The morning call., 1893-11-15
RUNNING RACES.
Attendance at the Track
Increasing.
TALENT BADLY TUMBLES.
And So Does a Popular Idol in
ArticuS.
MR.. FERdUsON's GOOD WORK.
Joe Cotton, Nelson, Revolver, FIam-
beau and Wandering Nun VIM
ners of the Events.

The interest in racing here is gaining
ground rapidly. to judge from the excep-
tionally good attendance at the Bay Dis
trict track every racing day. Yesterday
there was crowd there which was con-
siderably above the average last week, and
that, too. it must be remembered on a day
when the smallest number may reason
ably be expected. There was 40 stake
event down on the programme to come off,
but the promised meeting between Van
Gorden's two-year-Old Articus, who has.
since his first appearance, been installed
as a popular idol. and the Palo Alto crack,
Flambeau. no doCot had much to do with
the size of the crowd. The race in which
they met was the fourth on the card,
seven furlongs, for all ages, in which there
were originally eight entries. -Four of
these-Donohue. Zaragora, Last Chance
and Pescador-were withdrawn. leaving
the purse TO be fought for by Flambeau.
Articus, FIdelia and Swiftsure. 1t was
not the talents money so much
as the coin of many of the general public,
who probably did not touch another race.
that made the two-year-old so warm
favorite in the betting. His defeat was
the sensation of the day. Some tried to
make excuses by saying that the superior
jockeysbip OF Johnny Weber on Flam beau
accounted for it. The fact was, however,
as the reflective form student expected,
that Articus had not he speed to make the
pace hot enough to race Flambeau off his
feet in the first part of the journey, and
when it came to sprintiDg in the straight
the younger horse was naturally unable to
cope with his powerful and matured Oppo-
nent. The California record for the dis
tance could not fail to have been broken
had the running for the first five furlongs
been forced AS il was it came within
quarter Of a second of It, viz: 1:27R as
against :27A. The track was undoubted-
ly fast, probably the fastest so far of the
present meeting.
The fields outside the seven-furlong race
were all large, one of the three five-1urlOng
events having thirteen starters and the
other two eleven each. These are too big
for the circular track at the Bay District
The one thing in favor of the public, how
ever, was the fact that the starting was in
the hands of as competent man as can
be found in America. The manner in
which Mr. Ferguson dispatched his fields
yesterday was treat 20 behold. There
was hardly any delay; and, what is more
satisfactory. no attempt at rough handling
of fidgety and contumacious horses by his
assistant. Mr.. Ferguson's assistant has
learned in good school; that is, he has
learned in Mr.. Ferguson's school.
THE CALLS suggestion that the races
should be fixed Cor 1:30 P. NJ. seems TO
meet with very general approval. and with
the days shortening so quickly it looks as
if it must soon be adopted if the manage
ment want to avoid running the last race
in the dark. With the present big fields
long delays are bornd to occur sooner or
later, and it would be as well, foreseeiDg
the cOntretemps that would then arise, to
take steps to prevent its occurrence
Following the ann ouncement in yester-