The record-union., 1897-08-30
READY FOR THE FAIR RACES.
AGRICULTURAL PARK IN GOOD
CONDITION.
Stables OF Runners and Trotters
Are Arriving Daily-Some
Now Here.

The race meeting to be held at Agri-
cultural Park next week and the week
following, under the management of
the state Agricultural Society, will
probably be the last to be held on the
historic old track. 1t is the present
intention of the State Board of Agri-
culture to close the gates soon after
the STATE Fair, sell the property for
building lots and purchase land for
new track somewhere east of the city.
FOR TINS reason the State Board has
not made any permanent improve
mentS al the Park this year, though it
mas done considerable work in the
way CT constructing new temporary
stalls, Frightening up the old buildings
ana putting the grounds in good con-
dltlon Tor the coming State Fair. The
FENCES surrounding the race track have
been given fresh coats of soft-tinted
WhlteWash, the stands and buildings
cleansed and the years accumulation
Of rubbish removed. The track. too. is
being put in the best of condition. and
the prospect is that several of the
State records will be lowered.
Year after year the board has been
forced to increase the stall capacity at
the Park to accommodate the demands
Of racing stables and exhibitors of fine
stock, but still the supply was not equal
TO this years demands, and it has been
found necessary to construct nearly
fifty new but temporary stalls on the
west side of Twentieth street, outside
the Park, but near the F-street en-
trance. Even with this additional stall
capacity the board is going to be push
ed FOR stock accommodations.
This week will witness a great in
ffuX of racing stock both runners and
harness horses, and from now until the
fair oIens the track will be occlIpied
every hour of the day by trainers and
their equine charges. Most of the har-
ness horses have been on the interior
circuit for several weeks. This week
they will race at Woodland. but from
day to day various stables will be COM
ing here to prepare for the State Fair
meeting.
Never in the history of the State has
there been so many high-class young
sters seen in harness as have perform
ed at the recent meetings in the interi-
or, and they will be in splendid trim
for the coming meeting in this city.
The two and three-year-ol divisions.
especially contain many trotters and
PAGERS that have done better up to
TINS time OF the year than colts ever
before did in any part of the country.
Although the Montana meeting was
still gong on a week ago, some of the
stables that went from here have re-
turned, and others will be coming along
every day this week.
Tom Heating with his outfit of flyers.
including the phenomenal 3-year-old
PAGER Searchlight, came in a couple of
days ago, but went right over to Wood
Iand where his horses will race this
week. Searchlight was only beaten a
head by Chehalis in the third heat of a
pacing race at Butte, Mont, where the
latter crossed the score in 2:O7K
Searchlight wears no hobbies, and will
be in the race with Hijo del Dirblo.
2:1112 Arthur W., 2:15H, and De Bar
nardini Basler, 2:16l4, during the COM
ing fair.
John A. Wise has arrived at the
Park with string of seven trotters,
and the trotting stable of c. q. Hebert
OF Salinas got in on Saturday
The River View Stock Farms trot-
ters and PAGERS are at Woodland, and
will race there this week They were
in the money several times at Willows
in frst-class company.
The stable of Judge Tam of San
Francisco, cosisting of eight runners.
is now at the Park
Pete Mitchell is here from the Bay
with five runners, which he is working
on the track
John Mackey of the Rancho del Paso
has fine lot Of young thoroughbreds
here that will carry his colors during
the State Fair. There are fourteen in
! his bunch.
| The Spreckels runners, under the
care of Cy Mulkey, have arrived from
their Napa home and their trainer ex-
poets 20 capture some of the coin.
Charles Boots is here from San
Jose with his speedy runners that won
so many of the purses last year, togeth-
er with some new equine talent of the
Brutus quality.
Daggie Smiths Oakland stable is on
hand early with its dozen runners, as
also is A. w. Smalrs Contra Costa
! stable, and the strings of Nick Hall
and AL. Martin.
Money is easier than it has been for
four years past. and everyone is look
! ing for a good attendance at the State
Fair races. The good prices realized by
| farmers for their crops will enable
T them to come to the fair this year, a.
| pleasure which many have been deny
ing themselves and their families while
the hard times prevailed. That wave
of prosperity has swamped the croak-
ers and calamity howlers, and all 9TH
ers are enjoying the new condition of
/ things