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PROTEST BY BUSINESS MEN COLUMBIA MERCHANTS DISAPPROVE ATTEMPT TO STOP RACING AT THAT POINT. Meeting Held at Chamber of Commerce to Give Expression to Such a Sentiment F. J. Pons Says Charleston Meeting Not Affected. Columbia, S. C, December 0. Quick to recognize tin- advantages that this city has derived from the presence of the racing folk, many members of the Chamber of Commerce met last night to protest against any interference with the racing at the lair Grounds. They made it known that they were glad r the opportunity to entertain the racing IKMple and voiced their appreciation of the benefits that, the hotels, merchants, restaurants and boarding houses are reaping as a result of the presence here of well dressed and well conducted racing men and their families. Kvcn those who were hostile to racing admit that the turfmen here are, as a whole, of decidedly different class than was expected and that they have gained friends readily. The hostility to the racing is not concerted, and in this the horsemen iiud encouragement for the belief that the application for an injunction may not be granted. There were no additional developments in the local situation today, Before leaving for Charleston. F. .1. Tons-, general manager of the Charleston Fair mid lUeiug Association, announced positively that the unexixcted development here would have absolutely no bearing on the proposed meeting at Charleston, and that no halt would be made in preparing the new track for its opening on January 10. Mr. Pons anticipates no harrassment at Charleston and will continue with his plans for that meeting as if nothing hail cropped out here to mar the serenity of the sport. Another large attendance was present at the Fair Grounds this afternoon and witnessed excellent racing. The track, was at its best and good time was recorded in all the contests. Lady McGee, owned by Frank Kegan, furnished the main incident of the racing by :t cireus-like feat of tumbling over fences, unseating her rider, injuring herself severely and winding ii a winner in a stirring stretch drive with . Republican. Her series of mishaps began when on I the way to the jmst. She fell over the outer fence and unseated Forsyth. She then ran riderless through u plowed field and in her effort to clear a barbed wire fence, landed heavily. She lay stunned -and badly tangled in the wire, was cut and lacerated in many places. Jockey Forsyth, though temporarily knocked out, remounted the lilly and when she scored it was amid tumultuous applause. Lady Me-Geo was the favorite of the race and some of her backers tore up their tickets before the start. Ilotfman, a well-backed good thing, accounted for the handicap at live and a half furlongs, which engaged some smart sprinters. Helen Rarbeo. a stable companion to Eagle Bird, took second money, with Donau third and Prince. Ahmed, the favorite, just failing to get a portion of the purse. The liedwell representative showed by his performance today that, he is nowhere near the racer he once was. The hackers of favorites fared well, as live choices scored, causing the layers a severe loss. Finishes were close in four of the contests, the one between Ivabel and Camel being particularly so. Thrifty also gained her decision in the last stride after a hard drive to outstay the suddenly improved Starboard. Frank Taylor came over from Aiken, S. C. to witness the running of todays program. Mr. Taylor is disconsolate over the loss of two of his best horses, Herkimer ami Stinger, which succumbed to an attack of car fever contracted while enroute from Latonin to Aiken. Mr. Taylors original plans were to winter at Jake Greonbergs farm at Louisville and he said today that if it was possible that he would ship the horses back to Kentucky and winter at the place he originally intended to. Bookmaker Charlie Walters arrived from Cincinnati last night and will probably join the ranks of the la vers doing business here next week. Archie Zimnier came on from New York. He has several shifty horses here, one of which is Caugh Hill, winner of a couple of races at Norfolk. Jockey Forsyth was suspended for three days by the stewards for cutting across from the outside when the start came in the second race. Presiding Steward Martin Nathanson is determined that the jockeys shall refrain from rough riding.
