The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-16
TRACK EXPLAINS
FAST TINE MADE
IN CALIFORN|A
No Special Improvement
in Horses at Oak
land.
By ]. S. A. MACDONALD.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Dec. ls.-
Iwenty-six straight days Of racing. with
but one real heavy track IN that period,
explains the remarkable time being
made by the horses at Oakland.
For instance. trainers and handicap
pers back East cannot believe that
Rapid Water was able. on Saturday,
December 90 In the Fruitvale Handicap.
to run mile and 100 yards in 1:44 Ia.
or Just two-ffthS Of a second faster
than the worlds record. held Jointly
by ''Pittsburg Phirs" Grand Opera and
Ananlas. California colt At the Har-
lem course, Chicago. H.. Grand Opera
ran the distance in that time, while on
February Is. 1906. here at Oakland.
Ananils surprised the close students OF
racing form by showing an exactly SINH
lar performance under 10 pounds.
Fast TIack--That's All.
Rapid Water packed ia pounds and
won galloping for Marvellous" Miller
by two lengths. The son 5f Rapallo-
Water Girl could have done Il in I:s35z.
If Rapid Water can run Ike that. why.
Roseben would run half mile IN moth
ing out n ere in California" writes a
nonplussed follower OF the local winter
game from Washington, D. c. Be that
as IL may Rosebens handlers would
ind the fastest course in the country
here when it is dry and ready.
A summer OF careful treatment from
superintendent Jim" Grant. a clever
man with the harrows and scrapers,
with a long term OF clear weather,
l. A.. -
speed OF either Brighton Beach or Bel
mont Park. The horses haven't i'm
proved to any great degree. It's the
track which has taken on speed and
elasticity. Hence the handlers OF the
dope away back In the handbooks
and rooms around Cincinnati, Ohio,
Pittsburg, Pa. Hot Springs. Ark, and
Washington. d. C. shouldn't overrate
the horses because Of the wonderfully
fast time being made every day.
Western Horses.
The battle-ground handicappers used
TO do that when Belmont Parks
straightaways began 90 settle and liven
up. For a while no one could under
stand the new-found speed displayed ~
Kamesha. Roseben and oxford. Doa't
make the same mistake in sizing UP the
Oakland fields. Rapid Water is no bet
ter or no worse than when he raced at
top form about the New York courses.
OF the Western horses, Frank Nugent,
a three-year-old sprinter; Gemmel.
Johnny Lyons and Sugar Maid are
about the best. though there are quite a
number OF the Jungle" equines to be
uncovered yet. sam" Hildreth is lust
getting his winning legs. For a while
Dick Carman. the rough-toss gambler
with a New York society prestige. had
things all his own way. Scarcely a day
but he was first and second IN the big
race OF the day. with one OF the hIl-in
events as an added source OF revenue.
Now a change Is coming about. Hi
dreth has started 20 win. Before the
winter is out Tony Faust viii be beat
Ing the best in the Carman barn.
Many Good Juveniles.
Within short time the trainers will
be pointing some OF their yearlings for
the first blush Of 1908 Juvenile racing.
Even now the quarter stretch IS hearing
a lot OF talk Of prospective champions
among the yearlings which are soon to
enter the serious and earnest game Of
racing. OF last winters crop Of two
year-olds T. H. Williams drew the prize
packet in Firestone. None OF the others
amounted TO much.
This winter there are more coming
two-year-olds on the coast than ever
before From what one hears that NAV
be several F1restones. too. Sam Hi
dreth has fine band, while r. F. Car
man says he owns the best selected lot
OF yearlings in America.
Boots Durnell invested his esrly
year winnings in yearlings. He has
some beauties. according TO the clock
ers. One yearling colt, by Star Shoot
is highly priced by the young horseman.
Hildreth offered Durnel 5000 cash for
him one recent morning on the EalIops
ground but only received a knowing
laugh from Durnell In respon se.
That there is not so much in cam
paigning a stable Of thoroughbreds.
even though II be comprised Of star per-
formers. Is strikingly borne out by the
experience OF Durnell this past summer.