The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
Best Meeting Yet Held
at The Meadows
Summer Racing Season a Sue
cess i'm All Save ReVersals
of Form
By j. K. Jefery


SEATTLE, Sept i2-The 73 days
summer meeting of the King county
fair association, which came to a close
at The Meadows today, was by all odds
the most successful in the history of
racing hereabouts. Only from the
standpoint of form was it disappoint-
ing. When the meeting opened the ex-
pectation prevailed that in view of the
talr class of horses engaged form
would be closely observed This ex-
pectation was not realized. The per-
centage of winning favorites has been
extremely low and form followers have
had disastrous experiences. Exasper-
atlng reversals have been frequent, de-
spite the vigilant efforts of the officials,
and many of them have been of an un-
accountable character.
In the endeavor to keep the sport
clean the judges suspended greater
number of jockeys than had probably
ever before been disciplined in that
manner at a meeting of equal duration.
Most of them are still on the ground,
and likely to- remain there for some
time.
Some of the book makers that op-
Grated throughout the meeting won
fairly well, few of them lost to any
considerable extent, but none of them
rolled up the enormous profits that
might have been looked for in view of
the failure of the horses to run to
form. Roy Offutt figures as the big
early in the meeting with a balance of
$4,000 on the wrong side of the sheet
and mas tailed to recoup any material
part of his losses in his operations
from the ground Hugh Jones, George
Lendon, w. G. Yanke and John Lewis
are among the principal winners. Jones
won about $4,000 booking and $4,000
betting, while the others named are
about $4,000 winner each.
RACING NEXT SEASON
That there will be racing here again
next season is the belief of those well
Versed in local politics. Early in the
season there was considerable agita-
tion against the sport, but apparently
it has died out, and those in close
touch with the situation entertain the
idea that there will be no anti-racing g
coming winter. The fact that the
whole state is Interested in the sue
cess of the Alaska Yukon- Pacific eX-
position next summer will undoubtedly
legislation that may be attempted, sit
being understood that the promoters
of the exposition are inclined to the
opinion that racing will help to at
tract visitors.
OF the lightweight jockeys developed
during the meeting Page. Russell, Co
burn and King are the likeliest to keep
on making good. Wilson is fair pros
pect, but hardly as good as the others.
Sluggishness at the barrier is his chief
delinquency. Russell. who is under
contract to William Caine, IS not only
alert at the post but has a very nice
seat and hands. and is right good
hnisher for such little chap. He can
ride at 80 pounds and to his proficiency
cial success which his employer has
had during the meeting. Caine ap-
pears to have faculty for making
riders. Benny McClain, the sensation
of last season here, having been de-
veloped by him. Russell will ride dur
ing the winter at Oakland.
PAGE A COOL YOUNGSTER
Page, who is under contract to Early
Wright will go to Santa Anita with
his employer for the winter He weighs
about 80 pounds and is a cool. calcu-
lating rider and a powerful finisher,
but inclined to be a bit slow in getting
away from the post: He appears to be
tance.
Coburn and King have come into the
limelight only recently The former is
rider in bis day. He is under contract
to V. H Terry, trainer for Steele &,
Riley, and gives, promise of becoming
very useful rider. He does about 80
pounds and handles horse we'll for a
boy of his limited experience
King is the latest boy to show prom
ising form. He is the pretege of ].
has been making the most of his limit
ed opportunities and, with Coburn, un-
doubtedly Will give good account of
+.
Irving II. Wheatcroft, the English
capitalist whose horses have raced here
with signal success under the sobriquet
of the ST James stable, in charge of
Trainer Lou Marion, is planning to es-
tablish himself as a breeder on an am
bilious scale at his extensive country
estate on st. James island near Vic
toria, b. G. Wheatcroft already has
the nucleus for his breeding establish
ment and will import several well bred
stations from England. He is in the
market for several thoroughbreds of
good class to reinforce his racing
string, which will be campaigned. at
Santa Anita park the coming winter.
In making purchases of racing stock
Wheatcroft will confine himself to
mares and stations, so that when their
usefulness on the track is over they
may be available for stud purposes
Pearl Wilkerson has announced his
retirement from racing and will en-
gage in the wholesale grocery business
here.
William Walker and w. E. Cotton
are planning to remain here with
their horses until about October /.
when the former will ship to Santa
Anita and the latter to Emeryville
w. p. Fines good colt Glorio has
been on the shelf with a splint. He Is
going along again, however, and Fine
will point him for the Opening handi-
cap at Oakland.