The San Francisco call., 1909-01-27
SPEED MARVEL IS In
THE BURNS WITH
A FEATHER
MaIfbie Allotted 81 Pounds Be-
fore Class Is Discovered
at Santa Anita

If reports from Arcadia are to be
relied upon, the Burns handicap of 1909
may be Won by a good horse that has
been kept under cover with such sue
cess that the Handicapped has let him
IN with the proverbial feather The
horse referred to is Reid & Reif's chest
nut gelding Maltbie whose maiden
victory was achieved at Santa Anita
yesterday Maltbie is in the Burns with
an impost of only 80 pounds, and the
Handicapped may be excused for hav-
ing assigned him such a light burden
In view of the fact that up to yesterday
the horse had never shown in public
the class that senSationally fast work
IN private indicated he possessed.
Maltble Is 4 year old by Deerlng-
Gretchen b, and the number of his
starts may. be counted on the fingers
OF one hand. Until recently he was the
property of Roy Offut, and his present
owners acquired him for $4,000 at the
OHut dispersal sale held at Arcadia
the present month.
1t was an open secret among racing
sharps that Maltbie might be as good
morse as ever looked through bride
on the Pacific coast, and this accounted
for the fancy price that the horse, still
maiden, commanded at the Offut sale.
It was known to a select few that
Maltble had repeatedly worked mile
IN raster time than had ever been re-
corded in public in this country. The
race which the horse won in such SEN
sational fashion yesterday was of the
selling variety, and will entail no pen
atty so far as the Burns Is concerned.
According to the reports from Santa
Anita, Maltbie beat the clever field
against which he was pitted with an
ease that was astounding, and the Ar
cadia contingent which is coming up
from the southern track to witness
the running of the big race Saturday
Is credited with designs on clean up
Montgomery's showing in the race
won by Maltbie was so disappointing
that S. c. Hildreth is reported TO have
abandoned his intention of shipping
the winner of last years Burns north
to try again for the stake. According
to report, Hildreth may rely solely
him this season. Hildreth declared
Dandelion, Tony Faust, Fitzherbert
Peter Ounce, Nealon, Uncle Meelick
Rapid Water, Veil and Joe Madden out
he left in included Restigouche,. King
James, Montgomery and Woodcraft
This is taken to indicate that the mis-
hap which befeII Restigouche in his
last start at Arcadia may not be so
serious as represented and that Hill
dreth still entertains hopes that he
may be able to start him in the big
race.
other declarations made yesterday in
Jim Gaffney, Jack Atkin, Cello. Sewell,
Astronomer, Go Between, Listowel, Te-
maceo, Westbury, Royal Tourist, An
gelus, Logistilla, DownpatrickT and
Roman Wing. This leaves SO still
eligible to start, but additional declara--
tions which may be made up to
o'clock this afternoon will undoubt-
edly materially. reduce the list. Be
sides the II enumerated elsewhere as
probable starters, these horses still re-
main undeclared: Restigouche, Big
Chief Montgomery, Dominus Aroi,
Stanley Fay, Frank Flittner. Philander,
Smiley Corbett, Edwin Gum, Glorio,
Woodcraft, Gowan, Torbellino, MirZer.
Joe Coyne. Red Leaf, Cotytto, Nebu-
losus. Lady Alicia, Fern L, Palo Alto,
Nadzu, Black Dress, Keep Moving, John
Louis, j. c. C1em and Ell Picaro.
Should no more rain fall, the track
will not be in such poor condition for
the running Of the big race as seemed
probable yesterday. With bright sun
shine and a drying wind between now
and Saturday. the going would be good,
as the track is by no means as deep
and treacherous as it was during the
protracted spell Of rain last season.