The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 29, 1895, Page 10

10 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1895. There was no keeping them away. The weather, misty, rainy and generally disagreeable; the football enthusiasts, | h their rah! rah! rah! contingent; fat turkeys done brown all over and of tasty stuffing, and—lots of other thing supposed to keep people in the City, didn’t stop them from getting out to Ingleside Track ye It was the opening day of the Pacific Coast Jockey Club meeting—the inaugura- tion of a new era in racing on this coast, ushered in with the most attractive first- day card ever presented here. The best Eastern and Western horses were to com- pete on the new and model track, under the most fa s and for tempt- ing purses. These inducements were suffi- The reason for this is that the crowd | pressed itself into the grand stand, which new track. With him were nearly all the only hol 000, during the even ts, and be | represen es of the old Bay District, as tween times they poured down the half | enthusiastic and well-wishing as any one dozen broad stairways to the betting ring, | else. Williams and his men are all true where nearly a score of bookies were lib- | lovers of good horse racing, and they odds and coaxed “the talent’ tive figures into taking a chance. time in a long while in thi lin th For the State “‘sh to come opportunity to try their judgment on third There was no wheel of fortune. time-honored institution missed as it had become a fix a necessity—to track frequenters. On the outside of the grand stand be- | Way off to the south, on the hillsand | and jibes money was offered, and the timid ones who did not care to play horses first or second were given an That greatly e—almost showed their appreciation of yesterday's . | events by sticking closely to them and bet- ting their money creerfully, although with party were ex-Judge Burke, Norman . | roy, William Godfrey, Louis Lissak and liams held the lines. Williams acted handsomely toward the | dragging vegetables around the streets of ‘ this City, he will always be read of in turf | history as the winner of the first race on | | Clubat Ingleside Park. the opening of the Pacific Coast Jockey Charles F. Kapp, an enthusiastic sports- man and lover of horses, had sent a mag- | nificent floral horseshoe for presentation to the first winner on the new track. The hour under the timers’ stand. little return as it so happened. .In the | beautiful piece was on exhibition for an When Sem- Brough, Starter J. B. Ferguson, R. B. Mil- | per Lex came in a winner twenty men | made frantic efforts to place the fragrant Monroe Johnson. Of course *“Tom” Wil- | trophy around his neck and he made as | | frantic and more successful efforts to save | The attendance was by no means lim- | himself from being decorated. This by- | ited to the people inside the track grounds. | play amused the public and in shouts they managed to 2 S N AR ey | R THE FIR ST START. {From an instantaneous photograph taken by a * Call " artist.) cient to wipe out all drawbacks, and thou- | tween it and the gates were hundreds of sands ot men and women crowded the grand stand, quarter-stretch, paddock and betting ring. y i officers of the Joc Club Too! gloomy during the early part of the day. | The outlook was bad and their hopes for a fair attendance small. It wasamusing as the day progressed to watch their long | faces close up and gradually spread out | into broad grins as carload after carload of | human freight poured in from the differ- | ent lines of cars. At night the managers | gave 12,000 as a conservative estimate of the attendance, and it certainly looked to be half that number more. carriages, buggies, drags, harouches, tally- ho coaches and other conveyances hitched prominent points hundreas of people had | congregated, taking advantage of the emi- | nences to get a view of the races. They to the trees and posts. They had all come | reached there in wagons of ll descriptions by way of tke old Alms Houseroad, which was much the worse for mud and slush, or by way of the Ocean Beach, the far better | road although the longer. Among the turn-outs were those of Thos. H. Williams, a grand tally-ho and four, and E.J. Baldwin. appetizing a spectacle as was wont in the old days of bright sunshine when brightly garbed ladies graced the coaches and spread their gaily colored parasols. THE WINNER OF