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■ j J : I j -♦ , Twenty Years Ago Today Chief Turf Events of May 8. 1904. Sunday, no racing. It looks as if the California racing sea-, son has not produced a really good two year old. No two year old has been seen that can give away weight. In fact, no handicapper rates any colt five pounds better than the next best. At that California will this year give to the turf a number of useful youngsters. Cal ifornia bred two year old stake winners will have to come from those sold in the East, or else come from those that have been held out. Witchcraft, the Horoscope Queenstown filly of the E. E. Smithers string, which marked the opening of her three year old sea-I son by winning her first race, is a miss that attracted considerable attention in the pad dock. This fdly has grown a great deal since last year, and is now a racer of fine proportions. It was whispered about the paddock that in some recent trials she has shown the way to McChesney in five eighths workouts. Her race was of a character to proclaim her a filly of promise when it is considered that she met and defeated seasoned horses. Witchcraft was thoroughly tired after her effort, but the manner in which she accomplished her task leaves little doubt that her next start will be even better. Taylor was generally complimented by horsemen on the excellent appear ance of both Witchcraft and McChesney, and several who saw the big son of Mac-Duff and Manola Mason racing at New Orleans two winters ago, and had not seen him since, were truly surprised at his fine appearance. Un-J fortunately there was no actual chance to see what McChesney amounts to as a sprinter, for his was not even a fairly good gallop, by reason of the way he was kept at the post by HUdebrand. But on looks alone, as several horsemen put it, he is bound to be a remarkable race horse again this season.
