Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24

,
opened up big gap which seemed tc
be too great to be overcome.
Mcbride shook Bearcatcher slightly
and loosened his iron grip upon the
relns. allowing the Ferguson colt to sc
at will. 1t was all over then.
Bearcatcher began to run some, and
as he bounced down the center of the
track like rubber ball, his foreegs
moving like piston rods on a runaway
engine, it seemed as if the earth was
quaking with the force of the impact.
Rearcatcher Looms Up
Handzarra had Il good lead at this
juncture and seemed to hold the race
safe, especially as she was going at a
phenomenal clip, but Bearcatche1
loomed UP suddenly like specter, and
never has Il horse raced as he did H.
that final eighth.
So quickly did he move up that Hand.
zarra seemed to be standing still and
the big colt ran by her and won going
away, passing under the wire a length
in front.
Handzarra finished gamely and did
not give up the issue Until the race was
finished, beating Cruzados for the place
by one and one-half lengths.
Vocal and pantOmime demonstrations
vent to the pent-up enthusiasm because
of the great race and the exhibition of
the high class racers throughout the
dash.
AS the trio gallol ed back to the
judges stand applause was literally
bestowed upon each, and the greatest
race ever run west of the Mississippi
passed into history.
HorSemen agree that Bearcatcher, in
his present good form, is the greatest
horse ON the coast at any racing dis
tance and the demonstra ton given by
his running in the stretch was an eX-
hibition that stands without an equal
in the west
Handzarra came in for much praise
for her game efforts and her defeat
is not humiliating in any degree.
Cruzados found the distance too
great and the pace too hot in his old
days, but gave ample demonstration
that he Is yet one of the best in the
business.
Races of this character elevate the
sport and have an influence that bodies
for it's future. Speculation upon the
race was an incident of trivial char
acter and practically all interest was
centered in the contest without regard
TO the financial profits or losses it
brought.
Varieties Wins Stake
The jockey club furnished the best
days sport yesterday that has been
offered for the entertainment of de-
Votees of the turf in the west in the
history of the game.
While the match race was the fea-
ture event, six others on the card fur
nished good sport and all the attend
ant excitement and thrills that go
with real racing.
OF secondary interest was the Coro-
nado Beach selling stakes at one and
one-siXteenth miles, with nine start
erS.
Rubric was selected by the public
as the legitimate winner on form and
was heavily backed, but the son of
Mlrthful found the distance and the
pace slightly too much for him and
could only run second to Varieties
varieties ran his first race for his
new owners II. l.. Jones ~ Co., who
recently bought him out of a selling
race for $1,000.
Rubric set out to repeat his past
performances and set the pace for
a mile, where he began to tire and
varieties, which trailed him around
10 the stretch. moved into the lead.
From the stretch to the wire It was
battle royal, with Varieties slowly
pulling away and going under the
wire two and one-half lengths In
front.
Rubric showed his class by refusing
70 dog 1t when beaten and ran into
the place with one and one-half
lengths TO spare, Marshal Ney getting
third position in driving finish with
Massa. "''''
Memories was believed to have n
royal chance at the long end of the
purse, but ran sluggishly throughout
ana was next to last at the end.
Athlone and Hippocrates, good per-
formers in the east made their maid
en- starts at Ascot and ran Indifferent.
ly; They will be beating this class
When they round to form.
Big Ben Romps
The third race on the card brought
tosether as much class as any of fho
days attractions and held the Interest
or the throngs ON an equal basis win
the stake race, ''' Win
Big Ben was made faVorite for thi.
event and this big and popular horss
showed that he Is again back IN for,,,
by breezing from the flag TO the Wira
Don Domo, the gray streak was see-
ond choice and heavily played. RE