THE FIRST RACE, SEMPER LEX. [(From a photograph.] Both had parties of | gentlemen who failed to present nearly so | | and walked as well as climbed, but they | were there surely, in mist and rsin, and must have enjoyed it for they remained until the last race. It was a noticeable fact that aside from 1the habitues of race courses there were scores of men who are seldom seen in such places. Their presence was accepted as a bright omen. It showed that already the heightened tone of racing on this coast as buoyed by the Pacific Coast Jockey Club was felt. This would certainly have been more perceptible had the weather per- | mitted the attendance of the gentler sex. Every‘hing moved charmingly and astonishingly well ror a'new venture. There were were no hitches inside the grounds, if there were some slight contre- ] temps on the road there. But there were some amusing incidents. One of them oc- curred in connection with the old-time custom of having the winning jockey ride up to the wire and pull down his bag of gold, the premium for his victory. As usual, after the Palace Hotel stakes, the $1500 was hung up in a bag tied to the wire. Marty Bergen, up on Junius, the winner, trotted up to the judges’ stand, raised his whip for the signal to dismount, got permission and at the same time was told to piuck the golden plum waiting for him on the wire. It was something new to the jockey and he grew confused. He pulled at the bag asif it had been tied with a hawser and down went the shining $20 pieces into the mud. Bergen was off his horse in a jiffy and ‘groveling in the slush. He got all that was coming to him. The immense crowd was full of fun and appreciative. It seemed to be only ready to shout and appleud. It was givena splendid opportunity for this in the first event. There was no very heavy favorite, all the entries being estimated as pretty nearlyonapar. A 4to 1 shot won the race, Semper Lex, and as he came in he was cheered to the echo, as a 50 to 1 shot might be on any other occasion. Perhaps, and no doubt, it was because he was the first winner pn the new track, and he was entitled to additional recognition. If that borse never again wins a race, and, like many of his predecessors, be relegated to b ) anily pass the time until the next race. There is another record that may be mentioned. the filly’s value, excepting that it pegs her attendants up a bit for promptness. Moderocio, the property of G.B. Morris, one of the greatest and best-liked men in turfdom, was the first to make his appear- ance ready for parade on the Pacitic Coast Jockey Club track. This seems very im- material, but to the jockey, the tout and the general hanger-on about the track this will be handed down to posterity. That brings to mind that old Pete Bran- dow graced the track yesterday. He is the oldest trotting-horse driver on the American turf. He knows the ins and outs of the profession as well if not better than any one else, and has been ruled off and reinstated more times than anybody else. But that is not exactly what brings the old fellow out so prominently just now. Pete wore a plug hat! By the shades of all the old-timers who have gone before him, Pete Brandow could not have dared do such a thing at a trot- ting race without taking his life in his hands, to say nothing of saving the tile. Pete refused all sorts of bribes on the part of the Spreckels boy, Joseph Cairn Simp- son, Colonel Dickey and other old friends, to tell where he got that hat. There were no very great winnings made against the books. Riley Grannan, the plunger, who stands first on the list when Pittsburg Phil 1s not in town, did no good for himself. In the second race, the six furlongs for three-year-olds and up, he went down the line and reduced the odds on Potentate. Oregon Eclipse, a 15 to 1, came in first, and Grannan’s promenade cost him a few thousa nds. W. ©’B. McDonough dumped a snug amount on Bright Phoebus at even money. Hobart’s colt was generally regarded as a good one in muddy running, but he proved a rank outsider this time. The trouble is that he, like most of the others that were expected to do good work, has not yet got in shape. They all need more work of the kind they got yesterday. Semper Lex is the only one who, coming in fresh and unworked, did well, but he was in splendid form and will do better even as time progresses. Dick Leggett was a good winner on the first race. He called it