The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-18
HORSE RACING AT MANILA.
Ponies Carried Weight for Inches and
Queer Things Happened.

MANILA, Dec. %. had a get OF races
yesterday on the new track down by the old Ca
puchin Monastery below Malate, where the Amer
leans heard their frs, bullets in the Philippines
1t was the first meeting ri the Manila Country
tub, and the Englishmen who manage the
thing gave the Americans who patronihed II
a chance TO see how such things ought to De
done, A few months ago our boys were standing
on outpost duty where now the grandstand Win
It's iron roof rings the ears Of all who are In II into
violent aching when the band begins TO play.
II Is a pretty good track. three-quarters OF a mile
long. and the horses run 10 the left instead OF To
the right. A bamboo fence surrounds 1t Just
high enough 20 make the four feet and something
Filipino boys climb the trees In order 10 look over
but a~tforiing a comfortable rest for the longer
legged Americans who object 10 paying a dob'
dollar 10 sse the ponies go, Under the grand
stand is the betting ring, where French mutuels
are sold, and perhaps by next Christmas they
will have the races figured out and begin TO pay
the winning tickets.
The first race was a peach. No other word
describes II. There were four OF five Of the little
rats that go by the name Of horses here and one
fine looking animal from Australia, which was
carefully kept in the background until all the
rest OF the brutes were on tho track. The dear
public picked the gray or the bay or the pinto,
and the few who were onto the good thing, in.
Guiding some Of the track officials, got down their
dinero on the nag from the antipodes. BY tho
time the Australian hal been cooled out the ponies
were finishing, and the winning jockey " mt into
the stand 10 se them go under the wiz.
The second race was u basket Of peaches. Four
ponies were entered. They fooled AZ the post
for a few minutes and then broke fairly well to-
ee,her. But the starter held his flag and the
men in the Judges box rang their bell. Two Of
the ponies pulled up, but the other two kept on
for a race. Around The upper turn the Judges
rang their bell again, but the two still kept at it
and so the Judges decided to call II a race. The
mutuels however, didn't like it and there was q
kick, 50 the Judges called i, no race. Then the
mutuels decided topay back their money TO hold.
.rs of tickets on the pony which iiniShed frSt,
reached the astonishing determination TO pay
each such holder 20 cents additional, So they
eaShed in for So go, and wherever the reason Tor
that will I've found is one Of the things no Teller
can find out.
In this country size means speed. Anything
that is big j. by that fact constituted a racehorsc
Consequently ponies carry weight, not for age
but for inches. \ iSinch pony carries 1870 pounds
with an additional pound for each additional
inch Sometimes the zane pony will he entered
and run in three race, on the same dey. Yes
terday the pony which won the first mile and
aquartet event afterward came out ard took
a half mile daeh from a fresh pony in hollow style
ne 'ldlWI tl'tHtS lOIA tf MY NNruS uDbNP
the start and l-ts tine ponies run past him. II
he thinks they are fairly even at the start he drops
his flag. II is q method which gives Opportunity
for queer things But opportunity i not al.
pen Just because somebody wants Ia have il SO.
In the fourth rhcca fine looking little pony came
out last and hustled oyer to n" start His Jockey
was a soldier who didn't know anything about
racing and not much about riding They broke
several times and this chGp w8S very keen, always
getting away first and going in for n run night
AUNT lIA Npnt "a fgF dnun tla fTgTE ntTh tthn
,hatit took his rider q long time To get back with
him and the race was delayed Also the pony
was a dangerous comp'utor to the ~favorile which
was owned by one OF the directors Of ths club.
who happened 10 be an official Of TIE meet After
three or four tines this Official went over 10 the
Jockey and said he he'd better take the. pony
oil the track as the glrth WINS too loose and he was
likely 10 b' thrown at The turn. The jockey pro
tested and the official told him he couldn't rde
anyway The boy took that to be a ruling off
and brought IN his pony Then they got away
all right and the officials pony won 4 man
had been holding it by the head in oil the other
breaks 50 thai. II never made u Try 10 start There
was Il howl from the men who had bet on the
pony that was ruled of, but IL did no good
However, il was n great rece meet, and the
Filipinos who can't get q llcenSe 10 have a cock
fight where they can bet on their own game to
srlt themselves walked up and lost their money
q, the other fellows game with tho nonchalance
of deed game sports"
But il was a great meet II begins TO look
like something to see a lot Of American women
In their fine Sunmer gownG turning out for the
races, one mi~ed some hdJunctS Of the familiar
tracks about New York. but II Was enough like
racing to serve for suggestion, even II the rule
was By contrast and not similarity There was
q large absence Of the dear old shout, Tear EN-
of, tear 'em Of" Instead Of a lot Of brisk sharp
boys shouting Programmes, Programme Of
The races, programmes there were a half dozen
little mites II tilipinos waddling about in turkey
red suits dong their best 10 get out the fearful
big English word, Jack was sadly lacking.
too, and there was nobody TO sell OF oven give
tips But there was the track and the fence and
over IL a lot Of Filipino boys in the tops II the
bushes, and when II was all over We we're richer
by nna mOCklng (hrlStmAs past"