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CLOSE FINISHES AT SANTA ANITA. - Bucket Brigade Defeats Alma Dufour hy Inches Diroctor Rewards Heavy Backing. Los Angeles. Cal.. December 14. The card today, although of mediocre quality, was redeemed in a measure by a few close and stirring linishes. one in particular, that of the fourth race, being so close that only the judges were in a position to declare the result accurately. In this nice Alma Dufour loomed up like the winner when a sixteenth out. aud appeared to have Bucket Brigade thoroughly beaten, but in the closing strides faltered tdightly, losing the race by a short head. Ducket Drigade was neglected in the betting. First Iecp and Kedgauntlet leiiig almost equal choices when the Held was called to the post. The last named ran a dull race, but First Peep showed prominently until an eighth out. where sho gradually faded away. Director, the winner of the last race, was one of the lwst backed horses of the meeting. He opened at 7 to 10. but when the odds- soared to ! to 5 the money poured in on him heavily and he went to the Kst at even money. He won on his own courage in a sharp sixteenth drive with Frontenac. It was reported around the truck that Director was heavily backed in all the big poolrooms throughout the country. Gold way. the favorite in the fifth race, had to he much the best to win. He was knocked clear out of his stride at the start and had to go around the others on the backstretch for a clear course. In the linal sixteenth, however, he overhauled aud wore Arcourt down. The betting was very heavy throughout the day. the bookmakers having much the worst of the speculation. Among the latest arrivals are J. J. Rogers from New York and Harry MeKcnna from San Francisco. Jockey Archibald wis lined 0 by starter Iloltman for disobedience at the post in the lifth race.
