The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17
FAvORITES SHOWED IN,
Of Eight First Choices One ONLY
Reached the Wire in
Front.
DURA RAN A SMART RACE
Ricardo Fooled the Talent - Uncle
Giles Downed Little Cripple
Very Handily.

Bookmaker George Roses brown colt
Ruinart, who captured the last race on the
card at the Bay District yesterday. start
ing an odds on choice, saved the favorites
from absolute defeat In all of the other
seven events run the first choices failed
and the membe of the pencilers' brigade
laying odds in the ring went home very
fat in purse and pocket. Many of the
winners We're quoted at odds termed
juicy in turf circles, but none were backed
very extensively. The crowd was the
largest of the week and the more enthusi-
astic would call the betting fierce.
The weather was delightful for racing
purposes, but the track was hardly keyed
up to concert pitch, being a triae slower
than on former occasions, when polished
up for record-breaking purposes.
Undoubtedly the best performance OF the
day was that of Dura, a speedy chestnut
daughter of Racine from the imported
mare Berna. Picking up 110 pounds she
started 215 to l second choice for the FIVE
furlong dash for two-year-olds, and in
drive beat The Roman out head in the
fast time of LODI. Howard S, who was
backed down from fours to to favorit-
ism, ran well until Strengthened away in
the stretch, when he stopped as though
struck with brick, finishing outside OF the
money.
There was some great switching about
done during the betting on the mile handi-
cap with field of five starters. With top
weight up, 1l6 pounds, the books chalked
Beliicoso up q TO choice, but he went
begging and to 1 was obtainable
as he went TO the post. The
big plunge was made on Yankee
Doodle, who was sent out 9 to choice
hao lra1 ar Tha l., ,rI
choice, St. Lee. was destined to be the sur
prise. With Flashlight at his head, Belli-
coso cut out the running to the stretch.
Gradually Yankee Doodle slipped to the
front and appeared to have the game won,
but in the final sixteenth was easily out
footed by st. Lee, who beat him out two
lengths in l: 40.
Old Joe Cotton held sway in the betting
on the opening five and half furlong
spin, with ten facing the flag, but ex-
hibited a lamentable lack of speed, never
getting near the front. Martin Bergen
astride the 10 to l shot, O'Fleeta, brought
his mount up nearing the end and won
easily from Johnny Capron, another out
slider.
The race that followed was over the same
distance, with another field of ten facing
the issue. The closing odds showed Ore
gon Eclipse at 8, a slight choice over Sill
yer State. Overlooked at 6 to /, Ricardo
passed Silver State and Red Bird the last
furlong, passing the wire a handy winner,
with Silver State in the place and the IA
vorite third.
A mile and a sixteenth run that was
fourth on the programme proved a rare
betting proposition, all of the starters re-
ceiying more or less support. When the
horses were called out 8 to 1 was laid
against both Little Cripple and Warrago,
with Strathtiower next in demand. As
the stretch was reached, at which point
| Warrago, Tar and Tartar and San Luis
Rey were heading the van, the result was
still in doubt.
Weber, on Little Cripple, made short
turn into the stretch and was soon in
front, but hardly had he made his frs
point when Uncle Giles made fine squirt.
and passing Cripple easily, beat him out
at the wire by two lengths in :491%. The
winner went TO the post at odds of 9 to /.
Phil Siebenthaler's Sea Spray was heav-
lily played to win the six-furlong run that
followed, but slovenly ridden by Snider,
was beaten out three parts of length by
White & Clarke's Com mission, the 3h to
I second choice in the ring.
Another mile and sixteenth run fol-
lowed this sprinting affair. Once more
was Rebellion made favorite, being sent
into the starters hands q to l choice,
with Long Lady and 1nstigator the next
most fancied. When the barrier was
raised Tommy Butler on the to l chance,
Belle Boyd, went out in the lead and made
runaway race of it, winning ridden out a
length before Instigator, wno had been
running in second position. The favorite
was third, but head further away.
The last event of the day, five and q
half furlong sprint was cakewalk for the
l to 2 favorite Ruinart, who got away last
of his field and won in a common canter.
The so to l chance Nell Flaherty lasted
long enough to beat Tim Murphy head
for the place.
TRACK AND PADDOCK ITEMS.