The San Francisco call., 1896-11-22
HAS FERGUSON
LOST HIS GRIP !?
Left the Hot Favorite Hymn
Standing Still at the
Post.
Semper Lex Made a Great Run
and Captured the Mile
Handicap.
Charles A Was Playe6-D.J J. Tobin and
Alazan Out OF the Maiden Class.
Geyser First Again.

The feature of the days racing at Oak
land yesterday was the starting of Mr..
Ferguson. When he left the heavily
backed to 5 favorite Hymn standing still
at the post in the third race, the big
crowd in the grand stand arose en- masse
and fell on one another's necks and wept.
Great big tears of wet, cold, clammy rain
drops rolled down their furrowed cheeks,
and pangs of regret swept through their
conscience-smitten souls for the innocent
inventor of the Australian gate. The
bay gelding, whose forte is muddy
going, was backed for thousands, and
after foiling Shaw, who had the mount,
and T. Murphy on Peril, which two riders
tried to get running start, Ferguson
pressed the lever with Hymn back about
twenty yards and turned at about an
angle of forty-five degrees.
1t was grand effort, and at the ami
versary of Mr.. Ferguson's five hundredth
perfect start the California Jockey Club
should issue a souvenir in the shape of
button with Hymn standing at the post
and bonfire in the distance burning UP
the hundreds of torn pasteboards. There
Is slight doubt that Mr.. Ferguson felt
sorry for the mishap-he looked repentant;
but that is small recompense to the specu-
latlng public, for horse racing conducted
at its best Is a lottery.
The regular half holiday crowd, barring
few who do not enjoy trip on the
ocean wave, were in attendance. The
track was sticky and the sport devoid OF
any great display of enthusiasm. Six
quite pronounced favorites were sent out
and three of these found the way back to
the wire first, to the others misfortune
befell.
The mile handicap furnished the most
vivid example of what a racehorse can do
when pitted against platter with streak
OF yellow In his composition. There were
but tour starters in the event, with Semper
Lex carrying 104 pounds a to 5 favorite
In the ring. When the quartet were sent
away, Thompson, on Salisbury II with
catch OF 8S pounds in the saddle, went out
and opened up gap of fifteen lengths.
He reached the half in 503I seconds, but
tired in the stretch and was beaten out
neck in :46. Thornhill, poor ThorDhill,
was third, fifteen lengths away. He no
doubt will run better when Mr.. Purser's
curious figures get to work.
Altivo, the Baldwin entry, was made a
Is to choice for the maiden two-year-old
race, but the crowd was on and the price,
being too short, finished third. d. ]. To-
bin won handily from Tropical.
Charles A, the black horse, who receded
IN the betting couple of days back, but
was real live one yesterday and backed
down from to 16 to 5, took the second
event over six furlongs in common gal
lop with Elmer f finishing in the place.
Edgemount, the Z to 5 favorite, got mixed
up with his pedigree and never was near
the money.
With Hymn left at the post the to 5
second choice Peril experienced no diff
Guilty in placing the six-furlong sprint that
followed to his credit, winning, with some
thing to spare, from Earl Cochran.
A to favorite, Ed Corrigan's Geyser,
found some little trouble in out-tooting
Alma, who made the running in the seven
furlong race that was fifth on the card,
but at the end downed the Burns g. Water
house entry quite cleverly, stepping the
distance in 1 81. Inflammation was poor
third.
Alazan finally escaped from the maiden
class in the final race for two-year-olds at
five furlongs. The Racine youngster was
made a 6 to choice, and leading the whole