The San Francisco call., 1904-07-16
HARNESS HORSES
READY TO START
Many Promising Animals to
Race at the Meet Which
Soon Opens at PleasantOn

Great preparations are being made
for the opening Of the California cir
cult Of harness racing at Pleasanton on
Wednesday, July q. y new departure
IS the decision Of nearly every associa-
ticn giving a harness meeting in Cali
fornia this year 70 have no bookmaking
On the events, but to confine the specu-
lation to the old style auction and the
pari mutuel pools. It is also very likely
that an Australian totalizator will be
used at several Of the meetings-this
machine being simply a pari mutuel
box made large enough so that every
horse can be played separately.
As the date of opening the trotting
season draws near, many new horses
are being uncovered and there will
doubtless be many surprises for the
talent" which is usually given credit
for the wisdom necessary 10 pick the
winner in q majority of the events.
Walter Wilkes. a 7-year-Old gelding by
Sable Wilkes. owned by Y. J. Guinasso
Of this city. now being trained by JACK
Groom. is the latest phenom. There
are rUmOrs Of Walter Wilkes having
trotted a quarter in 30Iz seconds at San
jose last week. AS he is wholly un-
tried, hOrsemen generally viii not pin
their faith TO him until he has been
seen in at least one actual contest. It
takes fast miles instead of fast
quarters TO make a favOrite these days.
Al Mcdonald has a trOtter at Pleas
anton called Charlie T by Zombro
2;1l. that is talked of among the horse
men at that track as one Of the money
winners in the big stakes for slow
classes this season He has beat 2:15
in his work. which is a high rate of
speed for this time OF the year.
The popular club man and millionaire
Of Los Angeles, Charles A Winship
IS very likely 10 surprise the talent on
the circuit with a trotter called Abe
Miller by Titus that has been little
heard Of I'd TO this time. Titus is a
full brother 10 that great little PAGER,
Direct. posi- and his sole representa-
tive in the list Of standard performers
is the PAGER. Stipulator, that took a
record Of 2:11H last season on one of
the Eastern tracks, but in this trot-
ting son, Abe Miller, he has a repre-
sentative that VIII make him lasting
fame II no accidents occur. A record
below 2:l0 is freely predicted for him
by the southern horsemen.
Much interest is felt in harness cir
cles over the showing that will be
made by the trotter, Golden Gate. by
Bay Bird. that is entered throughout
- tho California circuit. He has trotted
a mile in 2:l315 already and many think
2.l0 VIII not stop him, but there are
others who claim they will beat him
with horses that cannot step a mile
better than 2:l5.
The Grand Circuit, which opens at
Detroit one week from Monday next.
gives every promise Of furnishing the
greatest harness racing seen in years.
and the California trotters and PAGERS
VIII get their share Of the money.
Whetherfor not Lou Dillon will reduce
her record Of 1882, made at Memphis
last year, is a question much debated
The enthusiasts say she will, but cool
headed. practical horsemen know that
The task is a tremendous one for any
horse As she is TO go without the
wind shield, and with no runner in
front, the much-disputed question as ia
the aid Of these contrivances n break
Ing records viii be settled.