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ORBICULAR IN A STAR ROLE. Defeats Meelick in a Tremendous Finish in Handicap at Santa Anita Park. Los Angeles. Oil.. December 30. The defeat of .Meelick bv Orbicular today in the fourth race, at six and one-half furlongs, was a source of bitter disappointment to the public and also to owner S. C. Hildretli. who sent a numler of heavy commissions into the ring on his colt. Shilling, who rode. Meelick, claims that he was over-confident and grew a little wireless in the final eighth when Meelick appeared to have his opponents well beaten. Orbicuiars victory was not unexpected by a few dharpsl-ooters. among them being Tom Shaw, who won handsonielv on the race. Orbicular was badly outpaced to the stretch. Iiut in the final eighth iie closed up ground fast and finished with a meteoric rush, overwhelming Meelick in tl-c last few strides. C. B. Reid retaliated on Eugene Mayno today when the latters horse. Whidden. won the second race, bv running the gelding up from SoOO to 1908.sh00. but Mavne retained the gelding. The latter bid up Ueids liorse. Ben Trovato. yesterday. Today was draw-in day. only twenty-six books taking stands, a falling off of five from the last cut-in. This is owing to the fact that a number of peneilers have lost heavily in the last three days. George Rose is confined to his home with a light attack of the grippe, and will not be out for a few days. Seymour Rentier is also on the sick list and was not present today. The third race, which was won by Seymour Beut-ler. was also productive of another sensational finish, in which he beat Adriuche by a short head in a fierce drive. The winner ran an excellent race, coming through fast in the stretch and finishing resolutclv under a terrific drive.
