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MISS OFFICIOUS IN FIRST. DEFEATS A. MUSKODAY IN THE CHIEF RACE AT OAKLAND. Heather Scott Takes the Opener — Grace G. in a Canter — Beechwood Recovers His Speed Suddenly. Oakland. Cal., January 14. — The victory of Heather Scott in the opening race at Oakland today was the first instance in ten days of a favorite beginning all afternoons race as auspiciously for its hackers. This state of affairs was of short duration, however, for a couple of outsiders in Woodlander and Beechwood proceeded to win in the following two races. The success of the former in the colors of his new owner, William OBrien Macdonough. with an obscure jockey named Post in the saddle, was so impressively achieved that horsemen began to speculate as to just how mauy real turf stars in the juvenile line this big racing establishment really contains, as it is an open secret that Woodlandrv is the poorest and least considered youngster in the barn. The Richmond Haudicap at one mile and twenty yanls. which featured the card, produced a rattling good struggle. Miss Officious and A. Muskoday, the first and second choices, engaged in a gruelling drive through the stretch with the former having the most speed in reserve and winning in the final strides. The remainder of the card developed good sport and was wholly satisfactory to the speculatively -inclined public. The ability of trainer Harry Mason, a conspicuous example of the old school of trainers of the first class, as shown in the cases of Woodlander and Herodotus, with both of which he landed re-sjieclable-sized coups at the very first asking, is in refreshing contrast to the policy pursued by the majority of the trainers here of fitting their horses in races and keeping the public guessing. Mr. Mason will start another colt in the two-year old race next Friday which he says is a world beater and will have to fall down to lose. A. G. Blakeleys promising apprentice rider. Fulton, distinguished himself by a reeinarkable win for so young a lad on Sam Emerys Hand-me-down in the mile selling affair. Gra e G.. at prohibitive odds and probably the highest class racer engaged during the afternoon, scored a cantering victory in the closing race. The fine weather and attractive card brought a big crowd to the course today. Favorites, one second choice and two outsiders accounted for the program. The stewards today lifted the recent suspension against jockeys Chris Miller" and J. Pendergast and restored them to good standing. Chris Miller was completely exonerated from any wrong-dong whatsoever, and the long-delayed vindication of the papalnr rider was received with pleasure by the local race-going public. J. S. Hawkins srable jockey. J. Butler, was set down for ten days for his slowness in getting away from the [tost. J. E. Case claimed Lazell for tgSB. James McElroy, manager of the Kings County Racing Association of Seattle, was a visitor at Oakland today.
