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BETTER RACING CONDITIONS RETURN OF FAIR WEATHER IS WELCOMED AT COLUMBIA COURSE. Tent Used, for Betting Ring Is Blown Down and Speculation Goes On in the Open Track Still Deep and Holding. Columbia. S. C, December 27. Clear, but cool weather insults rat-ins conditions a bit more agreeable today than has been the cape hero for the last tw.i weeks and the patronage at the Fair Grounds tills afternoon was really generous. A high wind was responsible for an "open ring" today, as the tent used for hotting purposes was blown down early and .several persons had narrow escaiies from injury. Tl.e track was deep and holding and accounted for 11 upsets that came during the afternoon. Only two choices were successful, but all the winners were lit Id at short odds for that matter. The tiftli race, engaging sonic fairly useful sprinters, was the best offering and It resulted in the defeat of the favorite. Sea Swell, by Oakley, his former conqueror. Conditions were held to be exactly to the liking of Sea Swell and he was tonti-dently supported. He flattered his backers by maintaining a good lead until tin- last sixteenth, where Oakley made a determined and successful bid. Ilal-d.maii and Warner Griswell. both winners on the occasions of their preceding starts, accounted for the closing dash and the fourth race, respectively. LAppello. after many essays, linally made good when siie got home first in the opener, for which Ronnie ISee was the favorite. Tom Shaws lucky win in tin- second was somewhat due to jockey Goulds blundering ride on Dust, and Sir Edward upset calculations when he outganied Ynea in the thid race. Yuen was the medium for an unsuccessful betting coup. The only official ruling handed out this afternoon was the suspension of jockey Gould for the re-UMiitidr of the meeting. The suspension was imposed bv starter James Milton after Could got all a liut I ft at the ost with Runt Dance in the fourth P i. et. A notice was posted in the secretarys oilicc tlus mora lag from Francis-J. Pons requesting horsemen to remain at Columbia until a few days before the meeting opens at Charleston. The reason for this request is that the contractors have been taxed to the limit hurrying construction work along in order to make up for time lost through the continuous rains of last week. Mr. Pons announced that, unless something unforeseen happens, the meeting will open on the date advertised, January It. Warner Griwell winner of the fourth race, was boosted 0 after his victory and his owner refused to protect him. The race was a 100 top and bottom affair and when W. 1!. Carson hid 50, lie secured the horse. A special train of six cars will leave Norfolk for Charleston over the Southern Railroad January 5. There are close to 100 horses at Norfolk awaiting the opening of the Charleston meeting and they are all ready to race. The stewards as yet have failed to hand down a decision in regard to the running up of the horses Tom Massie and Uncle J inutile Cray. The ollieials here are still trying to ascertain the exact nature of the ruling against William Shields.
