The sun., 1907-08-21
SARATOGA RACETRACK GOSSIP
HOLIDAY CROWD FINDS IT HARD
TO PICK WINNERS.
Townfolk Take Day On 20 See Merchants
and citizens Handicap Novice jock.
eys Make Good showing ~. u. keene's
Peter ounce Works We'll I'm Public.

SARATOGA. n. Y. Aug. TO- Saratoga g
native SONS and their friends and neighborr
from the surrounding towns held the centre
~ the stage at the track to-day. The event
Of the programme was the Merchants and
Citizens Handicap. one OF the famous old
fixtures that WAS framed somewhere back
in the early '7Os. In the good old days the
added money to the race WAS purse con-
tributed by those benefited by the race
meeting among the natives. but when con-
troll of the track passed into the hands OF
the late William G. Whitney he decided not
to accept the gift from the townspeople
but to cont inue the stake under its old name
and conditions. The residents have shown
their appreciation Of this by making the day
the race is run their holiday. and this afternoon
in best bin and tucker they were out in thou
sands. and the racing furnished seemed to nh
all requirements The fields were all of
generous proportions and well balanced.
bringing hard fought finishes in the majority
OF the races run.
As for financial results things could not
have been as satisfactory. for surprises fol-
lowed one another mt a rate that made the
calculations of those that figure form look
like guesses Of the widest variety. IL can be
said, however. that those who did win won
handsomely for ~ TO was quoted gainst
three OF the winners
The winner of the Merchants and Citi-
yens Handicap was Running Water. and
even her victory brought profits for the long
shot players The last time she was out was
in the Delaware Handicap, and with only
one pound more IN than she had to-day
she was beaten on. and by some Of the horses
she was meeting to-day. On this shown q
her owners could not think she had a chance.
and IL is said she ran unbacked with stable
money. Miller rode her in perfect style.
showing what he can do when the nclna-
ton strikes him. u was clearly his horse
manship that landed her home in front for
equally wei ridden both Dandelion and
Csirngorn would have beaten her
In the second rDcr, which called for riders
that had never ridden n winner, a fair
lot OF apprentices we're out. Fancy Bird 4.
ridden by O'Connor. won by head
from McCahey on D'Arkle. who nosed out
Sir Toddington. piloted by +. Kelly. A
the three little fellows were fighting IL out
nose and nose an enthusiast on the grand
stand let loose with yell that could be heard
all over the grounds. He said Take look
AT that Irish brigade, OConnor. McCahey
and Kelly. and then tell where you get your
riders from" The little fellows were heartily
applaudpd ~ they rode back to the Judges
stand. and they deserved IT, II is not oft en-
in these races for novices that as clever an
exhibition is furnished
Peter Ounce, the colt by Commando
Fair Vision. who with Colin will represent
james r. keene in the Futurity. was out
between races this afternoon and covered
ak furlongs in l.i5'.. He WIS not hurried
at any stage of the trial and all who watched
him we're favorably impressed The prepara-
lion of this colt has been so careful that none
now question his being a colt out Of the ordi-
nary. Trainer Rove has personally super
vised every move he has made and the great
interest he has shown bcspeaks his expeCta-
tions. In a couple of DAYS will come the
Anal question that IL. he will be asked for the
nrst time to show ili-' how fast he can run.
II he shows what is expected Of him it will
mean proof positive that he * a worthy
stablemate for he great coli Coin.
A track record was eQualled to-day, Ben
Ban running six furlonEs in iil -, and
Running Water made new mark for a mile
and three-siNteenths. oyerlng the distance
In I:Ss rs. which is 3-5 of a second better
than the old mark of 50 made by Francesca
in 1902.