The San Francisco call., 1898-05-18
DIDN'T FANCY
 SUCH RIDING Thorpe Was Kissed for His Handling of
 Humidity.
Despite the Heavy Going Five Choices Hit the Wire
 First.
Piooott Astride Mercutio Furnished a Fine Finish-Thorpe Riding In
 His OId-Tinae Form.

There was one race decided at Oak land yesterday that caused howl of dissatisfaction, and a number of peo- ole gave vent to their disapproval Of Thorpe's tortuous riding by hissing the popular rider of the Burns & Wat erhouse stable. It all occurred over the result of the third race, four-and- a-half- -furlong scramble for two-year- olds. in which Thorpe had the mount on Humidity, equal favorite in the bet ting with Sam Hildreths fast lilly Toluca When sent away from the post Thorpe hustled his mount away in the lead, and upon reaching the stretch apparently wanted all of it to himself Near the furlong pole, as Clawson, on the outside, began riding Toluca hard. it dawned on Thorpe that he would take the extreme outside, too, and Clawson was obliged to pull up and go around Humidity won by over two lengths and the packers Of Hildreth's lilly were willing to take oath that Thorpe intentionally fouled her A crowd collected around the stand and Clawson entered a claim of foul The judges wouldn't stand for it, however, and the whole thing soon be- came a matter of ordinary turf his tory.
 The mud having dried out somewhat was of the binding sort, and horses not possessed of speed enough to pick out the dry spots soon found themselves anchored In the art of navigation, Thorpe proved a past master, for he got to the wire first on three separate occasions. each time astride fayorite. It was a day for first choices from the start, for Los Prietos was the only one to meet with disaster.
 1 fn oh in hn ing two-year- dash, disposed of his company like breaking sticks. La Parasseuse headed him into the stretch, where he took the lead and won without effort.
 Nolan & Tholl's Rebel Jack was pounded down from twos to even money favoritism to win the six fur long sprint that followed, and after getting away none too well Clawson managed to work his way to the front and driving hard at the end beat Master Mariner a head on the wire. Soscol, weakly ridden by Mcdonald, was fair third.
 For the mile and an eighth purse run Mercutio with Piggott up opened favorite, but his Well-known unruly antics at the post caused his price to recede in the ring. and Los Prietos with his light impost up was played down from threes to s to favoritism. The latter appeared utterly at sea in the going and never was a dangerous factor. Lii Hung Chang and Cromwell looked to have the race between them until the stretch was reached, where Piggott went to work on Mercutio, and by superb riding got to the front the last few yards, getting the decision by a head from Cromwell.
 The going suited the uncertain under pinning of old Red Glenn. and going to the post a to 5 choice for the seven furlong run Mcdonald landed him a handy winner at the wire from For tuna. Fl Moro, which opened up favorite. finished in the show.
 The last race of the day, a six fur long sprint, went to the II to choice Lucky Star. ridden by Thorpe. The brown gelding took the front position in the stretch and led Sport Me Allister out by three lengths
 TRACK NOTES.