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CHARLESTON MEETING ON THE BOOM. Past Week Marked by Growing Patronage, Increasing Speculation and Keener Interest. Charleston, S. C, January IS. A decided increase in interest in the racing at Palmetto Park was noticeable during the past week, the attendance showing a big gain and the speculation also running to a high figure. For the first time in many weeks, the layers had the best of it, due to the failure of a number of the favorites to run to form. On two days, six choices were beaten. There were several additions to the ranks of the bookmakers, Henry Ilanf cutting in Saturday and several more are on the ground ready to go on. The volume of money handled in the ring daily is up to the standard of any recent winter meeting and gives promise of growing larger as the meeting goes on. The past week was the banner one of the season thus far for the two-year-olds, as it gave them their lirst opportunity to contest for stake money. It also demonstrated that G. W. J. Bissell, millionaire Pittsburgh manufacturer, has several good juveniles in his barn, including the Ultimus Flycatcher filly. Filigree, which won the Hampton Stakes. Although her win was considered lucky, due to La Patrie having run wide throughout the three and a half furlongs journey, she must he given credit for running a good race. Upon the occasion of her previous start Filigree had run wide and this cost her the race. That R. Colston has the best two-year-old fillv shown here to date in La Patrie is the concensus of opinion, and her race in the Hampton Stakes hears out this statement. When jockey Hanover got her half way straightened out in the stretch she showed a terrific burst of speed, but the distance was too short to make up the lost ground. She was running fastest of all at the end. Secretary Nathansons book for this week calls for the highest class racing of the meeting. To he-gin with, the Robert E. Lee Handicap, worth ,000. will be run tomorrow and this will bring out an excellent field of stake horses. Incidentally, the management of Palmetto Park expects this to be the best day of the meeting, as the occasion is a legal holiday In this state and a big crowd invariably turns out here on the holidays. The South Carolina Selling Stakes will be run Saturday. It has a guaranteed cash vaue of ,200. The former is at one mile and an eighth and the latter at one mile. H G. Bedwell and J. S. Ward took an active hand in the selling bidding up for the first time during the past week. The run-ups and claims were more frequent than ever and either Bedwell, William Walker or J. W. Hedrick figured in all of them. The Ward horses have been bid up more frequently than those of any other owner racing here, but his first retaliation came when he took Ancon from William Walker for ,200. In the matter of winning purses, H. G. Bedwell still has a commanding lead over tho other owners with .305 to his credit. He increased his lead during the nast week, while J. O. Talbott and the Beverwyck "Stable, his closest rivals, won little. For the first time during the meeting, the J. L. Holland stable failed to win a single purse. The victories or John Furlong in the Charleston Ilotel Handicap, and Filigree In the Hampton Stakes, put Francis J. Pons and G. W. J. Bissell well up in the list. Jockey Johnny McTaggart still has a big lead over the other riders in races won, with Buxton closest to him. although not within, striking distance. Mc-Taggarts lead Is expected to be; cut down from now on, however, as his contract employer, Hugh Penny, has announced that in future his mounts will be restricted to the horses owned by blmself and the J. L. Holland stable. - Owners who have won ,000- or more up to and including Saturdays races follow: n. O. Bedwell. ,315; J. O. Talbott, -1914.sh,740: Beverwyck Stable, 1914.sh,055; J. L-. nolland,. 85,000: A. Weber. ,715; R. F Carman. ,590: William Walker. ,575: W. G. Yanke. ,900: O.W. J, Bissell, ,090: J. W. Hedrick. ,485: J. H. .iMcCarren, Sl473; M. A. Colton, ,450; J. A. Strode. .4S5; L. H. Adair ,350: f M nedrlck, .i: -G. Cv Baker, ,220: M. C. Moore, 210; F .U Pons,- ,200: J. M. Zlmmer. 1.173; C. T. Wofthlneton. ,1C0; F. E. Brown, ? 1,125; L. MarlohV ,025.
