Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-05
FARVOlTES WIN
HALF OF CARD
THREE PUBLIC CHOICES ARE
FIRST AT WIRE
Proper Romps Away with Fourth Race
and Captain Burnett, Well Backed,
Makes. Show of Field in
Fifth Event
BY Jay DAVIDSON

By JAY DAVIDSON
Although yesterday was an off day
for the ponies, because the drying track
made form uncertain, favorites swept
half the card at Santa Anita, three of
them winning easily and only one was
held a t odds on. Old Proper was quot
ed at | to at the opening, but closed
at 2 to 5 because the talent refused to
take such long chances, preferring to
play other horses for the place. OF
the long shots that won, only one of
them was overlooked by the players.
Tanama, winner of the first race,
opened at Is to l and was hammered
down to 3 to / under a steady play.
Capt. Burnett, winner of the fifth race,
was knocked down from 10 to l at
opening to to at post time. There
fore, it seems that five of the six races
yesterday went to the credit of the
public, and the fellow who left the
track shy of the capital he toted out
there needs a guardian.
There really was no feature event,
as it was Friday, the day preceding the
usual stake day, and this always has
been known as the lull before the classy
storm and the day when the platerS
get their innings. Proper won the
fourth race, which really took the place
of the usual feature event. The good
old campaigner carried liz pounds and
came from behind in the stretch to win
from Elizabeth F., the pacemaker, at
the wire. He again ran in his old-time
form and justified the short price laid
against his chances, Elizabeth broke
with the others, but shot to the front
at once and opened up a gap of about
two lengths at the first quarter, which
she held all the way to the paddock
gate, where Proper made his move, and
in a mild drive at the finish he won by
less than a length. Senator Beckham
was fifteen lengths ahead of Anona in
third hole.
The spectacle of 80 to 1 shot win
ming a race without anybody having a
bet down was presented in the third
event. Brush Up dropped out of the
clouds at the finish and won from Monte
Lucille, held at so to 1 and also unsup-
ported In the ring, gaining the verdict
by a snoot. Brush Up was so com
pletely overlooked by everybody that
the rascal hardly was known to be in
the race and nobody gave her any at
tention at all. And the fact that she
was ridden by Clark seemed to settle
her fate. She never had done anything
to cause one to bet on her in this COM
pany, and when she won nearly every
body began to look at his program
and price list to ascertain who, what
and where she was. Fleming, once
more in race entirely too short for
him, finished third.
Tanama was not overlooked in the
first race. She opened in the betting
at Is to 1, and before a cat could wink
it's eye she was backed down to to l.
Bellethorpe, made a / to 8 favorite,
wholly on suspicion that Thomas would
plunge on her chances, set stiff pace
to the stretch and then began to back
up, quitting to third, while Tanama
Won from Galinda by five lengths
Strict form players figured Alma Boy
a cinch to win the fifth race because
he packed the same weight Wednesday
and beat Merlingo at the same weight.
They overlooked the fact that Capt.
Burnett, which has been showing great
form since opening day, was in the
race, and that the route was six
tenth of a mile farther than on
Wednesday, Capt. Burnett had some
friends, however, and they swamped
the ring with money which they bet
front passing the stand, and he raced
Alma Boy and Merlingo dizzy and put
Col. White on his head with his great
speed. He heightened the gap between
himself and his field at every jump,
and went under the wire eight lengths
in the lead. MeFlingo was bet on by
Clopton and his friends, but only got
the place, while Alma Soy found the
going too heavy and the distance too
far, and he quit without a murmur,
finishing fourth and last
Goldway won the daily event that
usually goes to the credit of r. l..
Thomas when he got up in time to nip
Alteration at the wire and get the
verdict by a length. Alteration, making
her first start of the season, showed
great speed for seven furlongs. but
tired in the final strides, and Goldway,
which was finishing strong, passed her.
Dainty Belle showed.
Tom Reid had aOthiv1o much IN heat
in the last race and won with case
from Maid of Gotham and Pert, which
finished second and third, respectively.
Tom was eighth to get in motion, but
he was so much the best that he
simply galloped over his, field and went
into the stretch two lengths in front.
From that point to the wire il was a
romp, and he still had two lengths to
spare at the end. Osorine set the pace
for a half. but doubled up like jack
knife when caught.