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AN OFF DAY AT OAKLAND BUT A BIG CROWD VIEWS THE STEADY DOWNFALL OF THE FAVORITES. Reservation Left at the Post — Fantastic Defeats Roalta in Fast Time — Burlew and ONeill to Race at Oakland Next Winter. " Oakland. Cal.. February 25. — Inder the benign influence of the summer-like weather ami encouraged by their successes of yesterday, race-goers came back to the race course at Oakland this afternoon in greatly augmented numbers to wage the unequal combat with the forty-one layers comprising the big ring. From a purely racing standpoint the card itself was only moderately attractive, but the all-important betting angle promised rich returns, as every race contained on paper, at least, an outstanding prospective winner at giwid odds. Excepting the first race, in which the two choices shared the honors, alleged form players were all awry in their selections, as favorites and even second and third choices- were regularly lieaten. The starter materially helped to render the situation more discouraging by bungling his work to such an extent at the start of the fourth race that the first three choices. Reservation, Pontotoc and Pleiad were virtually eliminated as contenders, the first named being left absolutely. The stewards shifted the blame, however, off of Dwyers shoulders by saddling McClain, the jockey who rode Reservation, with a ten days suspension. The sport culminated finally in the defeat of Thomas H. Williams fast Roalla by Fantaslb . which won the sixth race in the remarkably fast time for the mile of 1:394;. H. M. Mason, trainer of the Macdonough string, returned yesterday from Arcadia witli Duke of Milan and the other youngsters that he took south with him. F. W. Forsting has sold Annie H. and Salvadale to D. M. Azoue. H. A. Cotton will train the horses for their new owner. It is rumored that Burlew and ONeill will invade the Pacific coast with a stable of fifty racers next winter, confining their operations principally to Oakland. Buxton was suspended three days by the starter for breaking through the barrier with May Amelia. The Overland Park Jockey Club at Denver will give a thirty -one-days meeting this year. Three hundred thousand dollars is beiqg expended in improvements, which will make it one of the best race courses in the country. Bookmakers I. Hani and I. Allenburg arrived at Oakland today. They expect to cut in for ring business tomorrow.
