The San Francisco call., 1899-09-24
GAL
lantly Cap
lures the In
auguralHa
leap After a
Hard Race.
Thousands Of Men
and W Wonnen, Hys-
terieal in Excite
ment, Cheer the
Victor and Its
Rider.
THR winter meeting Of the califor-

"HE winter meeting Of the Califor-
MIA Jockey Club opened yesterday
at Emeryville under conditions
which augur well for the success
of the racing season. The crowd
was large and fashionable. There could
not have been the suggestion Of improve
ment in the card of the day. Thousands
thronged to the track to share again IN
the incidents Of excitement and enthusi-
asm which mark the races. Long before
1t was tine for the horses to face the bar
Tier for the first race the crowd thronged
through the gates The sounds of music
could be heard from the grand stand The
jockeys, clad in gay costumes. loitered
about the saddling paddock. Flags were
floating from the staffs upon the build
ings. After months of idleness and silence
the racecourse had awakened to a new
season Of life and jollity, of revelry and
good fellowship.
The throng surged through the gates
and made its way up the long avenue to
the grand stand. Soon the area was
usurped by fashionably gowned women
and their escorts. There was the hum of
many voices, the confusion and babel of
words and laughter. The music gave zest
to spirits already at a tension. In the
clubhouse and on the lawn In front Of It
was another crowd. The carriageway was
bright with vehicles and women in holiday
attire.
Down in the bettiT Z ring thousands con-
gTegated. The clink and rattle Of gold
and silver told that the bookmakers were
busy and that even the first race had
called forth the spirit that rules the place.
There was in it all a contagious excite
ment. Men were hurrying to and fro, the
band was playing an enlivening march,
men and women were chattering and
laughing Then out from the saddling
paddock came the dainty animals that
FN,- t6.a ire+ yT1I.z
music was silenced. A hush came over
the grand stand. Jockeys. stable boys
and track attendants climbed to the roof
of the paddock. The crowd in the area in
front Of the grand stand moved forward
toward the track fence. Slowly the bar
rier was lowered and the nervous, ex-
cited horses were facing it.
It was a moment of intense excitement
There was for almost q minute a sup
preston Of feeling that was more elo-
quent than expression could have been.
and then like a fash the barrier raised
and with a bound the horses9 were off
AS If by a common impulse, the thou
sands of men and women in the grand
stand arose to their feet. A murmur that
burst into roar Of exclamation sound
ed. Handkerchiefs and hats were wav-
ing Women, oblivious to everything but
the colors Of their favorite, jumped upon
chairs and benches and cheered on the
horses that in the distance seemed like
marionettes.
Then around the turn and into the
homestretch the animals came. their
hoofs raising behind them a cloud Of dust.
Whips were flashing in the air and de-
scending cruelty upon the horses backs.
Spurs were digging sharply into their
tanks. The excitement of the specta-
tors grew more intense. The cheers be-
came louder Nearer the wire the ami
mails dashed, and then the winner bound
ed past the winning post In another mo-
nent comparative silence reigned. The
reaction came as quickly as had the i'm
pulse to excitement. The crowds settled
back in their seats, some with the ex-
ultation of having won. others with the
disappointment of loss; many with the
satisfaction Of having witnessed a good
race well won. 1t was a worthy begin
ming of the racing season.
But 1t was only the beginning. The