The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-03
The BAY DISTRICT TRACK.
The Acrobatic Performance of
ThornhiII the Feature
of the Day.
LAST IN A FIELD OF FIVE.
A Days Racing Full Of Zig-Zags
That Favored Strongly of the
Unhealthy.

soledad was backed down from 10 to to !
in the opening race.
The sister to Dolly McCone, Dolly NJ, was also
carded as a good thing in the first event, but
finished back in the ruck.
Ichi Ban showed up very well for the length
of time he has been in fPop'' Weaver's care.
Professor Oscar Gleason, the noted horse
tanner, is evidently as good at picking winners
as he is expert at subduing the vicious mem
bers of the equine world. He hit the ring hard
yesterday over the wins of Ricardo and Norb-
heh, getting over $4,000 ahead on the day.
When horse opens in the betting at to 8
is backed down TO to 5, and at the last
moment recedes in the ring to TO l, with the
bookies clambering for the money, it is sure
indication of a hard winter. Had Thomas
Lundy, the owner of Thornhill, seen his horse
run yesterday he would have traded him for a
"yaller' dog and then invited the luckless
mongrel into q sausage factory.
It is a well-known fact that Willie Flynn has
had VIGOROUSLY poor luck riding favorites, and
no doubt many accused him OF not trying TO
win with Clacquer in the last race yesterday.
But think had any of these persons taken a
glance at the boys face when he pulled up at
the judges stand this delusion would have
been dispeIled. 1t resembled very much the
pleased expression of the mans face that re-
ceived a cablegram announcing his mother-in-
laws rescue from the wrecked Elbe.
Some months ago Thornhill started in a stake
race handicapped so that he did not have q
ghost of chance of winning. Ridden by Sui
livan he was never in it, finishing last N a
good-sized field. Thornhill and his stable
mates, together with their owners were warned
off the track, not being able to stay on the
course that night. Yesterday, in a five-horse
race, he run disgracefully after being backed
down faVorite, even finishing behind the rank
outsider Arctic. Yet the run was entirely over
looked by the judges. Consistency, thou art
indeed jewel"
Nick Hall held Royal Flusi- out in his book
and played him on the outside
Ed Purser backed soledad and Faro very
strongly. Had Faro got ten instead OF three
lengths the best OF the start he might have
won.
Charley Quinn helped make the cut on Royal
Flush. He has been lucky OF late and quite q
delegation followed him.
Colonel Dan Burns backed Thornhill and
after the race occupied a guessers seat on the
clubhouse balcony. 1t probably would have
Colonel Dan back another 'hot thing" about
that time.
The attendance at the track yesterday
was very fair, and the music was also a
few notes better than on the preceding
day. The track was heavy, with about as
much spring in it as a feather bed in a 10
cent clearinghouse. In fact, it could be
called dead. But it was not the only thing
about the grounds that was dead. The
races were dead hard to pick, and if some
of the horses that run were not dead theil
lease of life is only question of time.
Downing favorites is getting to be such
popular amusement that when one doe!
accidentally win a smile is Immediately
passed around the ring. Tenderfeet still
play them bit, but the chosen talenr
never.
a six-furlong selling race served as ar
illustration of what science and brain,
have accomplished on the turf. Roya
Flush and Thornhill were supposed to b.
the contending horses, and ton Of money
went in on them. Thornhill was backed
down to to after he had warmed up like
wild horse, but later went back to twos
and all you wanted of it. Then rusi
was made to get aboard Royal Flush, anC
he closed post favorite. But science still
has much to discover, for Realization
jumped to the front when the flag fell an(
won with ridiculous ease from Royal Flush
Nav Day at Is to l was third, Arctic fourth
and the mud lark. Thornhill, last. 1t i
said the latter sulked. If he did he &C
CURED the babit very suddenly. But hi
Jockey does not substantiate this.
The first race. five-furlong maiden race
was taken by W. OBJ. Macdonough's blacl
Hanover FLY. Sloe, second choice in th
betting. in drive from Ichi Ban, an out
slider. Halifax was fair third.
The second that went on the card, a Shor
six-furlong selling affair, ended in an cas-,
win for Ricardo, who went to the post 10 t.
5. Faro, the favorite. who led for quarter
finished second, and Road Runner third.
Favorite players were dumped again il
the next race. Del Norte was made favor
tie at to /, with Centurein second choic
at threes. Neither got. a chalkmark
Norblieh, IL to 1 chance, led all the way
winning by head from Bellringer. a
to 1 shot. Hy by was a close third.
The short-course steeplechase was
mere gallop for the favorite North, VIII,
went to the post II to 10 and was the onl.
successful first choice of the day. Mutt
neer was a poor second and Wag a baC
third. Lonnie B and Warrago fell at tn
second jump, their riders escaping withou
injury.
Clacquer ran rafting race on Tuesday
but yesterday he could not have won
fixed race. Backed from 81 to 2 to b
failed to get within block of the money
Red Bird, Banjo and Sligo of the balance
received the most backing.
Middleton led nearly the whole distanc
. and well into the stretch, where Banj
came along on the outside and wo
handily by two lengths. Middleton wa
fully three lengths in front of Sligo.
MULHoLLAND.