The San Francisco call., 1899-08-24
THREE HORSES
BATTLE IN A
STAKE RACE.
Splendid Contest at
ReadVille.
DARKNESS CAUSES DELAY
TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR PURSE
IN DOUBT.
Decision by the Judges Causes
Clamor With Much Argument
On Both Sides of the
Question.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR PURSE
IN DOUBT.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

READVILLE, Mass, Aug. 23.-The
Massachusetts stake of $4,000, the biggest
on the card of to-day's grand circuit
racing on the ReadVille track, by a de-
cision of the judges a dark, is unfinished.
and three horses have an equal chance
to win 1t tomorrow, having won two
heats each.
The race was without question one OF
the finest exhibitions ever seen on this
or any other track, and the judges de-
cision found favor and objection alike
from the excited throng which had poured
out upon the track in the gathering fog
and darkness. Tomboy, owned by Frank
Jones of Portsmouth; LeCco, the ia
vorite, a Boston stallion, and the stallion
Charley Herr are left to battle to a
finish, and tonight the result is in doubt.
with Tomboy the favorite.
At the end Of the second heat 1t looked
as If Mr.. Jones stable was again on the
winning side, and little later, when
Tom Marsh drove Mr.. Jones Who Is 1t
to an easy victory in the 2:20 trot, that
opinion was strengthened. Mr.. Jones has
three winners thus far in the meet.
The Gay was lowering, but the crowd
at the track was the biggest yet. The
track was quite mealy from last night s
rain, and was made very heavy later by
a drzze and fog which came in from the
sea. The dampness did the most to upset
calculations, for the heats began to be
decided in their home stretch, with the
strongest horses well at the front. Some
times the time suffered little, but SO
many finishes were whipping ones that
the average was not cut much.
The stake race brought out htteen
starters, with Bonnatela (2:l04) the
strong favorte, in the fifteenth place;
Fred Kohl (2:0724 sixth Tomboy emo
eleventh and Queen Alfred (2:12A( at the
pole In the first two heats Tomboy and
Charley Herr fought all the way from the
first qudrer to the TTe bn Each wod una
steady down so that in the stretch he
strode by the field with great ease and
got his nose to the leaders hanks, and
then all the drivers would whip their
horses.
The next time Tomboy showed tired
feeling and Herr was so strong that no
one questioned his right to lead until the
last quarter, when the faVorite, Bonna-
tella, made her hackers happy by grand
but fruitless burst of speed. Surpol also
showed up well, but Lecco's breaks kept
him back. In the fourth heat Lecco did
not break, and after racing Herr all the
way around, made an easy finish by two
lengths. The fifth heat was similar, and
the question of putting the race over
arose. With darkness coming on the
judges called out the heat winners. The
word was quickly given and Iecco and
Charley Herr began to leave Tomboy In
the rear. LeccO broke at the quarter,
half and three quarters, each time drop.
ping back many yards, but yet only half
the distance between first and third
horses. On the last quarter Lecco ran
SO much that he came up to Herr. and
the lead and went under the wire first.
Everybody waited for the announce
ment, and when it came Lecco went In
to second place for running. Excitement
accepted with fair grace.
All the other races had rafting
finishes ir every heat, although the two
in three style made quick close: In the
2:1S trot Tyson drove the favorite KING
Albert to win after a very fast first heat.
The PIP pace went to Frank Jones Who
for the geding The 2:14 pace is un-
finished Art Alco the favorite, having
been distanced in the first heat after
breaking at the start and then coming
to a standstill under the wire. Results:
The Massachusetts stakes. $4,000, 2:13
trot. (unfinisheD. won fourth and
won first and second heats; Time, 2:11,
heats. heats fine, HasS S:]25l 2;1s4 ~ c,,.a. .'
Queen Alfred. Lady Geraldine. Green
Brino, Fred Kohl. Bel Esprit, Success,
Nancy King, Chanty and Royal Baron
also started ~ o,,o, ,,,,rso s,ooo
best est two two in threewKing Albert won in
Straight heats. Time, 2:19A, 2:15. Belle
Cannon second Actuary y,Jbnnn THRU RT Rrossie L.
Baron, Edwards, Ituna, Rama and
Charley Logue also started.
! In the PIP class trotting, purse, $1,000,
best two in three-Who Is 1t won in
straight heats Time tibrd 2;1Ck 70 2l2. Mc
Cracken, Silver Plate, Van Zandt, George
Anna, Ruby, Carlyle Carney, Dorothea S,
Ed Lock, Ben H, May Fern and Robert J
! also started.
In the 2:14 class pacing, purse, $4,000
(unfinished)- won first and second
heats. Time, 2:0912, 2:10. Johnny Agan,
! Domby Jr., Colleen, Journeyman, Scape-
goat. Maximillian, Blaze Boy, Nelson,
Helen R, Handy and Art Alec also
| started.