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SANTA ANITA PARKS INITIAL DAY. Fine Attendance and Excellent Racing Features of the Occasion-Los Angeles, Cal., December 7. The much-heralded opening of the new Santa Anita, track brought out a crowd of 8,000 racing enthusiasts today, despite a lowering :sky and threatened rain. . The course and surroundings were declared; on all sides to be the prettiest in the west and ihaps the most beautiful in America. While the course proper is in fair condition, many finishing touches will have to be put on other parts of the place before it is in good racing order. The new chutes have already caught on with the public and pnt onc in mind of the eastern courses. The Pomona Handicap, the feature event, went to the added starter, Mark Antony II., from the stable of R. F. Carman. He easily shouldered his 11S pounds, making his opponents appear cheap. R. F. Carman had a field day, winning four of the six races. It is already conceded his string will cut a big swath in the racing here. Just after Mark Antony II. s victory, . Mr. Carman was presented with a large silver cup as a trophy of the Pomona Handicap. The recent stringency in national money matters was felt in the ring, the fifteen bookies and three fielders doing a somewhat indifferent busi- j ness, although it is expected the betting will im- j prove next week. The track promises to be one of the fastest in America. All it needs now is a little packing to put it in the best possible condition. The officials are: judges, Hamilton and Cole; secretary, K. C. Smith; clerk of scales, P. P. Fom-eroy; manager, Dr. J. S. Gardner, and manager of ring, Gene Elrod.
