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COLUMBIA RACING SPIRITED ARRIVALS FROM KENTUCKY AND THE EAST HELP TO SWELL ATTENDANCE. Evenly Balanced Fields Encourage Speculation Close Finishes Mark Sport Donald Macdonald Again in Winning Form Public Choices , Fare Well. Columbia, S. C, Deccmlier 4. Evenly balanced fields provided spirited racing and well diversified speculation at the Fair Grounds this afternoon. Recent arrivals from the east and Kentucky contributed to a big attendance. The local element was conspicuously absent, cool ,wcaUier being held responsible for this. Favorites and second choices were victors in the first live races, while Clem Beachcy, winner of the closing dash, also found cxtonslvo support. Several close finishes were seen, the one lietween Hatteras and Nadzu being an especially thrilling affair. The smart set put over a good ono in J. 11. Barr. In a previous essay, he was a distant trailer, with little or no support. Activity on tho part of his backers began when betting was posted today and heavy support sent him to the post favorite. He made good in handy fashion. Lady McGees effort in the third race was a sparkling one. She was almost left at Uie post and was forced to go wide to the stretch, where she came with a cyclonic rush that landed her winner over Excalibur, which had been well backed. Donald Macdonald displayed a return to good form by an impressive victory in tho fifUi race over some fair sprinters. Hoffman started out as If to spread-eagle the others in this race, but quit almost to a walk in tho stretch. Jockey Schwcbig complained to the judges after the last race that Edwards, on Clem Beachcy, iiad interfered with his mount by striking him over the head on the stretch turn. Steward Martin Nathan-sou dismissed the complaint. Yesterdays arrivals included the following: Eugene Lutz, with 12 horses, including Messenger Boy; T. Maguire, 4; C. W. Moore, 4; aud eight additional horses owned by J. L. Holland. Al Hereford again joined tho bookmaking ranks and posted prices. A heavy wind yesterday played havoc with the tent used as a temporary betting ring and pending its repair the layers posted prices In the open. Tho permanent betting ring will be finished next week. "Dad" Yeager, M. T. Danaher and II. Botay. of plunging fame, arc among some of the old-timera here. Several owners took a run over to Charleston yesterday to note what progress is being made in Uie construction of the racing plant there. They report that things arc going along smoothly and that Indications point to everything being in thorough readiness for the opening on January 10. It is expected that two additional layers will bo in line tomorrow and that at least ten will post prices by the end of this week. The Moat, carded as a starter in the closing race, gave an acrobatic exhibition when he reached the I barrier. Ho lunged a couple of times and unseating his rider, Tommy McTaggart, rushed into a barbed wire fence. He was unable to got througli at the first attempt, but on the second trial he broke through aud tumbled into a cotton field. The judges ordered the field dispatched without him. The bookmakers of their own volition refunded all money wagered on the horse. They did this for the reason that tho people here are not well versed in racing. W. T. Anderson, who arrived from Norfolk a few-days ago. today wired bis foreman, whom he baa left at Benning with eighteen horses that he intended wintering there, to arrange to ship the en tire lot to Columbia. Mr. Anderson thinks this an ideal climate in which to winter a horse, also that the Fair Grounds track is a splendid one for spring training. Hugh Penny, who was unable to accompany his horses here on account of illness, arrived in Norfolk this morning. He Is still far from being a well man, but is improving. Donald Macdonald won his first race in the colors of J. L. Holland when he beat a band of shifty sprinters in the six-furlongs dash this afternoon. John Powers lias rounded this good horse into his best form and he probably will hold his own in any company from now on. J. T. Coombs, from Latonia, and W. Williams, from Marlboro, were among the days new arrivals. Tho latter brought his horses, including the speedy Flying Squirrel. Starter J. Milton suspended jockeys Robertson and J. Allen for three days, while Loathly Lady, Grace Kimball and Barney Igoe were placed on the schooling list. Martin Nathanson, who .is to servo as presiding steward, arrived from Chicago yesterday and entered upon the discharge of his duties today. His presenco in executive charge of Uie racing is expected to do much to add to the prestige and importance of tho meeting. Thomas Fortune Ryan of New York and Virginia will begin next season with a fine band of two-year-obis. Tho youngsters that will carry his colors are home-raised, having been bred at Mr. Ryans Oak Ridge Farm in Virginia. The likeliest include a colt out of Anecdote, a filly out of Etlielinda, a colt out of Minnie Alphonso, a colt out of AVeb of Fate, a filly out of Fairy Bird, and a colt out of Mamie S. M. These youngsters are by the young English stallion Monsieur de LOrnie, which, with the marcs, were purchased for Mr. Ryan a couple of years ago by Maj. Foxhall A. Daingerlield. manager of Jamed R. Keenes Castleton Farm in Kentucky.
