The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-23
THURMAN BURKE
AGAIN IN LUCK
His Mare Thelma Placed
Second by the Oakland
Judges.
A Miscellaneous Lot of Horses
Started and the Picking
Was Hard.
Mystic Maze Neglected at Odds of IS
to I-Sea Spray Took the Last
Race at Odds of 80 to I.

J. Naglee Burke of San Jose is lucky,
very lucky, turfman, that is in his racing
enterprises at the Oakland track. On
Monday, when the people who backed his
mare Cadenza to get the place in the first
event ana saw the 100 to l shot Examiner
beat her out, many began tearing up
their pasleboards. A timely warning and
a second glance at the numbers hoisted
disclosed the fact that CadenZa had been
given second position. This is but the
opening chapter in this fortunate turf
mans ventures, and it is safe to predict
that if he were to hang up his stockings
on Christmas eve Santa Claus would be-
come groggy about the time he reached
Mr. Burke's house and deposit his entire
load of presents therein.
The last race on the card yesterday was
a six and q half furlong dash and Mr..
Burke started Thelma, who at one time in
the betting was as good as 20 to l, which
price a steady play caused TO be cut to 10
to l. Sea Spray, 80 to 1 chance, and
Tampa, another outsider, fought 1t out at
the finish, the former being given the de-
cision. To those spectators in close prox-
unity to the wire who have not b en- COM
PEELED to visit an optician and have their
vision examined for any astigmatical
defects, it looked as though TheIma was
not among the first three. When the
mum bers were run up, though, she was
placed third. 1t will be remem bered by
race goers that owner Burke's horse Belli-
coso was once beaten by Quirt al the old
Bay District track, but his ra bbit foot, for
he must carry one, stood him in good
need; Bellicoso got the decision.
The complaints about Oakland track
have been various and many, and despite
the liberal distribution of complimentary
tickets the management will find the at
tendance dwindling away unless the pub
lie in general is accorded more considera-
ton. 1t is the masses in general that
support a racetrack, not miliionaires.
The track yesterday was still trlfe
heavy, and slow time marked most of the
events. Favorites were twice past the
wire first, the other events going to rank
outsiders.
For the opening maiden race for two
year-olds at six furlongs Valdos and Play
Boy both opened at threes in the betting.
Valdos went TO skies, while the brother 20
Johnny McHale was played down TO 2%
to L II a drive Marcie A, the second
choice, beat Valdos neck on the wire.
Play Boy was too slow to get into his
stride.
Every one of the eight starters in the
next race, which was a continuation of
support. Athens and Dutch Valet both
closedsat 3 to l in the final betting. When
the result looked problematical at the six
tenth pole from home Spence brought
the Is to shot Mystic Maze along on the
outside and nipped the race from Jay
Wheeler by head. Defender was good
third.
Howard was a to chance for the
seven-furlong two-year-old run, and many
pounds the best, finally won by three
parts OF a length from Horatio. Gardner
handled the winner very poorly.
The Cam bridge stable Rey del Bandidos
captured the mile and quarter run, after
trailing along in last posi- ion and being
cut off coupe of times. At the finish.
starting an even-monev choice. he dis
posed of Burmah, a so to outsider, very
handily. The second choice Can't Dance
was unplaced.
The last race was over six and half
furlongs, ana Major Cook was 2 to favo-
rte. He did not finish among the first
three. Sea Spray was placed first, Thelma
second and Tampa third.
Following are the entries for to-day's
running events:
First race, five-eighths OF a mile, selling
$50 Pastime l13, Sister Beatrice 100, 266 Per-
haps 119. 246 F 10Y, 255 America 123, Aba
lamar liz, 195 Mount Roy 123, Lindendale