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SPEEDY GEMMELLS YICT0KY CAPTURES THE PORTLAND HANDICAP FROM GRACE G. AND PREJUICIO. Belle Kinney in a Canter Wing Ting Fail3 Her Backers Disastrously St. Avon Continues Winning. j Oakland, CaU, December 23. The heavy precipitation of the early morning converted the track at Oakland into a shallow canal, and racing over it during the day was attended with several reversals of form. This applied particularly to the running of the two main races, the Portland Handicap at six furlongs and tho handicap at a mile and a sixteenth, in which horses three years old ,and over were engaged. The crack three-year-old, Gcmmcll, defeated fast opponents in the stake race, leading all the way, in 1:15 fiat, extra good time for the bog-like course. Jack Nunnally, the holder Of the American record for five furlongs, and a hot favorite in the betting, finished last, barring Huerfano, the unconsidered second string to , tha Thomas U. Williams entry. Gemmell and Jack Nunnally were both sired by Rubicon, and are a wonderfully fast pair of racers over a fast track, however todays running" between them has Invariahly been reversed previously. The worst upset was reserved for the secondary feature, where A. Muskoday galloped away from Wing Ting as if she was anchored. J. S. Hawkins, the owner of the ileet Star Shoot filly, has earned notoriety-since the present meeting began for tho inconsistent running of his horses, but todays showing of Wing Ting capped the climax to a long scries of disappointing exhibitions. A couple of Hy-by-night .bookmakers, who had just xmt in and were operating under the name of the Golden Gate Club, furnished a lot of excitement and incident in the ring just after the running of tho first race, by attempting to get away and off the track without going through tho formality of paying off winning wagers on Sam Barber. One of these worthies went by the name of Ed Wilkersori and was also known as Crosby. The mother said he was E. J. Crover, of New York. Their bank roll consisted of a regulation cashiers leather sack, filled with iron washers and ostentatiously displayed. Two reputable bookmakers clerks named E. B. Graham and George Palmer were engaged as outside man and blockman respectively. As fast as the money was taken in, Wilkerson and Crosfoy shoved it into a white canvas sack. They sauntered out to the lawn to view the race. Palmer, whose suspicions had been aroused, followed them. When Sam Barbers number was displayed as the winner, the pair made for the gate, where an automobile was In waiting for them, but through Palmers vigilance they were apprehended. Had Rose Cherry won, and the majority of the spectators thought she had and disagreed with the judges placing, Wilkerson and Crosby would have won over ,o6o to the race. As it was they only lost a trifle over 00 with Sam Barbers victory. The secretary was late in coming around for the 60 of cut-in money, so the association was out that amount. Italso made good In wagers.
