The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-14
KING JAMES WINS
METROPOLITAN
HANDICAP
Peculiar System of Book lax.
ing Conducted at Belmont
Park Meeting

NEW YORK. May 13.-The long de-
ferred and anxiously awaited opening
of the Metropolitan racing season,
running of the classic Metropolitan
handicap, passed into turf history to-
day with the winning at Belmont Park
casion by s. c. HiIdreth's feet year
old, King James, from a field of IL
starters.
Fayette the Madden entry. finished
year old gelding, entered by c. G.
Snithson. a close third.
The attendance was considerably
simmer than on previous Metropolitan
handicap days. The entire number ag-
gregated less than 10000, but in view
of the ban placed on racetrack bet
ting last year by the Hart-Agnew law,
the falling off was not such as to
cause surprise.
The net results of the day were not
materially altered, betting of a sort
ever. was a travesty of the practice
that 1ourished during the days of the
Percy Gray law.
Under cover OF a decision of the ap-
peIlate division of the supreme court,
which permits oral betting. the layers
of odds took up their stations on the
concourse in front of the stand. and in
whispers and by mods accepted wagers
and gave odds The method was vailed
in mystery, accompanied by searching
chances and stealthy looks. II the
book maker his bet was accepted with
a muttered, you're on" No money was
passed. The bookmaker trusted the
bettor to search him out after the race
and pay him the amount Of his wager
il he lost and the bettor, on his part,
trusted the book maker to look him up
in tile same fashion and give him his
winnings IL ne won.
Several of the layers of odds settled
outside the grounds after the last race
and Others. on the trains coming back,
but most of them put. off settlement un--
til tomorrow morning at appointed
headquarters in town.
The race OF the day. the Metropolitan
handicap, was won in handy fashion
by King James, who led the field home
by six lengths.
Favorites Jared badly during the day,
only two-King James and Newmarket,
were Well played. Agent, an added
starter in the steeplechase. and backed
from fives to fours, defeated the 4 to
5 favorite, Sir Wooster, in mild drive
Results:
First race six furlongs-Lsdy Bedford. 3 to
won; Joe Madden sa'.ns ! to O. second; Miss
Second race. -four furlongs- Star Bottle. s
to l, won; Hampton Court, to 5, second;
Perry Johnson, Is TO 1. third. Time. AZ s5.
market, TO 10. won; Anavri. to 2, second;
NaughsJe Boy. Z TO 10. third Time, 80 3-5-
Fourth race, Metropolitan handicap, year
Odds and up one mile-king James, 2 to !,
third Time. 1:40.
Fifth race steeplechase. about two miles
Agent 60 /, won; Sir Wooster, 10 8,
second; Grandpa to /, third. Time, 400.
Sixth race, year olds and up, one mile and
q sixteenth-The Squire. to 2. won; Dande-
lion, 60 5, second; Cowen, to 1, third.
Time, las.
1t Is All King James
NEW YORK. May 1s.-"Gee. that
King James was a flying machine to-
day. said Guy Burns. the Hartford boy
who learned to ride racehorses under
the vigorous hand of w. c. DAILY. He
fairly blew away from the other horses
as soon as gave him his head at the
head of the stretch.
There was nothing to ii after the
start except King James As soon as
the barrier flew up l got off well and
raced with Nimbus for short time. But
Nimbus wasn't able to stand the pace
very easily. Once in front it was my
money.