The San Francisco call., 1896-10-28
The Opening Day" Handicap the
Feature of the Days
Spor(.
TAME RACING IN OAKLAND.
Two Out of Five Favorites Win.
Tommy Butler Rode Great Fin
ish on Peter the Sscond.

After three days of sport at the California
Jockey Clubs new Oakland track, that
meeting was brought to close yesterday,
and to-day IngIeside track, the home of
the progressive Pacific Coast Jockey Club,
will celebrate the opening of the fall and
winter racing season on this side OF the
hay. With its elegant new club
house, just completed, and the grounds
beautifed by landscape gardening, shade
trees and palms, the course will appear
like an apparition to those racegoers who
have not visited the track since the close
of last meeting. The clubhouse is one of
the handsomest structures TO be seen on
any racecourse in America, and during
the season will be graced by the presence
of some of San Francisco's most select So
ciety; valuable adjunct to the sport.
A. b. Spreckels. president of the club,
and Secretary W. s. Leake have been ex-
ceedingly busy the past few days attend
ing to the many minor details, and to-day
all is in readiness Tor the opening.
Noted for the clean quality of sport fur
nished the raee-golng public at its initial
meeting. the officials OF the Pacific Coast
Jockey Club intend that during the COM
ing season this same high standard of ex-
cellence shall be maintained, and jobbery
will not be tolerated. As an incentive for
honest racing the club hangs up rich
purses for each event, and the owner,
trainer or Jockey caught dealing in sharp
practices will have his turf career abruptly
terminated.
In the Judges stand the popular turf
man, Captain J. w. Rees of Memphis, will
again preside with J. W. Wilson of Sacra-
mento as associate judge. Harry .KuhI
of Chicago will act as clerk of the scales
efficient California starter, Richard
Havey, whose work with the Australian
gate gave such general satisfaction dur
ing last meeting.
Transportation facilities to the track
are abundant and thoroughly adequate to
handle the largest crowds. From the
Southern Pacific depot, Third and Town
send streets, trains will pull out at stated
intervals, landing passengers at the track
entrance. a ticket purchased for 81
carries the bearer to and from the track,
as well as admitting him to the course
The Mission-street line of troliey-cars
also runs direct to the track. Manager
Vining of the Market-street Railway sys-
tenn informed Secretary Leake yesterday
that the cars of the Mission-street line
would run to the track entrance without
transfers after u o'clock.
The racing card prepared for the open
ing day, while not a heavy one possesses
considerable quality. The special feature
is the ''Opening day" handicap. over
mile, for purse of $1,000. In it Damien, a
good performer in the East, makes his
California debut, and If in good form he
and InstalIator should furnish rare con-
fest. In the hurdle event the good
Jumper Captain Rees will try the iettle
of California timber toppers. Everything
points to a very large attendance. The
first race will be called promptly at
O'Clock.
The track, at Oakland was heavy, though
favorites started in well by taking the first
two events, and then outsiders distln-
guished themselves by capturing the re-
mainder OF the card. Reddington, at Z to
l, was the longest priced winner.
By far the prettiest contest of the day
was the seven-furlong handicap, which
dwindled down to field of four starters
Through a splendid exhibition of Jockey
ship, Tommy Butler brought the light
weighted Peter II in. winner by neck.
The betting was all in favor of Rosebud,
who, with ninety-eight pounds up, ruled a
to 5 choice, with Sir Play at 8 to 5, also
well supported.
Grady and Peter were the outsiders.
when the quartet was dispatched, showing
first until furlong from the stand. Here
Butler, coming on the inside. challenged
with Peter II, and in hard
drive got him past the wire neck before
Sir Modred FLY. The hard-ridden favorite
was third, with ner head at Sir Plays s
saddle-skirts.
Hermanita, Jack Follansbee's good