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MUDDY TRACK AT OAKLAND. RAIN SPOILS HOPED FOR FAST GOING FOR THE CHRISTMAS HANDICAP. Restigouche Sick with Fever Hanbridge Wins in Fact Time for the Track Kelownas Racing Investigated. San Francisco. Cal., December 22. Rain fell during the night and the fine card of six races scheduled for decisiou at Oakland today was run over a very muddy course. The projection of wet weather into a promised glorious Christinas weeks racing is greatly deplored by the local devotees of Ihe sport. During the afternoon Martin Natbanson announced his weight allotments in the rich Christmas Handicap at one mile and a quarter. Of the lifty-two eligible. Restigouche and Montgomery, with respectively 120 and 124 pounds, are top weights. The former will probably not start. It has just transpired that he was seized witli an attack of fever before belli; sent to the post in the Sacramento Handicap last Saturday and emerged from that brilliant victory a very sick horse. He has been ailing ever since. Big Chief, the next highest weighted eligible at 118 pounds, will also be an absentee. President Williams big three-year-old was brought over from Tanforan expressly for Fridays event, hut will be. returned leeansei of the muddy going. While being worked over the sale track in November, Big Chiefs forelegs filled. This ailment disappeared since training over the lan-foran track. Other candidates are Dorante, 110, Koval Tourist, 11:.; Don Enrique, 100; Arasee, 104, anil last, but not least. Clamor, 98. Experts pico. the latter to win on todays race with Hanbridge and his younger opponent. Bon Homtne. In a thrilling duel for supremacy in todays feature, the Lorillard Handicao at a mile and a sixteenth. G. II. Holles grand three-year-old prevailed finally in verv fast time. Doth winner and rnnuer-np were uthusiasttcallv cheered for their splendid efforts. Clamor finished a fast-going ami close-np third and his forward running makes him a formidable factor In the Christmas Handicap. Favorites -and second choices monopolized honors. It was a great afternoon for form players. Every victory was: sensationally achieved. It was an altogether, extraordinary afternoons sport. Import was withdrawn from the fourth race on account of Injuriesustained in -a collision with another horse while exercising in the morning. Jockey Stuart was suspended by the starter for tfliree days. , . The California Jockey Club received -10.. entries to its four stakes for two-year-olds, just closed. This Is 3!2 more than last year. The .stewards are conducting an investigation into the in-and-out running of Kelowna. His trainer. M. S. Calne, was interrogated at length today. Jockey Sweet, who has been ill. will resume riding tomorrow. , iA. G. Blakeley has engaged jockey Keogh to ride for him in the stakes.
