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IN FLOURISHING CONDITION PALMETTO PARK SEASON IN FAIR WAY TO BE BEST OF RECENT WINTER MEETINGS. Consistent Old Donald Macdonald Scores His Twenty-Second Victory of Present Year in Winning Mount Pleasant Handicap. Charleston, S. C, December 20. That the present racing season sit Palmetto Park is fast developing inlo i lie Inst winter meeting in years, is evident bailie rapid strides made during the past week. Each lay brings an increase to the crowd of racing visitors thronging Charleston and it is evident that there will be an Immense throng of turf folk hero by the middle of January. Each newcomer brings word of many northerners awaiting the passing of the holidays before departure for this city to take part in the sport. In addition to this, local patronage is growing and the daily attendance even now is far in excess ot that of last year. Encouraged by the flourishing conditions, the management Is bending every effort to provide sport of high class and in this they have been successful. The selling race handicaps, which proved so popular in .Maryland during the past season, have served to bring out the better class of platers instead of the heap variety so abundant at any winter track, while the overnight handicaps and stakes are drawing the best in the thoroughbred line in training here. Haciiig .Secretary Nathanson is preparing daily cards intended to bring together evenly balanced lields, and many close finishes furnish evidence that he is succeeding. Victories by the margin of a head, a neck or a nose are common, alid thus far more tlmu two-thirds of the races have licen in doubt until the last stride. This sort of sport lias aroused the keenest enthusiasm among the lovers of the siiort gathered here. Korniful racing has "entailed severe losses upon most of tile layers in line. The favorites have garnered their full measure of purses daily and the long-priced winners have also lieeu extensively supported. An excellent card, featured by the .Mount Ileasant Handicap, one mile and a sixteenth, wortli ,500, coupled with splendid weather", were factors today in attracting the biggest crowd that, has witnessed ;2n racing ail- Palmetto Pafk"thls season. Tiffeen" " layers were again in line and all suffered loss-.-s. as five of the public cboiees won. The consistent Donald .Macdonald scored Ids twenty-second victory of the present year by winning the stake feature of tint ilny In commanding fasliiou from Floral Park and ti. .M. .Miller, with Ixwhiel, the only other starter, beaten off. To close observers it appeared tliat,t lie veteran son of Sombrero was lucky in carrying off the prize and that he should have been beaten by Floral Park. The latter was handled iy the inexperienced and diminutive Pauley, who was sadly at a loss when it came to assisting his mount. lr. Duenner was an intended starter in this race, but he ran away three miles in his preliminary, which resulted in his absence from the race and necessitated additional time for a new ltook. The handicap for two-year-olds at live and a half furlongs was contested by a shifty band of juveniles and the winner turned tip in the top weight. Brave Cunarder. Old Ben, making bis tirst start here, raced in Impressive fashion and finished a creditable k second. He was going much the strongest at the m end after a slow beginning and would have beaten I Brave Cunarder at a longer distance, r An unaccountable accident that may terminate the F racing career of Gold Cap came during the running of the second race. The purse was taken by J. L. Hollands Dartwortli, which led for the entire trip, Cold Cap getting up in the last few strides to dispose of Duqtiesne for second money. The runner-up returned to the stand bleeding profusely from the right knee and the only explanation for his injury is that he struck the fence or that some horse In the race caused it during the running. No interference during the running was noticeable. After Dartworths victory he was bid up from an entered price of 00 to ,405 and retained. Brave was withdrawn from the closing dash when it was fouud that be could not be entered for less than .,500. The conditions of the race stipulated that horses that had won a race of the value of $.",00 since October 1 could not be entered for less than that amount. According to the rules of the Jockey Club, the entrance money Is not computed in reckoning the value to the winner. The contrary- is the case in Kentucky and the local stewards decided to rcognize the Kentucky rules in this instance. Previous to the races this afternoon a sale of horses in training was held In the paddock, when the following were disposed of: Garden of Boses, G. A. Hilton. 