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FAST TIME EXPECTED AT OAKLAND. That the Oakland track -was never in better condition than at present is vouched for by trainers who are engaged in getting their horses ready for the opening day. The top dressing of rich loam that Superintendent Grant applied to the course before training operations began, has been worked down and is proving a great factor in the improvement of the track. The new loam dressing has given the track a splendid cushion, and the trainers declare it is a pleasure to train horses over it. Experts who have given the subject consideration predict that it will be lightning fast this season. It is generally agreed that an extremely hard surface is not indispensable to fast time. Good judges maintain that horses will run faster over a track with the proper sort of cushion than over the same track with no cushion. Very ordinary horses have worked wonderfully well over the track, and in view of the high class of the horses that will be engaged In the racing, it may be expected that there will be 0 a general shattering of tracK records before the V meeting is far advanced if the -winter rains do not come too early.
