view raw text
GETS AN EXCELLENT START CHARLESTON MEETING BEGINS UNDER CONDITIONS THAT GRATIFY MANAGEMET. Attendance Exceeds Expectations and Season Holds . Out Every Promise of Success Theresa Gill Wins Stake. Charleston, S. C, December 1. Racing began at Palmetto Park this afternoon under conditions that exceeded even the roseate expectations of the management. An immense attendance, comprising many or the most representative people of Charleston, and including Mayor Grace, was present. Great satisfaction was expressed over the promising outlook for the sport and the prosperous air that pervaded. Probably at no winter track in recent years has there been a better opening than that of this afternoon. Every section of the country sent a large visiting delegation of representative followers of racing. All expressed the belief that the steady improvement that is bound to come after the holidays will eventually cause Charleston to have one of the -best winter meetings seen since the sport flourished at New Orleans. There was not a marring incident during the afternoon and the sport left a wholesome taste in the mouths of the visiting brigade. Those speculatively Inclined were afforded plenty of opportunity, for sixteen layers were in line and quoted tempting prices. The knights of the chamois and chalk Were well satisfied with the days experience and found money plentiful In the ring. In the assemblage were many first-timers here and they were decidedly impressed with the conditions and began activities at once. As a matter of fact, there was little hesitancy on the part of anyone. The easterners looked upon this meeting as a continuation of the eastern season and the Kentuckians were primed for the racing, whicli was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by the big throng who cheered the winners In prolonged fashion. Featuring the card of six races was the Fort Sumter Inaugural Handicap at six furlongs and carrying a value of 1,500. Fourteen were originally carded for it, but withdrawals reduced the field to eight starters. They were a crack lot. Because of the predominating eastern opinion. Sir John Johnson, which has been racing impressively of late on the eastern courses, was Installed favorite, with Wilhite a close second choice. Both were beaten, the winner turning up in C. T. Worthingtons Ken-tucky-owiied Theresa Gill, which won well in hand by a length, Carlton G. taking second place and Sir John Johnson beating Wilhite for the minor portion of the stake. Heavy showers that fell until noon caused some concern among the horsemen., but the drenching the course received was beneficial, for it has been deep in dust since the automobile racing that took place during the fair. Jockey J. Hanover, who piloted Terra Blanco in the opening dash, received an arm full of prizes from the local merchants. Speculation in the ring was especially keen for an opening day. Sixteen layers were in line, two of which were fielders and one in the bleachers. Those who cut iu Included William R. Engstrom. T. J. Shaw, Gene Austin, George Vortman. Ed Colell, Steve LHommedieu, W. Fintzel, Al Hanf, James Jackson. Frank Bain, H. Fink, Claude Kyle, Oscar Bachman, and J. Oscar Holder. Three Pinkerton men are employed by the association this winter. The staff includes Captain Du-haln, Edward Shevlin and G. Clallagher. The stewards here are active and during the races made trips to the paddock, look the starters over and keep strict scrutiuy on those who frequent that part of the enclosure. Before shipping from Jamestown C. C. Smithson sold Rolling Stone to J. M. W. Green, lie also arranged to send Colonel Cook to Charleston with the Green establishment. Frank E". Brown, before leaving Norfolk, added Rye Straw to his establishment. The horses of W. H. Karrick, Thomas Hitchcock. Jr., II. K. Knapp and S. L. Parsons passed through here yesterday .en-route to their winter quarters at Aiken, S. C. It required five special trains to transport the racing folk who came here from Norfolk yesterday and today. James Rowe will ship from Harry Payne Whitneys Brookdale Farm In New Jersey to Albert Simons ten yearlings and four older horses, to be wintered at the Norfolk track. The consignment will include Enver Bey, Nightstick and a three-year-old English colt that has never faced the barrier, but which Is reported to have shown sensational trials in private. Sundays arrivals included sucli well-known personages on the turf as Tom Shaw, AV. R. Engstrom. William Beverly. Al Hanf, George Vortman. Steve LTIIommedieu, Claude Kyle. Colonel James, Steve Davidson. W. F. Carmody, Frank L. Brown. Frank Herold. Thomas F. Slieedy. Tony Cook. T. F. Buckley. W. C. Kerryhart, W. Gerdes. Charles ODell. William Shields, Jack Odom. Luke Tully. IT. Me-Bride. James Arthur. Frank Baccloeo, Phil liolliu-ger, James Blute. Larry Carey, J. !. Wagnon. W. N. Adrians, Kimball Patterson, W. O. .Topliu, Ed Trotter ami Johnny Paul. Layers who are expected to be on the firing line here "later include Barney Schreiber. Henry Hanf. Henry Haines, K. J. Callahan. R. E. Kennedy. Sol Lichtenstein. M. Woolfgang. Ted Coburu and W. G. Yanke. The latter is expected here by Thursday from his home in California and after this meeting will make a brief trip with jockey Borel to England, France and other parts of Europe.
