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SEABISCUIT WINS UNDER 133 Repeats 1937 Victory in 5,000 Bay Meadows Handicap. Shor Backers of Howard Star Costs Management ,700 on Minus Pool-Lowers Record. SAN MATEO, Calif., April 18 Seabiscuit repeated in the Bay Meadows Handicap Saturday afternoon. The son of Hard Tack, which won the California Jockey Clubs most important event last season, came through with another victory before a banner crowd. The great five-year-old won by three lengths to lower the track record by one and two-fifths seconds. He ran the mile and an eighth distance in 1:49. Gosum, from the stable of Nelson A. Howard, finished second, while Neil McCarthys Today was third, and Advocator, stablemate of the winner, finished fourth. It was a fine victory for Seabiscuit and proved that he will be a mighty foe for War Admiral when the pair meet the latter part of next month. Although shaken up by ; jockey George Woolf after entering the stretch, Seabiscuit was never really in danger despite his 133 pounds and was going away from Gosum at the finish. GREAT OVATION. The Howard horse received a great ovation when he came on the track. The field of seven was at the post for three minutes, and Seabiscuit, in. an outside stall, was well mannered with Gosum doing most of the bad acting. When the start came, jockey Woolf had the favorite off quickly and then took him in hand. Primulus led around the first turn, with Seabiscuit close up on the . outside. The positions of the leaders were unchanged down the back stretch, but ap- proaching the far turn Woolf gave Seabis- cult just a bit of rein and moved to the . front of Primulus gradually after leaving the back lane. At the stretch head Seabiscuit had drawn into a good lead and then Gosum moved around the outside of the others to make his challenge. Woolf, evidently riding to orders, struck Seabiscuit with his whip when straightened out for home, and with Go- sums speed spent, Seabiscuit drew away in the last sixteenth. He paid .40 straight, .20 place, and .20 to show, and earned 1,270 by his victory. Advocator helped the . stable out by earning 50 for finishing fourth - RIVALS OUTCLASSED. Although all acquitted themselves credit-: ably, the horses pitted against him were not in the same class as Seabiscuit. Gosum cov-ered himself with glory by his game effort, while Today raced well and Primulus was used by setting the pace. They were just up against too much horse. It was a gala day for the "bridge jumpers," as the show players are known in turf parlance. Out of a show pool of 8,799, a total of 5,404 was wagered on Seabiscuit. Naturally, it was a minus pool, the association losing some ,700 on the deal. A total of 0,487 was wagered on the race, bringing the days total for the first seven races up to 76,289 and assuring a handle of well over 00,000, by far the largest sum ever to be cashed through the machines on a northern California race track. The largest crowd ever to witness a day of horse racing in northern California jammed the plant. It is estimated that between 35,000 and 40,000 were present The day was cloudy to begin with, but the sun broke out after the second race and the Bay Meadows Handicap was run under ideal con- ditions. OWNER HOWARD ELATED. Owner Charles S. Howard was elated with Seabiscuits victory. Following the race he said: "I am more than ever convinced after todays marvelous performance of Seabiscuit that he is the best horse in the country, and I look for him to win from War Admiral when they meet in the match race at Belmont Park. The fact that he had to break the track record is the best evidence of Sea-biscuits ability. The fast time of 1:49 for the mile and an eighth shows that he did not have any ordinary horses to beat. The pace set was terrific, but Seabiscuit kept right at the heels of the pacemakers from the start." The fractional time for the Bay Meadows Handicap was :23, :47, 1:11, 1:37 and 1:49. Jockey George Woolf stated after the race: "Seabiscuit is by far the best horse that I have ever ridden. He hasnt a single bad habit. He is a fine actor at the post and can keep up with the fastest pace without a particle of urging. Never at any stage of the race did I have any fear of not overtaking Primulus. Riding Seabiscuit is just as easy as rocking in a cradle." Seabiscuit made his las; appearance on the Pacific Coast Saturday. He will be loaded on a car Wednesday and shipped to Pim-lico, where he will likely fill his engagement in the Dixie Handicap. He then will be sent to New York and pointed for his match race with War Admiral at Belmont Park.
