view raw text
FEATURE GOES TO FEYLANCE Largest Crowd of Season In Attendance Jockey A. Claver Takes Days Riding Honors. SAN DIEGO, Cal., December 25. Henry McDaniel, famous as a trainer in all parts where the kingly thoroughbred has his innings, sent a fit horse to the post Sunday in Feylance to win the Jack Dempsey Handicap, at three-quarters mile, before a rollicking, carefree crowd that clicked the turnstiles and which was on a par with the throng of opening day. Official figures were not available last evening, but the plant directed by Jim Coffroth played to at least 15,000 enthusiasts. The victory of Feylance provides the assertion that Commander J. K. L. Ross has sent some really good horses to this course for the winters sport, for the winner is one of the string racing under the colors of the famed Canadian turfman. Colorful to the extreme was the parade to the post for the Gridiron Handicap, with the members of West Virgiana and Gonzalo universities here for their championship football game this afternoon occupying front row boxes as the guests of president J. W. Coffroth of the Jockey Club. There was a slight delay at the post, due to the fractious behavior and over-anxious-nes to start on the part of some of the thoroughbreds. Starter Harry Morissey was unfortunate in effecting a bad send-off for this brilliant field. Dr. Johnson was the one to escape hindrance and he was away in the lead. This three-time winner and the favorite set a sizzling pace, with Black Deer his closest rival. AIJADANE FINISHES FAST. These two entered the homestretch ahead of the others, but Feylance was within striking distance. Jockey Claver on Feylance then called on the strapping son of Assagai and he mowed Dr. Johnson and Black Deer down like grain before rt reaper. He took the lead, but at the finishing post he had to be hustled to withstand the rush of Aba-dane. The latter finished second, rapidly overhauling the winner, with Dr. Johnson third. Abadane probably was the best horse in the field. He made up much ground and, had he left the post to better advantage, might have been returned the winner. Favorites took much the worst of it during the afternoon, only one first choice winning, this being Madge F., which captured the second race of a mile and an eighth in easy style from Judge David and Drifting. Kinglike, which is possessed of a high turn of speed, met more than his match in the seventh race, at five and a half furlongs, his colors being lowered to Mart Bunch and Fireplace. Kinglike made all the pace and an eighth out it appeared that he would reach the wire first, but he tired from early efforts and was unable to keep up the pace when Mart Bunch came up on the outside with a great rush of reserve speed. DUGAN SHOWS OLD SKILL. Apparent victory was turned into defeat in the first race when the favorite Sherman .A., leading by three lengths at the three-eighths pole, dislocated his ankle and was forced to pull up. Leading Star was the winner. This one was ridden by jockey Eddie Dugan, who several years ago was a champion of champions among riders. He is making his comeback in the sport and, if his skillful riding on Leading Star is a criterion to go by, Dugan will soon be acclaimed a real jockey once more. A season of running out in pasture evidently worked wonders with the bad-legged Hamilton A. Once upon a time he was a crack sprinter. Yesterday he showed some of that old-time form, by taking Hazel Dales measure in the fourth race, a dash of five-eighhths mile, with the greatest ease. The consistent sprinter Harry D. was away winning the concluding race and registered his sixth victory out of eight starts at the meeting. It appears difficult to find the day that C. B. Irwin does not win at least one purse and since the meeting was opened he has been known to win three in a single afternoon. Our Jessie, installed favorite, was a trifle slow to begin and could never quite overtake the winner. She was easily second best. Jockey Claver was the outstanding saddle luminary, winning two races. He scored on Feylance and Dr. Tubbs. It did not take long for jockey W. Pool to ride a winner after he returned to the saddle following an operation for appendicitis. This Kentucky boy rode Madge F. to victory Sunday. Blind Baggage, the one-time speedy sprinter, made his first appearance under silks for years, when Irwin sent him to the post in the seventh race. He showed a good race, but it was discernable that he pulled up lame. President James W. Coffroth was elated at the fine turnout of Sunday. There was a big gathering at the clubhouse and he was the recipient of many good wishes for a successful season.
