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EASTERN TRACK TALK. Concerning the minor features of the racing at Gravesend Tuesday, the New York Sun of Wednesday says: "The betting at Gravesend yesterday was again rather light. John A. Drake had a fair-sized commission on Conundrum for a place in the Bayshore Stakes. In the last race there were more good things than in all of the other events put together. Richard Kane, Jr., the former telegraph operator, stood to win big money on his colt Examiner.. The Western contingent backed Sheriff Bell from 8 to 1 fives and came within a head of cashing. Claude, the winner, was well backed by his owner, Louis Thompson. Lord Turco, ownod by W. C. 8mith, who is Pittsburg Phils brother, carried a large commission, Bent into the ring by the well-known pluDger while the horses were on their way to the post. Witfull, owned by John E. Madden, was backed from twlve to tens. Milton Youngs First Chip was another supposed sleeper at sixes, while there was a hot tip on Scoffer at sevenB. "Dow Williams, the well-known colored trainer of Lucky Baldwin, was at Gravesend yesterday. He has just brought the noted brood mare Los Angeles from California to Bryn Mawr, where she will be bred to The Bard. Los Angeles was recently purchased for 0,000 by Ike Labold, the Cincinnati turfman, who was acting for a man named Shanley, said to .bo connected in a business way with Diamond Jim Brady, part owner of Gold Heels and Major Daingerfield. "It is said that E. D. Morgan will be actively interested in turf affairs next year. Jim Boden has in his care eleven yearlings belonging to Mr. Morgan, most of them being by Don de Oro. "Another visitor at the track yesterday was Smith Armstrong, who formerly rode for August Belmont, Pierre Lorillard, Eugene Leigh, Mike Dwyer and Capt. Billy Williamson. Armstrong is established in business at Singapore, where ho recently planted 1,000 rubber trees. In five years time he expects to reap a financial harvest. "The flight of the two airships from Brighton and Manhattan beaches, respectively, was watched with interest by the crowd at tho track yesterday. One of the airships attracted everybodys attention while the horses were at the post fo r the fifth race. When King Pepper, the favorite, failed to win there was a great laugh in the batting ring among the layers. " He went up in the airship! yelled a man who bet on Stuyve. " The man fell out of the balloon and hit the King on the neck! roared another. Redfern, who rode King Pepper, was so interested in the doings aloft, that he stood stock still, saddle in hand, in front of the scales, after the race. " Come on, Redfern ! said Mr. Crickmore, the clerk of the scales. " That feller is going to come down, drawled the jockey, aB he got up to be weighed, still looking at the cigar-shaped thing in mid-air. " Youve been lookin at it ever since you left the post! growled a man who had bet on the favorite and was glaring through the wire screen surrounding the judgesstand. "Johnny Campbell, formerly of the racing firm of Walcott and Campbell, arrived at Gravesend yesterday from the west, where he has been training horses since 1899. Campbell is looking for an engagement. He says that he has received offers from Austria, Hungary and England, as well as from a well-known owner in this country, and that if he can agree upon suitable terms he will remain here. "Mike Clancy, owner of 8t. Finnan, has been in the habit of watching the races from a certain seat back of the press box at Gravesend, where he has emitted yells of encouragement to the horses that have greatly jarred the nerves of his neighbors. But when St. Finnan won the fifth race yesterday Clancy exceeded all previous effortB. He roared until the veins in his neck seemed to be about to burst and his face took on a purple hue. As the geldings number was hoisted Clancy, still roaring, galloped off to the betting ring, where he cashed a bet that made his pockets look as if he had bean on a shoplifting tour. "Those who usually race in California during the winter months were elated over a report in circulation that the Ingleside track, which has been closed for several seasons, will be reopened. Ingleside is so close to the city of San Francisco that it is a pleasure to visit it. The track is also one of the finest in the country. "A Featherstone will ship some of his horses, including Hatasoo, Disadvantage, Mortello, Black Fox and Peeper, to Lexington, Ky., today. Hatasoo will probably be retired to the stud. She is the best three-year-old filly in Mr. Featherstones stable, having won a number of stakes of value, and is by Albert Hoodoo. John W. Schorrs horses were sent to Memphis yesterday. "A representative of Barney Schreiber has arrived, here to purchase some brood mares at the coming-sales. Schreiber will send a string of high-clasS; yearlings to the Coast next year. "Robert Pinkerton started a crusade yesterday against the hucksters who have been annoying passengers at the trains leaving the track after the races each day. He chased them out of the cars without ceremony. "A man went to sleep in the grandstand yesterday just before the first race and slumbered soundly until a policeman shook him up after the last event. Then he wanted to know what time the races would begin today."
