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SARATOGA RACING BEGINS ENTHUSIASM RAMPANT AT THE SPA DESPITE INAUSPICIOUS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. Muddy Track Follows Repeated Downpour sf Rain— Olambala Wins Saratoga Handicap with Ease from Ballot. , Saratoga. N. Y., August 4. — Olambala was winner of the Saratoga Handicap today over a track that was fairly Banded with yellow slush. It was the big event of the opening of the Saratoga racing season, with everything shaping up for the best session of sport that has been enjoyed. by the faithful since the beginning of the eastern racing season last April. Conditions were about as unfavorable as they well could have been for the launching of the season, but the crowd turned out in force and it was a gathering of horsemen from the four corners of the country that congregated on the lawns and in the paddock. Rain that fell last night made the going Deary and this forenoon there were frequent showers that prevented much improvement of track conditions as the day progressed. The last straw came immediately after the running of the Flash Stakes, which preceded the handicap. The jockeys had hardly returned to the scales before a violent electrical storm broke. A fearsome display of lightning was followed by more rain. It was such rain as can only fall at Saratoga and the jiost bugle was delayed slightly iu order fc afford a view of the race. The clouds broke and the race was run witli-1 ut an accompaniment of rain, but the track was made deep and slushy. S. C. Ilildreth earlier in the day withdrew Fitz Herbert and Dalmatian from the Saratoga Handicap, deciding not to race them over the heavy track, and as substitutes he sent Firestoue and Restigouche to the post. Jamas atawe scratched Maskette, leaving Ballot to represent James R. Keene. Czar was the only other one that was withdrawn. It was natural that Olambala should 1m; made first choice with the changed condition of the track, and while even money was offered against his chances at one time a much shorter price prevailed for a considerable part of tl»e tinte given up to speculation. Ballot was second in command, but he was as godd as 16 to 5 and much longer **ids were offered against the others. Butwell. who had the leg up on Otasahlfia, rode u wonderfully confident race. When the field left the iKist he was content to be one of the trailers. As was c.v.| ected. Shilling went out to make the pace with Restigouche, and Stanley Fay was the one to give him chase, w ith Merry Knight, the long shot of the field, hW third place. Firestone was being rated along with Olambala, hut it was seen early iu the running that the Wilson four-year-old was all but pulling Butwell out of the saddle in an eagerness to improve his position. It was not until the turn out of the backstretch that there was any marked change in positions. There Notter moved up with Ballot, which had been going along strongly and well in hand. As he made his move Butwell shook up Olambala and in a half dozen strides Olambala ranged alongside the Keene hope. Archibald called on Firestone at the same time, but he was no match - for the son of Ornus and at the head of the stretch it had narrowed to a race between Olambala and Ballot. At the final furlong post Ballot weakened and Olambala cantered home the easiest of winners by four lengths. The outcome of the trig race was tremendously popular, for Richard T. Wilsou, Jr., owner of Olambala, is president of the Saratoga Association and it was regarded as a local triumph. Aside from that fact, the sou of Ornus ran a magnificent race and the applause that followed his return to the scales came from winners and losers alike. The companion feature to the Saratoga Handicap, the Flash Stakes for two-year-olds, went to Seni-prolus. from the stHblc of R. F. Carman. He was decidedly at home in the heavy going ami. breaking well, left the result iu doubt at no time. In this race August Belmont withdrew Footprint and Water-vale, his carded nominees, and added Babbler and Trap Rock, a pair .supposedly better qualified to race in tlie unfavorable going. Trap Rock was third most of the way, hut through the stretch he faltered badly and was beaten home by Althorpc, another added starter from the stable of M. L. Schwartz. The steeplechase race of the day saw five horses at the post, though only three of them finished. Kentucky Beau, after jumping badly at all his fences, fell at the Liverpool on the last turn of the field and threw jockey Williams heavily, while TiMKh Weed, the pacemaker, went down when three jumps from the finish, and Henderson was badly shaken up. Tlie race was won by Byzantine, ridden by his owner. Nat Raj-, the veteran professional cross-country pilot. The .other races of the afternoon were fairly interesting, and despite most unfavorable weather con ditious the sport was auspiciously branched at the Springs. Among the interested spectators during the running of the handicap was John G. Greener, who bred the winner. James R. Keene. August Belmont. John Sanford, John C. Fulteashhe, Andrew Miller. H. K. Knapp ami other prominent turfmen viewed the races from tlie clubhouse balcony. Waldo. C. H. Harris. ms great three-year-old. has a bowed tendon and will be thrown out of training. It is possible that he will never be brought back to the races. F. J. Pons has announced that there will be 100 -vs of raeinf it JacfcsnnriUe beginning November 25 and that 50,000 will be distributed to horsemen. A. B. Dade has been engaged to do the starting. No excuse can be made for the liebavior of the j James R. Keene colts and fillies at the starting post. Trainer James Rowe has had his big sets of youngsters at the barrier frequently of late. Nearly every member id I lie stalde is docile and easily managed, whether placed in the midst of a bunch or , standing directly under the starters stand. J. Simon Heaiey. trainer for tapt. K. B. Cassatt. will handle a couple of horses that are to start in the army officers* race. Both geldings are now on the ; way tram Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where they havo won distinction 011 numerous occasions. Aeronaut, an old campaigner that trainer Heaiey is again preparing for tlie racesw looks as well as the day he ran six and a half furlorigs in1:ls« at Belmont Park in 1985. Since his retirement Aeronaut has sired a number ot handsome foals at apt. E. B. Cassatts I farm in Pennsylvania. A bowed tendon proved the big chestnuts undoing when he last started several seas. ms ago. [ James Griffins eolf. Little Rajah, over -reached , himself in his last start at Empire CiU cutting the . Ilesh to the CSSHMMJI bone. This necessitated a let tip , in the colts training upon his arrivel here. Tubbing , out has.j-cduoctl the fever and Mr. Grillin exacts 1 he , colt to round to form rapidly. Clifford Gilbert will ride tar George J. Kraus at this meeting. G|Ibert absence troiu Ihe saddle leis j been due to an op ration ou his f * t, which was injured last fall. John W. Pangle has beesj here for several weeks, with Touchwood. Takablru aud Touch Me.
