The San Francisco call., 1896-02-26
A Blunder of the Track Officials
Deprived Little Cripple of a
Race.
RED ROOT PLAYED IN LUCK
Bellicoso Set New Coast Record for
Seven Furlongs-Tim Murphy
Won in a Drive.

blunder on the part of the track man.
sgement at the Bay District yesterday cost
the race-golng public many hundreds OF
dollars. The second event on the card was
mile and sixteenth, selling affair, to be
run over the tortuous inside course, for
which Little Cripple was pronounced first
choice, backed down from to to 6 to 5.
opposed TO him were most ordinary lot,
the most likely of the starters being Unity,
Billy McCloskey and Red Root. After a
deal OF humping and iostling at the first
turn Chevaller on the favorite gradually
worked his mount to the front and on
hard drive with the 15 to l outsider,
Duchess of Milpitas, won by head. The
o11clal timer hung out :4SM. The course
being up and down hill precIuded any
such lime being made, and upon investi-
cation 1t was discovered the distance
covered was fifty-ive yards short. There
upon the judges ordered the race run over
at the conclusion of the last event on the
end, allowing all bets to stand. The ring
lad to against Little Cripple win ming
the run-off, and he failed to finish among
the. first three. Prominent in the running
to the stretch he died away to nothing.
And as hitting finale to a comedy of
errors, 1t is dollars to crabapples the
Judges made an error in. placing the first
horse. Duchess of Milpitas to all appe ar
ance won by good half length, but Red
Root, who was we'll backed to win the run
on on his good showing in the previous
run, was given the race. The whole affair
caused much adverse comment, and as the
mistake was wholly on the part of the track
oTnclals decision declaring all bets off
would have been a much fairer one for the
public.
Originally very good racing card. it was
badly chopped to supply a deficiency
caused by the fifth event being declared
on, and the sport was not above medioc-
rlty. Thousands of dollars were tied up in
the hands of the peneiIers by the decision
OF the judges in the Little Cripple race,
and the betting during the balance of the
afternoon was dull and listless. Favorites
captured three races.
a Slx-furlong run ushered in the day S
racing, and was taken by the , to 1 favor
lite, Tim Murphy, in drive from Boreas.
Ollie Johnson's chestnut horse Red Will
was backed down from to 5 to 4 to and
won the third race, also six-furlong spin,
hands down. II. Martin, who rode Road
runner, grew careless nearing the wire
and was nipped out for the place by Gold
Bug.
But three started in the seven -furlong
handicap. Rey del Ban6idos was made a
to 10 favorite, but found the pace too hot
1or him. BelIlcoso led the entire way,
winning in drive from Sam Leake, and
hung up new coast record for the dis
tance-1:26.
The fifth race, run over the short six
furlOng course, resulted in a very handy
win for the 3 10 fayorite, Major Cook,
with Babe Murphy finishing in the place.
Levena c was third.
Sixteen cheap platers of the dog"
variety went to the post in the last race,
with Pecksniff an 10 choice in the ring.
In drive ne was downed rather handily
by the to outsider, Repeater.