view raw text
J ] AU REVOIR AT TIJUANA ! 1 S One Hundred and Thirty Days of Racing Comes to an End. * « I Meeting Most Successful in His- [ tory of Mexican Course — Ten Races on Farewell Program. i ♦ t TIJUANA. Mexico, April 21.— During the s six years of its operation no previous meeting 3 approached the one which closed Sunday at the Tijuana race track. It was the longest in the number of racing days, the greatest in total attendance, the greatest in total wager- j ing and it was carried to a highly successful close without any outside handicaps which I mitigated against the success of previous years at the border course. There were no * passport restrictions this year and Governor . Lugo of Bower California and his predecessor. Governor E. Y. Barra, with their admin- istrations, extended president Coffroth many i courtesies and assistance in the operation of 1 the plant. It was a meeting which seemed to gather momentum from the first day and the fine j crowd of Thanksgiving Day, the opening, certainly was a harbinger of what was to fol- ] low. Steadily the attendance and wagering 1 increased and although the meeting was an- I nounced for only 100 days president Coffroth decided on an extension and thus there were 130 days in all. There was no diminution j in patronage toward the close, but it really was the reverse to be noted, this being at- y tested by the fine crowds of Friday, Saturday I and Sunday. Such a result could not be otherwise than encouraging to president Coffroth. This has inspired him to great en- • deavors for next year. Details of his plans -1 will be announced later, but even at this early date the forecast for a greater meeting next winter is being made by close observers. -It is certain that horses of much higher cali- i ber will be attracted when this director of 1 western racing makes known his offerings, s One of the remarkable features of the meet- 1 ing was the unbroken continuity of high- i class racing and this naturally maintained 1 the attendance and wagering at such a high : figure. There were scores and scores of i closely contested race3 and the nose finishes came so frequently that they finally ap- ] peared ablaze to the rank and file. The efficiency of judge Francis Nelson, presiding steward, and Leon Wing, racing secretary, as well as starter Harry Morrissey and other officials was attested at every hand and the cleanliness of the sport won many ardent admirers for thoroughbred racing. THREE OUTSTANDING FEATURES. For the farewell program there were the Spinaway Handicap, at five and one-half furlongs ; the Au Revoir Handicap, at one and one-sixteenth miles, and the La Golondrina Handicap, at one and three-quarters mile, to feature the card of ten races. The first of these three resulted in a hollow victory for the semi-blind horse Kinglike. He was fleet of foot and soon taking command drew out decisively in the final eighth to ultimately win by three lengths. Second to Kinglike was Doctor Corbett, which spent his stamina trying to overtake the big son of Hippodrome. Nan McKinney, after a long rest, showed a corking good race by finishing third. She had a tardy beginning. To Woodie Montgomery fell the honor:. Of winning the Au Revoir Handicap. He was capably ridden by jockey T. Wilson, who saved him in front to the stretch, where he used the strongest kind of pursuasion to keep the son of First Chip in the lead. He ultimately scored by a half length from Breeze, -which finished on the outside. Piedra] j was the one to take the consolation end of the purse from Harry Burgoyne. East Indian, a prime favorite here, bore out badly in the stretch. Displaying keen judgment of pace, jockey Duggan was first home with the English-bred horse Rouen in the La Golondria Handicap. When ready Duggan brought his mount from the rear and mowed his opponents down to win by the best part of a length. In the second place ran Montona, while Bourbon Green took third honors. Crowning the many activities which the thoroughbred racing inspired was the brilliant dinner given at the Sunset Inn last night by president James Wood Coffroth. who had as bis guests officials of his organization, prominent residents of Mexico and friends from San Francisco and elsewhere. One of the delightful surprises of the occasion was the presentation to president Coffroth of a massive loving cup. This was quite appropriately inscribed, the names of the donors not appearing, but there was a simple iegend telling that it was from a few of his many friends.
