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I : , I TAME RACING AT OAKLAND. DAY GIVEN OVER TO HORSES OF INFERIOR CLASS AND RESULTS DISAPPOINT. Tawasentha Easily Wins the Main Race of the Afternoon — All Favorites Beaten — California Derby Day Expected to Bring a Great Contest. Oakland. Cal.. February 18. — In inlays series of half-dozen races of the grab bag variety at Oakland., not a single favorite was able to get home in front, the honors of the entire card being monopolized by two second choices and four outsiders. Developments on these lines were not unexpected in view of the big and unwieldy ti Ids of inferior class horses engaged during the afternoon. Several of Martin Nathansons more pretentious rae s did not fill, and with plenty of available material to work on in the cheaper grade of racers. the clerk of the course evolved a very fair program tor the day. Jockey Merritt Buxtons lack of alertness and vigor at the start spoiled the chances of at least two favorites in Senator Beckham and Crystal Wave, both being practically eliminated as contenders by bad starts. The stewards called u| on the diminutive rider for an explanation, but nothing came of it. The public generally ascribed his shortcomings to a case of stage fright. Tawasentha had little trouble in taking the main r.u C tin- ibiy. Si S ulcus, in the last, was the medium of a siiceesstnl coup that hurt the feelings of the bookies. First-class weather prevailed, the attendance was 5.KM and thirty-six bookmakers laid odds in the big ring. Sam Emerys horses, in charge of A. G. Rlakeley. will be sold at auction on February 15. They include Standover. Steel Blue, Blue Heron, Erbert, Reene W. and Marian Louise. The running of the rich California Derby next Saturday promises to be the greatest racing event of the season. If the present good weather continues the best field of horses in the history of the stake will contest it. and probably the greatest throng of turf enthusiasts ever seen at a race course west of the Rocky mountains will attend.
