view raw text
FEATURES TODAY AT THE WINTER TRACKS. Thornton Stakes at Oakland and Two Dcrbys in Now Orleans History of the Races. Racing at the winter tracks today will carry more than passing interest. Not merely because it happens to be the day on which Erins sons in America celebrate in honor of Irelands patron saint, but because the offerings are quite out of the ordinary. The feature of the card at Oakland will lie the twelfth running of the- noted Thornton Stakes at four miles; the third season at Ascot Park let us bury the memory of it if we can will end with the St. Patricks Handicap at one mile; in New Orleans they will have a Derby race at each track and the programs will be printed in green, and at Hot Springs Oaklawn ofTers two handicaps the Reservation at six an one-half furlongs and the Emerald at one and one-sixteenth miles. The Thornton is now the only slake at four miles run in this country and was named in honor of a very gallant and high minded gentleman. Colonel Harry Thornton, who was the predecessor of President Thomas II. Williams as the head of San Francisco racing and largely resoiisihle for its present hgh developments. Its liislory lias been marked by performances of the highest class and such as would have set the urf world in a ferment in the old days when racing at four miles, or even four mile heats, was a fcaluie of any and all meetings. The Bachelors four miles in 7:101 being by far the fastest ever run in a race. The Thornton is run under weights prescribed in its conditions. Three-J ear-olds carry Sr pounds, four-year-olds 107, live-ycarrolds 111 and older horses 115, with the. usual sex allowances. Its first running was in 1S95, when a sturdy son of St. Saviour Mistake liamed Gilead, ridden by ".Marty" Bergen, won from Hawthorne mid La Gascon in 7:32, over a slow track, in 1S9G the race was run over a good track and fell to Star Ruby, now one of the leading American sires with such a star as Africander .to ids credit. The, race was run In 7;23, with GUead finishing second and Claudius third. W. Martin rode Star Ruby and it was to his crafty management the victory of the horse was due. In 1S97 the race was run over a very heavy track and was won by Barney Sehrelbers Schiller, with Lobengula second and Thornhill third, only the three starting. The race was run iu S:0t and Shnms was on, the winner. In 1S9S Billy Pinkertons fast and staying horse Judge Denny was the winner, covering the four miles iu the exceptionally fast time of 7:20. The old time Chicago favorite Charley Thorpe was Judge Dennys pilot and second in the race was the three-year-old Marplot, The Bachelor finishing third, We-wna also starting. The Bachelor had his revenge the next year. He was the property of Edward Corrigan and was ridden by Bullman, then at his best as a jockey. The goodhorse David Tenny was the favorite at 4 to 5, with The Bachelor second choice at S to 5, the other starters Rcolia and Veloz being at outsiders prices. The Bachelor set the pace from start to finish and at the end of a remarkable display of sliced and stamina, was six lengths in front of David Tenny, with Reolia thirty lengths behind the latter. The Bachelors time of 7:lCi is not likely to be disturbed for many years, unless the California Jockey Club increases the value of the Thornton to figures sufficient to attract higher class horses than now run for Its honors. As the property of W. C. Whitney, The Bachelor subsequently became a brilliant steeplechaser. In 1000 Barney Schreiber won the Thornton stakes again, this lime with the live-year-old Forte, ridden I13 Milton Henry. Twinklcr was second, Wcllcr third and Potente, Oraibce and Ledaea ran unplaced. The time was 7:221 and Forte won by twenty lengths. The race fell to C. E. Durnells Locochee in 1901. He was ridden by the California jockey, See, and covered the four miles in 7:23. The Bobby running second, Bangor third and Dr. Marks and Norford being unplaced. Siddons with L. Jackson up was the winner in 1902. Lizella was second and Bangor again brought up in third place. The track was slow and the time 7::50. Inferior racers started in 1903. El Rio Shannon with T. Knight in the saddle winning from Learoyd and Artilla in 7:2S1. The track was heavy on Thornton Slakes day in both 1904 and J905. Veterano, guided by J. Martin, won from El Rio Shannon and Sailor Knot in 190-1 in 7:.57, and the veteran Grafter, ridden by W. Knapp, triumphed In 1903. Veterano finishing second and noratlus third. Notwithstanding Its prominence as a racing fixture and the huge crowds that annually Hock to the Oakland track to view the contest for The Thornton Stakes, If" is not a richly endowed event. Its greatest value to the. winner of any year was ,400 and its least value ,010. It will be run over a heavy track today and fast time is out of the question. The race of today is to be the ninth running of the Crescent City Derby. There are nine horses carded and they should produce a splendid