onme, two and pleas- It will not add anything to | NGLESID E TRAC placed a few dollars on his judgment. He has not ceased cheering yet. He thinks | the Jonah that was on him at the old track is off now. “I'm going to win now; this is my kind of track,” he informed Edward Corrigan, who congratulated him on his success. Captain Callundan of Harry Morse’s patrol had thirty uniformed men in his command to care for and protect the people on the track. Even with that force he at times found it a most difficult matter to keep the crowd from blockading the wide stairways leading from the grand stand to the quarterstretch. The captain stated last night that for the first time in years that he has had charge of the polic- ing of racetracks he had not been obliged to place an obstreperous-person under arrest. “This was the most gentlemanly and best-behaved gathering I have ever had to deal with,” he stated. This state- ment goes far toward showing the in- fluence the Pacific Coast Jockey Club is having in elevating the tone of the race- track. Regarding the means of transportation to and from the track it should be said that the steam cars and the electric line made arecord. Both hauled their cars over new roadbeds for the first time, and both came as near being a success as could be hoped. The steam cars from Third and Townsend streets carried 1200 people each trip and reached the track in twenty-four minutes. The electric cars carried 140 people at one load and took fifty minutes from Third and Mission streets. There was but one mis- hap. An old car from the Metropolitan line was put in service and was the only one in fifty-seven to jump the track, caus- ing a delay of nearly a half hour. Super- intendent Lynch was at the track looking out for that end of the service. Harry Griffin, the premier lightweight jockey of America, reac hed here yesterday morning at 11 o’clock and was at the track. At one time he and Mayor Sutro stood side by side, and it was hard telling which at- tracted most attention. Allin all, the opening day of the Pacific Coast Jockey Club’s meeting was a great no reason to regret he lost the wager he made with Frank Burke Wednesday night that the receipts of Thursday would not amount to more than $5000. They were success, and President A. B. Spreckels has | ment that reigns around the poolboxesr a tall, nervous individual with a peculiar hankering for new acquaintances came out of hiding, as it seemed, and took pos- session of a total stranger. First he asked him for a match, then a cigarette and finally struck up an association that, while rather sudden, was full of informa- tion. “This is a great track. Say, Igtell you I've attended all the openings of race courses ever held in this State and I'm giving it to you straignt when I-say this beats them all.” “There are a great many strangers here, 1 see.” “Well, I should say yes. You see, here in California the racing business is begin- ning to look up a little. The men at the 2 nearly double that sum. Among the m(ny thousand people at the track the following well-known per- sons were observed : Judge Joachimson, J. Ross Jackson, Coroner Hawkins, Chief Crowley, Captain Lees, Warren Payne, Senator Dennison, Tom Williyms, Charles McDonald, James Flynn, Adjutant-General Barrett of Los Angeles, William B. Horn, J. H. Harris, J. D. Spreckels, Adolph Spreckels, Alexan- der Hamilton, W. O'Brien Macdonough, Porter Ashe, Will Ashe, Colonel Farley, Bob Elder, T. C. Snider, Harry W. Walker, D. E. Hackett, Tom Sullivan, M. M. O’Shaughnessy, Mayor Sutro, Dr. Livingstone, Judge G. Garber, John Watkins, F. A. Murphy, Fred Bur- gin, Tom Walkington, Charles Paxton, Edgar Mizner, Harry Creswell, Colonel Meagher, Ed Corrigan, W. W. Wood, D. M. Delmas, Charles Wood, Alex Vogel- sang, Rudolph Herold, Walter Turnbull, W. F. Herrin, Clint Reilly, N. A. Judd, Jose Castro, Frank McMullen, Ea Steel, Harry McCarthy, Colonel Hanlon, Henry Crocker, Bob Woodward, Ross Wieland, J. F. Burke, Charles Friend, Colonel Jack Follansbee, W. W. Naughton, Colonel Kow- alsky, James McNab, M. A. Gunst; Commodore Con O'Connor, J. H. Bush- nell, Ferris Hartman, Charles W. Dixon, Henry Clay Barnabee, Dr. D. J. Smith, W. B. Bradbury, Joseph Harvey, Adolph Hirschman, Colonel James Dickey, Frank Dickey, Superviscr Taylor, Frank Sherman, Captain Henry White, Peter Donohoe, John McCord, Richard Harvey, R. Van Brunt, Simeon Seymour, Jack Puray, H. Mangles, Oscar