1913.sh5; Lord Clinton. J. ONeill, 0; Transformation. W. Walker, 00; Great Surprise, G. S. .Martin. 05. Alteon, favorite in the ojiener. was the only choice to fail during the afternoon. He succumbed in the last stride to Loretta Dwyer. After Ancou was beaten, M. A. Colton disposed of him to his former owner, E. J. Huinel. Among tlie best trials this morning over the Palmetto Park track were: Agnicr Five-eighths in 1:0ft. Barn Dance -Three-quarters in 1:19. Clias. Caunell Three-quarters in 1:19. Cheinulixj Three-quarters in 1:18. Cockspur Three-quarters in .1:1S. Dangerous March Half mile in 52. Detour Three-quarters in 1:22. Ella Bryson Three-quarters In 1:2:!. Kiel Mile In 1:52. Henotlc Three-quarters in 1:18. Incision Three-quarters in 1:20. Kiiitnuudy Three-quarters in 1:1!. Loan Shark Seven-eighths in 1:33. Lord Wells Half mile in 50. Lost Fortune Three-quarters in 1 :20. Oakland Three-quarters in 1 :2.".. Priwer Three-quarters in 1:18. Ituby Hvams Three-quarters in 1:19. Samuel It. Meyer Three-quarters in 1:23. Schuri Throe-quarters in 1:21. Serenntn Three-quarters in IMS1-,. Svlvcstris Three-quarters in 1:19. Voltlioriio Mile in 1:47. Whito Wool Three-quarters in 1:21. The activity of the stewards in their effort to maintain the siiort on the highest plane is coining in for praise on all sides. Their alertness has made it patent that it will be risky for anybody to attempt any trickery. It is only natural that there are bound to U some form reversals due to unfor-secn racing causes, but even these will be looked into by the officials. Continuous probing and occa-r sional suspensions are bound to have a far reaching and iMMietielul effect. Since the beginning of the meeting, several owners, trainers and jockeys hav been "on the carpet." They were given to understand that unless they conformed strictly to the rules of racing, their room rather than their company would be desirable at Palmetto Park. The xtcwiirds, in making the announcements, did not injure words, and the sincere way they had In expressing themselves left no room for doubt that they were in earnest and would not tolerate any deviations. Most of the eastern owners, particularly those with big establishments, are vastly Interested In the slake offerings announced by various New York courses for next season. These rich fixtures, some of which close on January 5. are also absorbing attention from western and Kentucky horsemen and nominations to them will be generous. The stake announcement and the liberal offerings of the Kentucky Association for its coming spring meeting at Lexiugton, are also a theme for favorable comment by the owners here who intend campaigning next season on Kentucky tracks. The Lexington representative will find a liberal response when lie conies here in quest of entries to the stakes. Richard F. Carman is mighty sweet on his good colt Surprising and has mapped out for that youngster a campaign that will include engagements in stakes approximating the magnificent total of 75,-000. He will be entered for all the New York fixtures to which he is eligible, likewise the Kentucky Derby, The Kentucky 5,000 Handicap at Douglas Park, the Latonia Derby and the Dorval International Derby. Mr. Carman feels sanguine that the colt will acquit himself creditably in all his engagements and will capture a fair share of the prizes. Jockey Burlingame, who recently sustained severe injury by a fall from Warbler, is progressing favorably and will be in the saddle again before long. According to close observers," "Burlingame is one of the most likely jockey prospects bore and several of tiie big stables are angling for his services next season. James Howe Is seeking a contract on the rider for Harry Payne Whitneys establishment and will in all probability secure him. Another rider of considerable promise is the diminutive Sumter, who was sent. here. by W,.,.H. jvar-, rick in charge, of William Shields, to acquire a little more riding experience. This youngster is destined next season to do most of the lightweight riding for the extensive string that Karrick will train. - as young Karrick. who toriuerly rode for his father, as well as for 11. K. Knapn, Schuyler Parsons and others, will be employed in France, riding the horses that the .Messrs. Hitchcock intend to campaign there.
