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Esprit de France Nears World Record in Golden Gate Event GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, Albany, Calif., May 15. — Neil S. McCarthys Esprit de France bounded into public- favor as a probable threat for top honors in the Golden Gate Mile and the Golden Gate Handicap when he barely missed the worlds record for a mile and a sixteenth in winning the San Franciscan Handicap here last Saturday. The Irish-bred son of Epigram and Francille ran the distance in 1:41%, just a fifth of a second off the mark which Count Speed created here in the fall of 1947. Esprit de France, shouldering 112 pounds and ridden by Basil James, trailed his field to the head of the homestretch, came to the outside and, closing boldly, was up in time to beat the heavily supported Cm Trust a head for the big end. of the 0,000 added purse. Safe Arrival was a half length farther back in third place.
