The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
TURF
CLASSIC CARDED
NEXT WEEK
Burns Handicap Field VIII In.
cIude Best Horses Ever
Entered in Race

The Burns handicap, richest fixture
Of the California racing season, is
down for decision at the Emeryville
track the coming Saturday. II will be
the sixteenth renewal Of this blue RIB
bon event Of the western turf. The
Burns will this year be worth consid-
erably more TO the winner than ever
before, for the reason that instead of
being Of the guaranteed value of So
600, as for II years past, 1t is this
season stake Of the $4,000 added
variety. First money under the guar
anteed conditions has amounted to
$3.50. Under this seasons conditions
the winner will pull down an amount
in excess of $4,000.
Unquestionably. the class of the field
which will go to the post next Satpr-
day to strive for the fame and glory
which attends the winning OF the
Burns will be incomparabiy higher
than ever before In the history OF this
famous race. This is assured by the
caliber of the horses in training in CAL
ifornia this season. Never before have
so many aristocrats of the turf raced
that the list OF 100 eligibles for the
Burns represents quality rather than
quantity The natural inference is that
1.-THE Burns winner of 1903 will compare
favorably with any of the good horses
whose names are already enrolled in its
list OF winners.
The Burns has generally, although
not always, been won by horses of
class, sImperious Eonic and Modicum
being among the exceptions. Treach-
erous track conditions and Oyerhandi-
Gaping of the class horses permitted
horses of the 1mperious and EOnic
type 70 win. Unless there should be a
decided and prolonged Improvement in
climatic conditions the prospects are
that the race will be run over the same
sort of a track that has so frequently
prevailed on Burns day in the past
Occasions have been rare when the
Burns has been decided over fast
track
Among the hundred eligibIes for the
Burns this year are such famous per-
formers as Pinkola. Smiley Corbett
Jack Nunnally, Royal Tourist, Arasee
Dorante. Montgomery, King James
Dandelion, Fitzherbert, Restigouche
Angelus. Nealon, Uncle, Meelick, Wood
craft. Rapid Water, Old Timer, Ferr
Dominus Arvi, Light Wool. Stanley Fay
Firestone and Big Chief. Some OF
these horses are temporarily out OF
training, but the major portion will be
/ 1T and ready to run should their own
ers elect TO bid for the big purse. Han
dicapper Williamson will announce the
weights Monday and by Wednesday
when declarations are due, 1t will be
! possible TO obtain a good line on the
/ probable starters.
Wheel Of Fortune, Fleur de Lis and
Eonic are the only mares that have
been able to win the Burns and LissaA
/ is the only young horse in the list OF
its winners. The most exciting finish
in the history of the stake was in 1897
when Ruinart. The Roman and Saliva
ton reached the wire In a, bunch. Marty
Bergen's superb horsemanship enabled
Ruinart to win in the last stride. The
/ largest field that ever contested the
Burns was in 1904. when Modicum lee
a field of 16 from start to finish.
The victories of Lissak. Hawthorne
and Wheel of Fortune were achieved al
the old Bay District track. Ruinari
I he a. mo
vile and other winners at the same
1 track included Satsuma, Fleur de Lis
Imperious. The Fretter. Eonic, w r
Condor. DIR. Leggo. Kercheyal anc
/ Montgomery. Horton and Modicum, IN
! 1903 and 1904. won the two Burns han
dicaps run at Ingleside.