The herald., 1893-09-04
AREV|EW OF RECENT RACE MEETS
Too Many Meetings to Secure
Good Entries.
Lessons Taught by the Santa Bar.
bara and Hueneme Fairs.
A Dearth OF Horses of Consequence
from the North-rhe PAGERS.
Ormonde to Arrive
Soon.

The Santa Barbara and Hueneme
races are over and the stables at these
tracks will now be deserted for some
time to come. At both places the race
meeting may be said to have been sue
cessful 30 far as attendance goes, but
doubt me ii the events given, 90 q rule,
were satisfactory. No phenomenals
were brought to light, although several
worthy horses contested for pieces OF
the stake money.
~
The location OF these tracks is some
what out of the way, and too many race
meetings were in progress over the north
ern circuit. Perhaps that will account
for the non-appesrance of northern fy-
ers. have always been Of the opinion
that we of California try to have too
many meetings, and, as a consequence,
have poorer and fewer entries. Still no
one can complain of the entries this
year at any of the meetings. California
is getting famous for the number OF her
fast horses, although a large majority OF
the equines entered in the races in this
state should be used on the road.
Sc
The above thoughts come to our mind
after about two weeks spent at the races
in the Flower and Bean cities. Not that
the management was not excellent, for
the reverse is true, but in my opinion
California ia too young q state in the
horse line to successfully carry on two
or more race meetings at the same time.
x*x
The bringing to the coast OF the great
eastern PAGERS to meet Diablo and Silk
wood, as suggested by Mr.. Simpson, is
not likely to be accomplished. That
such race would prove sensational
one and might bring to the Golden etate
increased laurels for her horses is prob
able, but horeemen east OF the Rocky
mountains will hardly take the risk and
incur the expense OF transporting the
great side-wheelers to contest for one or
two moderate-eized purses. The per-
formance of Silkwood last year, when
he got mark of 84 over
the Santa Ana track, and the
work of Diablo at Woodland Thursday,
in which he placed his record at 2:01a,
proves that California possesses two of
the greatest PAGERS in America. The
season is yet early, and perhaps before
the last great free-for-all has become a
thing OF the past these records will be
lowered.
x*x
In the race at Woodland it is reliably
stated that the chestnut stallion could
have taken the race in faster time if it
had been necessary, and those who are
up know that the con of Blackwood can
considerably lower his mark oflast year.
In his workouts he goes quarters in 80.
and on several occasions has shown q
half mile in :0l1a II this means any
thing it ia that Silkwood can make the
mile down to 2 :04 gait.
~ .sx
The entries made at the meetings in
California this year, especially at the
meets on the circuit, are exceptionally
fine, and many gamey horses are being
taken over the route. The atteudance
is reported as being good, and notwith-
standing the financial situation, the fair
associations will have a balance on the
right side this year. The meetings ct
Santa Ana and Los Angeles, the slatter
of which closes the rainy season in Cali
fornia, bid fair TO be the most successful
ever held in Southern California.
x*x
Early this week Ormonde, the great,
will arrive in California. Commenting
on this horse, the Breeder and Sports
man says: ''The mighty Ormonde, to.
gether with the nine English mares and
the weanlings. started from Elizabeth
port, N. j., last Sunday night in spe.
cial train of palace horse cars for Red.
wood City, CAL, near which is situated
the Menlo stock farm. The Adams Ex-
press company shipped the horses. No
company would take Ormonde unless
his value was waived-that is, the horse
is uninsured. The actual time of the
trip will be about six days. Ormonde
will be kept for the present at the Men
10 Park etock farm, but later he will be
taken to the new ranch owned by Mr.,
Macdonough. Eawson, the groom, who
arrived with Ormonde, will make his
home in California. Ormonde has cost
Mr.. Macdonough $4,000 in travelling
expenses since he was bought in Buenos
Ayres. His value when the California
ranch is reached will exceed an invest
ment Of 100000"
California horses are doing we'll in tht
east, having captured several Of the bes
prizes. DEXTER.