The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
Flying Squirrel, at Top Weight
Leads Big Field All the
Way i'm Gebhard
BY J. x. Jefery

Squirrel, beaten but once in seven
starts OF his career, clinched his claim
TO the year old championship of the
coast by carrying top weight to vic
tory in the Gebhard handicap at En-
eryville yesterday. Turret. his erst-
while conqueror in the Bell stake and
the only youngster that has been able
to take Flying Squirrels measure since
he began racing, finished behind the
champion yesterday, badly beaten off,
/ Upon the occasion of the previous
meeting of the pair Turret had a big
pull in the weights and Flying SQUIRREL
encountered poor racing luck TO boot.
But for costly stumble and conse-
quent interference IN the Bell Flying
| Squirrels record probably would have
been one uninterrupted triumph 10
date.
| SUPERBLY RIDDEN
The colts feetness of foot and
Hockey Shilling's superb horsemanshfp
were all important factors in Thomas
triumph of yesterday. Shilling, who
had been reinstated just in time TO
| come north for the race succeeded in
getting Flying Squirrel of in his
| stride, and the colt had the speed to
make the most OF the advantage that
/ his riders alertness at the post gave
| him at the start. Handling his impost
4 OF 122 pounds like a good colt. Flying
! Squirrel set a sizzling pace all the way
and was never headed. although Glen
nadeane, one OF the Berry entry. was
wearing him down at the end and
came within a neck OF accomplishing
his defeat when he began TO tire
/ trifie under his exacting impost in the
closing strides OF the contest
Had the distance OF the race been
a bit longer Glennadeane probably
would have been the winner. Thanks
/ to Jockey McBride's vigilance at the
barrier, Glannadeane got OF almost as
well as the winner, and running
start to finish. never being far be-
hind the flying pace maker. None OF
! the other II starters in the race ever
! had a lookin- Waldo. which just did
succeed in outIasting Turret for third
money, was beaten off half a dozen
lengths. Although Starter Hoffman
managed to achieve a satisfactory
sendoff with surprisingly little delay
I at the barrier. the field was so un-
! wieldy that those failing to get away
in the first flight were at decided dis
advantage.
The race was the last of the impor
/ tant stake fixtures OF the local racing
(
venile event ever decided on the coast.
1t was worth s4,2SO to the winner. $500
TO the second horse and 5000 to the
third. Jockey Shilling's splendid ride
| received the recognition that it merited
| when he returned to the scales, and the
boy was not at all backward in mani
Testing his glee over the coutcome.
BEST CARD IN HISTORY
That the local racegoing public ap-
preeiates the sort Of a program that
was offered for decision yesterday was
amply attested by the presence of a
j crowd that greatly exceeded in numbers
the ordinary half holiday gathering. 1t
| is no exaggeration TO describe the card
as almost unequaled in excellence In
| the history of California racing Aside
/ from the stake feature there were two
| handicaps that brought together classy
! fields and at least one of the three
selling races that completed the card
was contested by band OF sprinters
that would be figuring In handicaps but
for the chaotic conditions from which
the turf is suffering as a consequence
| of recently enacted adverse legislation
! Fordello. winner of the race in ques-
I tion, was entered to be sold for $500.
which is in itself a sad commentary on
existing conditions. Under normal cir
cumstances Fordello would not be for
sale for many times this amount, but
! there were no bids when Judge Hopper
| offered him at auction over the insig-
nificant sum for which he was entered.
/ FordeIlo proved himself TO be as clever
dry track performer as he had shown
himself to be In the mud by beating
| BIagg, Gemrnell and other good ones
| Form was fairly well observed dur
| ing the day. Adriuche, Royal Tourist
and Flying Squirrel scoring as favor
ties. Jacobite, Westbury and Anna l.
Daley were the public choices that dis
| appointed. Jacobite and Westbury ran
in Charley Ellisons colors and both
were ridden by Jockey ScoviIle. Jacob
ite quit after showing speed and West
bury had no chance with the start in
his race. 1t was Jockey Ross day TO
shine and he succeeded In putting over
two winners.
ROYAL TOURIST GALLOPs
Royal Tourist won the Harper handi-
cap from Stanley Fay, Don Enrique and
Firestone in a manner which led some
good judges to proclaim him the best
horse that has been seen in California
He toyed with his opponents and was
at no time extended. Stanley Fay was
always the runnerup. but could make
no impression on the clever son OF San
dringham
Game and consistent Booger Red. H.
G. Bedwelrs speedy Pajarofta and Mo-
Iera & Joseph's Cloudl1ght figured in
sensational finish in the Duncan handi-
cap. passing the judges noses apart in
the order named. Pajaroita might have
won but for having been cut down dur
ing the running OF the race.
Adriuche was in a soft spot IN the
opener and won by herself Cowen and
Rubric. which fought It out in the fifth.
both showed wonderful Improvement
over their preceding essays at shorter
odds. Woolen. on which a killing was
attempted IN this race. could do no