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Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of Jan. II, 1904 Racing at New Orleans, Los Angeles and Oakland. S. W. Streetts Big Ben outclassed his opponents in the handicap at New Orleans and won in a common gallop. The conditions were seven-eighths of a mile for three-year-olds and over, and the race attracted seven starters. King Croker was second, a neck in advance of Bon Mot, which beat J. W. Schorrs Dutiful for third place. Waterboy, about which more, perhaps, than any other horse centers public interest, is as healthy as a robin and as full of spirits as an Arab. Last Saturday at Sheepshead Bay trainer Joyner, instead of confining him to the paddock, took him out where the snow was deepest and there the big black disported himself to the fullest. He is a hard horse to stay on at the best of times, and it was the biggest sort of a job for the boy who does nothing else but ride him to keep on his back. The entry list for the 5,000 Brighton Han-dicap, at a mile and a quarter, is a record breaker. The completed list contains eighty-six nominations and secretary John Boden, Jr., says that he did not look for more unless in a delayed mail from California. Secretary Boden called attention to the fact that this stake, which is the richest of its kind to be decided on the eastern turf this year, has attracted every horse of merit in training and that it equals the historic Suburban in point of class. If reports from Memphis be true Charles Ellison may have a Derby candidate located there. Ellisons aspirant is the three-year-old filly Vestina Belle, by Cayuga Golden Reel. Last spring at Montgomery Park as a two-year-old she outworked J. P. Maybcrry and others of Ellisons string of youngsters that he thought were good ones. She went lame and did not race last year. Vestina Belle is now said to be going sound and working as fast as the stable desires to have her sent along at this early j time. She is greatly improved.
