed that SteadfaSt, who
was very heavily backed, could have won
by at least three lengths, yet Ferguson sent
him off fifth IN start in which all were
strung OUT ike Telegraph p0leS OIL Il u6SeTt.
The hackers of Gypsy Gill and Stead
fast, both of whom should have won,
reared over the starting like lot of Sioux
who had been drinking reservation
firewater, and wept many bitter tears
when they remembered that Ferguson had
been engaged to start by the BlOod-hOrSe
Association and the California Jockey
Club for the next two years.
If the betting public does not take to the
woods during this period the authorities
should incarcerate them in the Agnews or
Napa insane asylums.
Passing the starting Il may be said with
out doing any one an Injustice that the
closing days OF racing under the auspices
OF the California Jockey Club are much
like an undeT-cOyer bunko game.
Now, yesterday, in the tw0-year-old
event, at five furlongs, twas demonstrated
beyond any question that something WIS
done with Seaside, the sister of Martinez,
in the five-furlong race Of May 10. when
she did not run one, two, three to the
Ariols COLI, Silver State and Thornhil,
who finished as named.
This race was run in :03, and it may be
noted that Seaside Was an overwhelming
favorite.
Yesterday she ran the same distance
and romped home the easiest OF winners
from the Ariola colt in 0234
On this occasion she had to l against
her chances. This price probably caught
the eye OF p. SiebenthaleT. the owner of
the iiiy, and he let her win.
There was one horse pulled to 4 certainty
in one Of the races, but the judges appar-
emily did not discover II.
Despite the chilly blasts that swept over
the course, the large crowd that attended
the races seemed to enjoy the sport during
the intervals ana were not complain
ing Of the bad starting
The first event, a sprint of four furlOngs,
brought seven starters 10 the post. OF the
lot Gypsy Girl was looked on as a einch.
Nellie Van was strong second choice,
Thornhill and Redlight having many sup
porters al . to l each.
The start was bad, and saw Gypsy
Girl and Ih0rnbin nearly left at the post.
Nellie Van and Redlight. who got of
third and fourth respectively, made most
of the running after the start, and in.ihe
drive home Redlight won quite easy by Il
head. Gypsy Girl, who made up a lot Of
ground in the stretch, finished third, three
fourths OF a length back, thereby convinc-
ing most people that she could have won
if she Lad secured fair start
In the two-yeaT-Ol event the Ariola
colt, who was made strong favorite on
the strength of his beating Seaside badly,
got off in front and led until within a fur
long from home. Then Seaside eaugh t
him and beat him home easily. Gordius,
who was backed from down to 3 TO l, got
off badly, but running well in the stretch
| managed to beat the other starter, War
ragO.
Only three accepted the weights in the
handicap at one mile and fifty yards.
They were Tigress, Little Esperanto and
Sir Reel.
A great many people, evidently over
looking the fact that the three-year- Ids
Tigress and Sir Reel were giving the four
yedr-old Little ESperanZa a LOT of weight
according TO the scale, backed them to
beat her
In fact they made Tigress an even
money favorite.
The two got off on even terms. and Es-
perauza led past the stand. Then Tigress
went to the front and raced in the lead of
Esperanto, on sutferance, until the pair
were Strengthened out for hone. Then
EsperanZl came on, aud won ca sy, Sir
Reel beating Tigress for the place.
Solitude was a warm favorite in the sell
ing affair at one mile, Steadfast who was
backed down from TO ~ to ruling sec
ond choice.
The bad start. already narrated. killed
the chances OF everything but the s to /
! chances Of Broadchurch and st. Patrick,
! who got off in front. To show how had II
| was. this pair led the third starter, Solitude
| eignt lengths at the quarter, and she led
the others few lengths.
ST. Patrick and BrOadchurch raced head
| and bead all the way home, and game little
| Steadfast passed the others and gained on
them at every stride. He was outf0oting
them in the stretch, and if little Kinne
| could have made a strong enough finish on
| him he would have won, Notwithstanding
the bad start, and as it was the three fin
| ished right together.
Great excitement prevailed until the
| judges decided that Broad church and St.
| Patrick had run dead heat and that
! Steadiast had been beaten nose. Stead
| faspS many supporters blessed the starter
| cd fff
ing never TO visit the track again
st. Patrlck, who has the blood of those
stayers, Grinstead and Katie Pease, cours-
| ing through his veins, was slight favorlte
In the run of. He won from end to end
! quite easily in the good time of ! :43A.
The best Tillie 5, the fayorite in the
| two-year-9ld race at four and a half fur
longs, could do WAS TO finish second to The
Lark, the second choice, who won handily
in :J6A. Realization was third.
The Lime Kiln Club. c0lored suburban
al mile and fifty yards. in which all the
riders were men of color, caused a little
merriment before the start. The gang
jGshed Munro johnson until he nearly fel
off Red Cloud.
Then the band played rag: "There's
n new coon in town. This melody
tickled Luke Flowers, Wild Robins
pilot, nearly to death, and during his eff
forts to suppress his mirth. and to keeI
his seat in the saddle, he would say, "Da
rag reminds me oh old times. boys"
The race was unin teresting, for Re
yolver, the fav0rite, ridden by Chance
Treadwell. once quite a rider, won II tn,
way from Red Cloud. who had no trouble
beating the second choice, Greenhock, fol
the place.
| SUMMARIZES.
First race-selllng. -Four furiougs
A Bertrandis' b. g. Rediight, q. ll6 ID. Murphy
| j. H. RosS' b. I. Nellie Van, 4. lI3 a. Webber1
| j. N. Caps oh. M, Gypsy Girl, a. 40 (Cappsj
| Time, -.
| Won easily by neck, three quarters OF a Length
| between second and third.
| Post betting: TO l Redlight. 212 to 1 Neilft
| Van, TO Gypsy Girl.
Happy Day 1872 Clancy IL TO /. ThornhII s.
| &C. webberj . to /, Cyclone llS tBoseman) 20 t.
! /. Mountain Boy III on. SMITH 20 to J. JACK tn,
| Ripper 10 (Eppherson) 10 to l, also ran.
| Second race-Five furlonRs, for tw0-year- oIds
| p. Siebenthaer'B CHI T. Seaside. 100 H. NebberJ
| EImwood farms CHI. c. by Brutus -ArIola, 1913,
| 4 I Z Enr