The herald., 1897-10-04

been given hard campaign, and should
therefore outlast many of the younger
horses who have been given more races
in one season than Silkwood has in four,
or even five, seasons Williams, who is
preparing "the black wonder this year.
is an old-time trainer from Kentucky
and his methods are entirely different
from those of Mr.. Willetts. Williams
intends that Silkwood's last quarter
shall be his fastest in every heat, and
not his first. He certinly has SilkWood
looking better than at any time before.
This appears to be the unanimous opin-
ion of all who have seen the black morse
this season, and thousands of admirers
in Southern California will have cause
to rejoice if he beats the formidable
field to which he is opposed.
Searchlight is one Of the phenomenal
PAGERS of the present year, and is re-
garded by some judges as possible
rival to Star Pointer and Joe Patchen.
He is one Of the grandest S-year- -olds
ever hitched to sullSy. His mile against
Chehalis at Butte was certainly equiVa-
lent to 2:06 over the Los Angeles track,
and there are those who believe that
given a good day and track, Searchlight
could this year secure mark OF 2:O5.
A 3-year- old is at a decided disadvant-
age in competing against all-aged
horses, but it must be remembered that
the son of Darknight is wonderful
PAGER and can always be relied on to
go a fast last quarter. He Is to the
pacing world what klamath Is to the
trotting world.
That Joe Whe eler is an extraordinarily
fast horse was conclusively demonstrat-
ed at Oakland on Saturday. He paced
heats respectively in 2:07h and 2:0S1s,
which is a record breaking perform
ance for four-year- old. Joe Wheeler is
owned at Fresno, and large delegation
of horsemen from that city are expected
here the day he hooks UP with Search
light, Our boy and Silkwood. Silkwood
holds the race record of California with
a mark of 2:O7. Joe Wheeler has a rec
ord of 2:071s while Searchlight was
beaten a length in 2:07A. This will give
the uninitated a capital idea Of the
relative speed of the PAGER. The Los An
geles association has played in rare for
tune in securing these fast sidewheelers
and. Judging by the attendance in past
wears there should be fifteen thousand
people present at Agricultural park next
Saturday week. The race will doubt
less be the best harness event Of the
meeting.
The citrus Belt handicap is to be run
off on the opening day. There are over
twenty entries, but there will hardly
be more than ten starters no matter how
judiciously the weights are adjusted. 1t
would certainly result in much truer
run race with seven or eight starters, as
there would be so much less chance for
interference, and the public like to see
the best horse win. There Is consider
able anxiety among horsemen as to
which horse will be assigned top weight.
The general opinion is that it will be
either 'Ostler Joe, Crescendo or Argen-
tine. 'Ostler, Joe has been displaying the
best recent form, but Crescendo was a
great year-old, finishing second to
Requital in the Futurity. Still his two
last races at Oakland this spring were
bitter disappointments. The son of
Flamb,au was clearly off, however, but
Is now said to have rounded into his old
form. Argentina Is Santa Anita bred
mare, and enjoys the distinction Of hav-