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TRACK IN BAD CONDITION CONSTANT DRENCHING PUTS COLUMBIA COURSE IN TREACHEROUS STATE. Weather Continues Wot and Interferes . with Enjoyment of the Racing Attempted Coup with Emperor William Tails. Columbia, S. C, December 20. Weather conditions continued severe and detracted much from the racing at the Fair Grounds today. A misty drizzle began early and continued throughout the arternoon. A heavy fog at times enveloped the course and the running of the horses in the last two races could hardly be distinguished. The track was In its worst state, the constant drenching it has Iieen subjected to making the going difficult and accounting for many of the starters stumbling at various stages of their journeys. Several smartly supported contenders were bowled over and this circumstance entailed quite a loss to some of the sharps. The main disappointment in this respect was Emperor William, which succumbed to the inconsistent Our Nugget in the fourth race. Emperor William had been given a strenuous preparation at Norfolk following the close of racing there and was shipped here recentlv with a view to a big betting coup. His failure was in the main due to a stumble at the start, which gave him much the worst of the break. He showed dazzling speed ia racing into a long lead, but weakened In the final furlong and was headed in the last few strides. The steeplechase that was intended as the feature race brought about the failure of The Speaker. thu favorite, and also of Sam Ball, a supposed "good thing." The King was an easy winner. The Speaker bled after going one round of the course, but would likely have lieen beaten had not this occurred, ns he did not display the same dash as in a former essay. It was only after much coaxing that the owner of The King was persuaded to start his charge and his victory was held to be a surprise. Favorites accounted for the first two races, when Hildas Sister and Ossabar led their respective fields home. Warner Griswell won the fifth" race, after supplanting Helen Scott as the favorite. The frequently disappointing Lucky Wish again failed as a favorite in the closing dash, jockey Turner losing his stirrup soon after the start. Track superintendent Ilanna eliminated the "path" this morning. He plowed up about ten feet close to the outside rail with the result that there was no wild scramble for that part of the track when the break came in the different races. Most of the winners finished on the inside where the footing was probably ln-st. although for that matter there was not much choice. Centre Shots race was a keen disappointment to her backers and undoubtedly to the officials also, as a ruling came from the stewards at the conclusion of the afternoons sport which bars the mare from further participation in the sport here on tho ground of inconsistent running. Med Henderson, who is looking after The Speaker, has arranged to ship him back to Belmont Park, where he will go into winter quarters. Regarding the rumors of a further extension here, President Charles Lynch today reiterated his former statement that the meeting in Columbia would positively come to a close with the running of next Saturdays program. There is talk of remodeling tho plant during tho summer months next year. The plans call for tho erection of a new grandstand and a new betting ring. It is also likely that the track proper will be widened and a six-furlongs chute lmlit. The financial backing for the enterprise will come from local men who are interested in the thoroughbred. Horace Paul, a well-known eastern bookmaker, left for his home in California this afternoon. Mr. Paul was called away on account or the illness of one of his children. His crew remained here and will finish out the meeting.