contest. C. R. Ellison is represented by James Reddick and Lady Navarre. Tills entry is favored in the ante-post betting. The first Crescent City Derby was run on Wednesday, March 23, 1S9S, and was won by John W. Schorrs bay gelding Presbyterian,- by Preston-pans Dareka. Presbyterian was the favorite at 9 to 10. He carried 119 pounds, was ridden by Tommy Burns and finished a length in front of Joe Shelby 115, with Dinsmore 115, half a length back of him and a nose in front of Isabey, which in turn was two lengths in front of Nabob, the only other starter; Nabob had led into the stretch. The track was fast and the mile and an eighth-was run in 1:551. The value of the race to the winner was ,900. Iu 1S99 the Derby was run on Saturday, March -25, and again the weather was fine and the track fast. There were five starters, the winner being J. P. Robinsous chestnut colt King Barleycorn, by Kantaka Xattot. He was ridden by Willie Martin at 113 pounds and won by two lengths from Elmer S, 112, a length in front of Jolly Roger 115, four lengths better than Ilittlck 113, six lengths In front of Kentucky Colonel 115, the favorite at 4 to 5. King Barleycorn was the second choice at 2-to 1. The time was 1:541, and "the value of the race to the winner was ,840. in 1900 the race was decided on Saturday, March 17. The weather was fine, but the track was heavy. There were seven starters and the winner turned up iu A. H. and D. H. Morris Prince of Veronia, a bay colt by Cayuga Veronia, which was G to 1 in the betting. He carried 113 pounds and was ridden by Mc.Toynt. He came witli a rush In the last sixteenth and beat Sidney Lucas 115 a head, witli F. W. Brode 122, a nose back of him. Sidney Lucas and F. W. Brode were equal choices at 2 to 1. The other starters were Knightbanneret, The Conqueror, Sir Fitzhugh and LampHghted. The time was 2:00 and the value of the race to the winner 2,840. The Derby of 1901 was run in tine weather and over a fast track on Saturday, March 10. There were six starters and the winner was W. C. Fes-sendens Henry Clay Rye, chestnut colt by Kantaka Ten Drop. He carried 115 pounds, was ridden by Harry Cochran and won by a neck from Wild Pirate 115, a length better than Varro 112. Picador, Ilanswurst and Siddons were the others. Wild Pirate was the favorite at G to 5, Varro second choice at S to 5 and 10 to 1 was to be had about the winner. The time was 1:55 and the value to the winner ?2.S10. Saturday, March 15, was the date of the running in 1902 and again the track was heavy, though the weather was line. There were eight starters. Lord Quex, ridden by J. Winkiield and carrying Impounds, favorite at 7 to 5, winning easily by two lengths from Vassal Dance 110, three lengths In front of Prowl 115. St. Tammany, Kaffir, Duke of Connaught, Cast Iron and Merry Maker were the others. The time was 2:001 and the value to the winner ,450. Lord Quex was a brown colt by ln-goldsby Sankara and was the property of Albeit Simons. In 1903 most miserable weather and track conditions prevailed on Saturday, March 14. The heaviest rain of the year fell that day and the track was a perfect quagmire. There were six starters for the Derby. S. C. llildreths chestnut filly Witfull, by Mirthful Response, was the favorite at G to 5 and won by two lengths. She was piloted by Willie Gannon at 110 pounds. Rosanco 112, was second, eight lengths in front of Birch Broom 110. The others were Embarrassment, Sheriff Bell and Jove. The time was 2:07J and the value to the winner ,G10. Ostrich, the bay colt by Order Plumage, property of G. L. Richards, the Boston publisher, was th;s winner of the Derby in 1901. .The race was run over a fast track on Saturday, March 12. There were six starters. Ostrich was ridden by Fuller and carried 115 pounds. He was the favorite at G to 5. He ran the mile and an eighth in 1:52$, which is the record for the race, finishing all out a length in front of Auditor 115, he the same distance in front of Coiikling 115. The others were Rainland, Vestiua Belle and Leila. The value of the race to the Winner was ,550. The Derby of last year was won by M. L. llay-inans Right Royal, black colt by Rapallo Mrs. Delaney. The race was run on Saturday, March 11. The track was heavy and the time was 1:59s. There were six starters, the favorite beiug Trapper, at 3 to 2, which finished fourth. Right Royal was ridden by Jack Martin at 115 pounds, and the others carried : the same weight. Right Royal trailed to the head of the stretch where he passed Jake Sanders, which had been in the lead from the start, and beat him easily by a length and a half. Kings Trophy was third, beaten a nose for the place. Tlia Trifler and Jim Beattie finished behind Trapper. .The value of the -race was ,145 to the winner. The City Park Derby will have Its first running today. There are eleven horses carded to start. Minnie Adams will probably be the winner. Monterey should be second and Debar third. The handicap at Oaklawn and Ascot Park are overnight affairs.
