view raw text
GREAT ATTENDANCE AT OAKLAND. Records Broken Before An Unprecedented Thanksgiving Day Gathering. Oakland, Cal., November 2S. Thanksgiving Day of 1007 at the Oakland race course was a red letter lay of racing on the Pacific coast. The climax was readied in the matter of attendance, superior caliber of sport, absorbing public interest and the phenomenal time that marked the running of the different races. Nothing near the equal of todays outpouring of people lias ever been known here. The Emeryville enclosure was uncomfortably filled as early as 1:150 p. m., with special trains and trolleys packed to the gates and fully 25,000 spectators were present. The Thanksgiving Handicap attracted a field of nine high-class performers, including Rifleman, Peter Sterling, Johnny Lyons, Legatee, San Alviso, Mo-lesey. Red Leaf, Janeta and True Wing. Ritieman had clear sailing and set such a heartbreaking pace from the first stride that possible contenders were tangled up and removed to the rear and True Wing was jumped upon on the turn and cut down, so badly that Dugan was forced to pull her up to a standstill and dismount. The marvel-ously improved Pessara three-year-old, rating swiftly in front, just lasted the journey in track record-breaking time of 1:31. Peter Sterling, coming with a menacing; but belated rush, finished second, with Johnny Lyons third nearly three lengths away. The tabled history of the Thanksgiving Handicap is as follows: Year. Winner. A. Wt. Jockey. Val. Time. 1001 Fly. Torpedo. .3 07 Birkenrth .,023 1:5S 1002 Sombrero I! 122 Donnelly ... 2,020 1:331 lOO-S Claude IS 110 J. Daly 2,430 1:3S 1004 Claude 4 123 Dominlck .. 2,170 1:533 1003 Lubin 5 00 Radtko 2,270 1:341 1000 Boighesi 3 110 W. Kliapp.. 2,210 1:535 1007 Rilleiiian .,...3 100 G. Burns.. . 2,200 1:51 S. C. Hildreths Rapid Water came along in the next race and broke the track and closely ap-proadied the American record for five and a half furlongs by defeating Gemmell in l:05j. Sewcll, at odds-on, made an iuglorlous debut In the last race. Durnells horse Was virtually left , -at the. post and ran unplaced. Ocean Shore accounting for this race In .1:124. Technically only two favorites were successful. Roy Offutt bid up and bought Damiua, winner of the third race, for 1,700. William Ilawke claimed Spriug Ban for ,323 and tho owners of I paruma claimed Northwest for the same figure.
