The San Francisco call., 1898-04-13
Small Boys on Big Horses Caused Merlin ent at
 the Post.
Newsqatherer Defeated Me Light in Fast Time at
 Oakland.
Three Favorites Again Successful Loch Ness Failed to Land tho
 Coin.

The racing at Oakland track yester- day was interspersed with novelties of various sorts, the main amusement be- ir furnisl the crowd while the field was at the post in the mile and a six teenth event. We have already had wee tots who compose operettas in th-ir sleep, legless men who never suf- fered from corns, and prima donnas without an angel" but this was an exhibition pure and simple of infant prodigies in the riding line without brains The delay at the post was a long one, and tn crowd sweltering in the heat composed all sorts of pretty ditties about the starting gate. Dur ing the exercises, Ballister. crab which should be nominated for work on White Pass, started off with J. Daly. a di- minutive piece of humanity weighing in the neighborhood of fifty pounds, and a son of Mi ," Daly. Young Mister Daly halls from the East, but came very near making the Golden West his future home, though not from any choice of his own. A the first turn, Ballister forgot to make the turn, continuing on his course straight through the outside fence. Everybody in the stand arose with an exclamation of horror Ballic CT took fence and all with him. Young Daly gracefully went over the animals head. got up, walked back to the stand while the horse was being led, and then remounted. He was cheered for his gameness if such it could be called. Sooner or later lit tie white hearse will wend it's way out to Piedmont with one of these riding wonders, and then the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children will \ ~1.1,- ed a good second fiddle, but the "swipes" felt no fear for him, as he is said to have derailed an engine and seventeen flat -ars without suffering in jury. The race for which Morinel and Plan were equal choices in the betting, was eventually won by Watomba, which downed Don Clarencio five lengths.
 First choices captured three purses. The different fields wore an uncertain aspect and no heavy betting was in- dulged in.
 The Imp. Crighton Ally, Canace, run ming in the colors of Nick Hall, took the opening four-furlong scramble for 2-year-olds. She was played down to 3-to-2 favoritism and finishing gamely led Owyhee out less than a length. Zacatosa, the second choice, was third.
 But four started in the four-and-a- half-furlong spin for 2-year-olds and but four lined up at the barrier. 1t proved a gift for Banewor, the Burns & Warehouse entry, which ruled 2-to-5 choice in the betting and won easing up from Malay.
 Charley Fink's Newsgatherer horse was a warm article yesterday, dispos- ing of McLight and Rubicon in the mile selling run, fourth on the card. Eight to 1 was laid by the books against Fink's piece of racing bric-a brac, and after he had stood Rubicon on his head the first six furlongs, drew away winning driving less than a length before the favorite, McLight, in 1:401z.
 Loch Ness. a Montana horse, was backed down to the printers name to win the five -half-furlong sprint. third on the card, but failed to land. Royal Spirit, a 7-to-1 shot, led throughout, winning easily from Roy Carruthers, a 9O-to-1 chance.
 The concluding seven-furlong run