The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-23

many respects one of the most important
series of harness-horse events which this
City has ever seen.
This is the first trotting meet which has
been held in this City for two years and
the lovers of sulky racing are looking for
ward to it with keenest anticipation. The
fine new track and the large number of
notable entries, which have been hereto
fore published, promise most exceptional
sport.
The association conducting this meet is
the largest organization OF It's kind in
America and probably in the world. 1t
comprises the owners of all the leading
stock farms on the coast, as well as the
proprieto rs of smaller stables and individ-
ual harness horses. 1t has been organized
since 1889 and its first meet, held at the
now defunct Bay District track, was a
remarkable racing season. 1t was at this
event that Sunol, the pride of Senator
Stanford's farm, put the worlds mark for
a mile a. 2:0813 and Regal Wilkes made
his first bow to horse-lovers as a record
breaker by capturing the worlds record
for two-year-old stations.
Since that time the association has given
meets at Napa, Sacramento, San Jose, Los
Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco and
each meet has been decided success.
An argument sometimes used against
the attractiveness of harness races by
those who are partial to the gallopers is
that the continued scoring necessarily
makes the events tedious for spectators.
That tedious scoring is not a necessary
feature OF this class OF racing was abund-
antly proven at Los Angeles last year,
when w. P. McNair, the famous starter,
sent the horses away with an average of
less than two scores for the entire six days.
This was Justly deemed something re-
L l.,
conceded that few If any other starters
could do as we'll. In order that the asso-
cations patrons may have a minimum
amount of the scoring nuisance McNair
has been secured for this occasion. Mr..
McNaiT is a resident of Wichita. Kans., but
he is almost constantly employed in the
East travelling from one great race meet to
another. His last engagement was in
Denver, from which place he is expected
to arrive in this City in day or two.
There are at present about 200 horses in
training at the track. Among them are
the favorites of the track patrons of the
entire coast. The association has just
conn leted making up the programme of
events, and 1t viii be seen an attractive
series has been arranged for the opening
day. For the 2:30 class trot purse of
$1,000 has been hung up. While the 2:30
class is considered a class for green horses,
from some of the entries fast time may be
expected, ana others are very apt 10 sur
prise even the knowing ones.
A purse of $1,000 has also been hung up
for the 2:15 trot, and this will perhaps be
the star event of the day. Such horses as
Sam B, Native State, Bruno, Toggles,
Maria P, Cfico and Jasper Ayers have
been entered, and a good contest must
necessarily result.
For the 2:25 pace the purse is not so
large, but the offer of $3.50 has been suffi-
Gent inducement to call forth seven first
class sidewheelers, and this race is conf
IDENTIFY expected to be one of the great
PAGES of the meet.
A glance at the programme will show
that the events have been selected in
a manner to insure an interesting time
each day. A number of places have been
reserved for special races, which will be
closed during the meeting. These will be
made up so as to give races to all the
best horses at the track. The Gentlemen's
Driving Club of Alameda is to have race,
in which owners are to drive, and the San
Francisco Driving Club will be similarly
favored.
1t is expected long-distance race of
three miles for trotters and PAGERS will be
giving during the meeting, In addition to
the regular events on the programme.
The association was never IN better con-
dition to conduct successful meet. Its
officers. headed by E. 2. Head, proprietor
of the Napa stock farm, are all energetic,
enthusiastic and experienced. The direc-
tors comprise some OF the best known