Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-14
THOUSANDS SEE
BEST HORSE WIN
KING JAMES TAKES RICH STAKE
BY HALF LENGTH
BEATS MALTBIE IN FINAL JUMPS
IN CALIFORNIA HANDICAP
Clean Sport and Exciting Finishes
Witnessed by Probably the Largest
Crowd in History of Santa
Anita Park Racing
BY JAY DAVIDSON

! racing association in entertaining prob
ably the largest crowd of the season
yesterday at Santa Anita, the Califor-
MIA handicap furnishing the premier
attraction and resulting in the great
est race of the season from any view
| point. King James, the great long
distance runner that Sam Hildreth
bought last fall for a fancy price, when
racing was on it's deathbed in New
York, won the event and the $4,000 that
went to the first horse, but he had the
| toughest winning experience of his ca
reer, gaining the verdict by less than
half a length and only in the final
Jumps.
Maltbie, the sensational horse that
had worked so fast as a maiden that
he was looked upon as a world beater,
was second, and seemed a certain Win
ner until within ten yards of the wire.
He had his snout in front all the
time until reaching that stage of the
race, when he was bumped by King
James and knocked off his stride, and
probably lost the race as a conSe-
quence. All through the stretch it was
three-horse race, with Maltbie first
and King James and Miss Sain on
either side and only a few inches be-
hind.
Maltbie was unfortunate in being
between this fast pair and Page was
unable to draw his whip and use it ef
fectively because the trio was so close
ly punched that to whip his mount
was impossible 6or Page. King James
swayed as the trio reached the jockey
board and bumped into Maltbie and
then the Ref candidate lost his lead
and could not regain it. Despite his
high weight, 129 pounds, King James
ran a remarkable race, even for him,
at the distance. He was away poorly
and had to work his way slowly
through his field from the outside. Miss
Sain broke in front and was joined i'm
mediately by Maltbie. This pair drew
away from the field and ran heads on
all the way to the stretch, King James
coming from away back to join them at
the turn for home. Then it was a hard
drive down the StraightaWay to the
wire, and a grander and classier Strug-
gle between thoroughbreds seldom has
been witnessed by any crowd of race
goers.
Every horse in the race was going
at his best clip and doing his best to
get up to the front. Jockeys used their
best generalship in fiddling through
the field and they whipped and rode
as they seldom have been seen to ride
at local race meeting. King James,
Maltbie and Miss Sain stuck together
all the way through the stretch and
IHS IuOuSdl1uS III Tie SldHu ana OH Ilo
front promenade cheered and yelled
enthusiastically as the trio thundered
down through the last eighth on almost
even terms. King James was giving
Maltbie 29 pounds of actual weight,
and the pace had been so terrific that
h. was a bit weary, but his class, his
game heart, made him run to his best
notch, and outgame, it may be said,
the less experienced racer, Maltbie, de-
cT0ifn fho hI1V1niy1O in tho
1t is seldom that a race crowd has
cheered as it cheered King James aft
erward, proving that the humping at
the finish had not caused it to change
in its admiration and approval of class
in giving way the big chunk Of weight
and carrying it to victory.
Undoubtedly the best horse won, and
the bookmakers suffered greatly be-
cause the general public could see
nothing else Lut the Hildreth entry in
the race and had played the entry at
what was regarded as juicy odds. Some
of the sharpshooterS and an occa-
sional pil1er Wagered against the entry,
but the bulk Of public money was sent
in to back the Hildreth entry, as the
thunderous applause after the race was
run fully attested. 1t was a popular
victory, and while it is regretted that
the race should be marred by the
humping match at the finish, the fact
that the best horse won, form was JUS
titled and the general public that bet
on the race had won in almost unani..
nous numbers still makes the official
finish most satisfactory, and it is re-
garded as a true verdict.
Another popular victory was that
of DR.. Holzberg, one of the most prom
fnent candidates for the coast derby
races this season, when he won rath-
er easily from Star Thistle, Maid of
Gotham and other good 3-year-olds at
mile. DR.. HolZberg proved his good
class by racing Cotytto into submis-
sion and then going on about his bus
mess to gallop through the last eighth
for a victory by nearly three lengths.
He was only galloping at the finish
and Star Thistle, which closed with
great rush, never worried him a bit
Maid of Gotham put up a great finish
too, but was not good enough to beat
Star Thistle for the place. Cotytto
made the pace for six furlongs, with
DR.. HolZberg in second place and fore
ing the pace. Then she began to tire
and soon had enough to retire. The
route was too extended.
Columbia Maid sprung mild sur
prise by beating Snow Ball and Deck
law in the opener. while Mary r. could
not pack the high weight assigned her
and furnished much contention. Maid
led all the way and finished resolutely
holding Snow Ball safe all through the
stretch
Sir Ashton, another speed marvel
from the Thomas barns, justified all
expectations by defeating Donau in
one of the prettiest and most exciting
finishes of the day. Donau has been
regarded as a bear in any Juvenile
company this season, but Sir Ashton
had been working so fast that he was
made favorite Powers and Schilling
had the mounts, and the pair was by
far the class of the race. Schilling got
his mount away in front, with Donau
second, and they ran in this order all
the way, leaving their field nearly a
dozen lengths behind, while they
fought it out to nose finish at the
wire killium showed
Fleming, which has shown remark
able consistency all season. came right
back and beat classy field of sprint
ers in the sixth race, just as his owner
and the talent had figured him to do
ThisA was the Iona Alta handicap at
six furlongs, worth $500. Williams had
the mount. while Burns rode Mark An
tony H. coupled with Fleming as the
Carnan entry. Q. w. Burt broke in
front and looked like the winner
when the field turned for home. but
Fleming, which got away last, showed
all his old-time speed and soon was
closeNenough to give contention. At
the stretch turn he was fourth, less
than two lengths back In the
stretch run he showed the most speed
and got up in time to win by nearly a
length from Halket. while c. w. Burt
tired fast and dropped into the three
hole.
SadIer won the fifth race from a
cheap bunch, after being played for
the third successive time by his stable