Kron, Thomas ‘Watson, H. Lynch, William Brackett, Grove Ayers, Captain Alexander Swanson, J. Naglee Burke, Charles M. Chase, F. H. Chase, J. E. Terry, Wilber George, Harry Brooke, Harry Williams, Reel B. Terry, and innumerable others. oo T TOLD BY THE TOUT. The Man With the Memory Gilves Up a Little Track Gosslp. After the crowded tramns had dumped thousands of visitors on the grounds and things began to liven up with the excite- < the turf. Payne is a superstitious bettor. He always puts his money up on the book- mnaker’s counter with his left hand and then puts the ticket in his hip pocket. He generally keeps it there, but that makes no difference. “Over there by the judges’ stand is Henry Crocker, vice-president of the Pa- cific Coast Jockey Club. That's this club. He has got a perpetual smile with him. [ suppose it's because he is happy at the suc- cess of the venture. On the dead square, I never saw that man worried. That is to say, be never looks that way. Of course I suppose he picks the wrong horse occa- sionally. We all do that. Do you ever play theraces?”’ #+“Who is that going up in the judge's stand 27 FLORAL HORSESHOE PRESENTED TO THE WINNER OF THE FIRST RACE BY CHARLES F. KAPP OF KAPP & STREET. head of it are getting up better purses and things are more on the square. Do you see that purse hanging up there on the wire? Well, when the jockey has finished his run he slides up ana yanks the dough right in front of the assembled multitude. Live here in San Francisco ?” “No. Boston.” *Say, put her there. I'm from Boston myself. Anything Ican do for you just say the word. Take the tip from me, {riend; there isn’t a man on the track that I ain’t intimate with. Do you see that oid man over there with white curly hair and a rather happy expression? Well, that's Captain Lees, chief of the detectives here. Now there’s a character. That man never bets. No, sir; not a cent—have you got another match? Thanks—and I'll tell you the reason. Once in the early days he was playing poker with an old and re- spected friend for 10 cents a chip, but be- fore he had played three hands his friend stole one of the chips. Sure. Well, the captain just got right up from the table and said: ‘I'm through with poker and cards forever. I just saw you steal 10 cents, and any game that makes a man rob his friend is a good proposition to avoid. I know you couldn’t help it, and that is an- other reason why I don’t care to get in the habit of betting.” Why, you couldn’t get Captain Lees to make a bet now if you would throw a brick into the air and offer to wager that it wouldn’'t come down. That's right. Well, I'll be hanged if there isn’t Warren Payne. Right over there. Short man with light overcoat. Used to own Lady Maud, one of the old timers of ‘‘Sutro. Mayor Sutro. There's a genu- ine appreciator of big enterprises. This | sort of tbing tickles him to death. See | the glad eye on him. Yonu can always win Sutro by doing something a little bigger and a little better than anybody else. Any time you would like to meet the Mayor [ will introduce you. Come with me now | and T’'ll put you right in touch with the | best citizens in California.” “No, I thank you. I am just a mere | spectator. Nothing more.” { _*I thought you might want to mix up a little with the bon ton-"’ answered the tout, fumbling his chin a little; “but if you don’t care to, why, it's just the same. | See that smootb-shaved man over there with the race glasses to hiseyes. Well, that’s Ross Jackson, the retired newspaner man. People who are not acquainted with him invariably get it into their heads that he is a doctor, and whenever an acci- | dent happens they rush for Ross the first | thing. If a tramp, loaded up to the guards | with a beer jag, runs foul of the curbstone |and Ross is in the neighborhood there is an immediate demand for medical aid. Only ten minutes ago a jockey rushed up to him and weanted to know what was good for ringworms, and this morning he was asked for a medical opinion on what kind of diet was best for a condnctor to live on. If that man ever getsin a railroad wreck and refuses to prescribe for the in- jured he will be lynched by the train hands in five minutes. Yes, you bet, Jackson looks more like a doctor than any man on the track to-day, but he isn’t. All Ross is a sure thing on is a drunkard’s A FEW INDIVIDUALS KNOWN TO THE MAN WITH THE MEMORY, [Sketched for the * Call”” by Nankivelll