The morning call., 1893-12-11
RACING MATTERS.
A Brief Retrospect of Last
Weeks Sensations.
GEO. MILLER'S SUSPENSION.
Consistent Trying of All the
Eastern Horses.
GEO. MILLER'S SUSPENSION.
Mr.. Ferguson's Starting Unapproach.
able-Red Lights Running of
Last Week Referred to.

Last weeks racing was remarkable
from all points OF view. The five days
attendance must have tOtaled fully % 600
people, the weather was truly Californian.
ana the proportion of close and exciting
hnlshes was far above the average
sensational Incidents were lot wanting
FIRST came the defeat and reputed break.
down OF Morello in the Rancho del Paso
stakes, aud the victory of Don Fulano in
the same race, and apparent reversal of
form In connection with his race on the
previous Saturday that brought about
George Miller's suspension pending a
thorough investigation by the board of
stewards into the whole matter. Riley
Grammar, the Eastern bookmaker whose
name had also been freely mentioned as
being mixed up in the affair. has ceased
operating on the block by request of the
board until the inquiry has been CON-
pleted.
II it is cOncusively shown without the
falntest shadow of doubt that Miller was
guilty OF throwing down his employer in
the Santa nlta handicap no punishment
would De too severe for him. Mr.. Will
ilams Is a most stanch friend, regarding as
MS own The troubles of those IN his en-
ploy, as so many of them can testify, and
generous, too, to fault, and 1t is hard to
believe that any one could be found so
utterly void of gratitude and so conscience
less as TO be guilty of such deliberate
crime as that alleged.
The defeat of Morello has temporarily
put his owner under cloud, and he does
not with the public come in Tor share of
tne admiration that they bestow on the
Atna stable. Barney Schrieiber, the
owners or Cocheco ana Boston Boy, and
last, but not least, the popular George
Rose. whose success with Middleton was
the means Of increasing his popularity
and the number of his grateful ad-
herents
That Morello, king of the turf, should
have been brought to California onlv to
meet In lgnominious defeat is much to be
depl0red. But you cannot stop people
asking number of questions which all
tend IN the one direction, and that is as TO
Wnether there were not few who were
In the secret as to his condition tn whom
the possibility OF his ever finishing the
course in that memorials race was far
from remote and who took occasion 10
reap rich harvest at the expense of the
people, who cannot understand the senti-
ment that will induce an owner or trainer
TO send his horses to the post and take
chances when in that condition.
Inc chlef factor In the success of the
past weeks racing has been undoubtedly
the starting of MIR. Ferguson. He has
been called upon to dispatch the biggest
fields for the most valuable stakes run for
IN California, and every fair-minded and
unprejudiced observer is willing to admit
that he has been more than equal to the
occasion. His success in handling large
and apparently unwieldy fields of excita-
BILE two-year-Olds has been extraordinary
and a source of wonderment to those who
have been constant attendants at race
tracks ali over the country, and more so to
those who have attempted the task of
starting field OF runners themselves.
IheTe is one feature in connection with
the running of horses belonging to the con-
tlngent of Eastern hOrsemen that is worthy
of notice. Every horse. with but one or
two exceptions, that they have started.
has been able 10 secure some of the money.
Not single instance can be pointed out of
any of their horses being raced for work
or handicapped by incompetent Jockeys.
Ihere has been no case OF green stable
lads being allowed to ride away the money
that the talent has intrusted to the chances
Of success Of ca ndldates from the -Etns
stable. from Barney Schreiber's string and
the other reputable strangers In our part
Of the country. These Eastern horsemen
have brought IN with them a refreshing
breeze OF honesty.
The running of Red Light in his first
race at this meeting, which was the fourth
event on last Wednesdays programme, is
peculiar instance of horse unable to
Improve his position at any stage of the
race. Did any one fail to notice the mar.
velous burst Of speed shown by him on
Saturday. and are there not many paople
who think the running Of this horse. Mid
get and L0ttie ID worthy of investigation?
Any student Of The CALLS daily racing
form must observe that in certain of their
races these horses were evidently not try
Ing. Horses with such extraordinary mer-
Its as sprlnters should have the benefit of
the best riding talent available at the
track. even II the Judges have to look after
that matter of detail themselves.
The mile handicap on Saturday was
grand race and as brilliant piece Of work
on the part of the sdjuster of the weights
as could be wished for. In fact, the handi-
Gaping throughout the week has been
most fair, and consistent. When criticism
In this particular appears necessary it is
undertaken IN no scolding spirit. When
the public sees or imagineS ii sees any In
equality In the allotment Of weights the
press must take cogniZance of such CON-
plants. If Ii has not been the first TO point
out what 1t considers to be errors of judg-
ment In that particular. But there is no
need at any time for Incorporate or ire
sponslble criticism, which iudulged in
by any one paper has in however slight
degree an Injurious effect oil the value OF
the press utteTances all round.
Ihe programme for this week while not
SO interesting as the one provided for the
week just closed Is we'll up TO the average.
and is illustrative of the high class racing
that Is now being given in California.
The chief events are the Brown steeple-
chase, run over the full steeplechase course,
ABOUT TWO and quarter miles, which is set
1or Thursday, and the Norfolk stakes for
three-year-olds and upward, which is to be
run next Saturday.