STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 177 



REPORT OF RACES. 



By Joseph Cairn Simpson. 



FIRST DAY. 



The racing programme of the State Fair began Thursday, September 

 fifteenth, at Sacramento. There was a large and brilliant attendance; the 

 splendid track was never in finer condition, and the sport so far has been 

 of a more than usually interesting description. 



For several years past the meeting has opened with the trot for the Occi- 

 dent Stake, and this year that important event headed the programme. 

 Of the long list of original subscribers the entries dwindled down to three, 

 and of these but two started: Sable Wilkes, the representative of the San 

 Mateo Stock Farm, and Soudan, from Sunny Slope. It was a foregone 

 conclusion that the son of Guy Wilkes must win; his easy victory over 

 Soudan in the race for the Stanford Stake on the twelfth instant stamped 

 him as a certain winner, and naturally the pools sold on him were at the 

 rate of $100 to $12 for Soudan. The race does not need much description. 

 Sable Wilkes went off with a lead in the first and second heats, and main- 

 tained his advantage throughout, winning comfortably by two lengths. 



In the third heat he again led off, but broke at the half-mile post and 

 fell behind, Soudan taking the heat. In the fourth heat Sable Wilkes led 

 off and finished first without being at any time pressed; the time for each 

 heat being much slower than in the race for the Stanford Stake over the 

 Bay District Course. 



SUMMARY. 



California State Fair, Sacramento, September 15, 1887.— Occident Stake, for foals of 

 1884. Entries closed January 1, 1885; $100 entrance, of which .^10 must accompany nomi- 

 nation; $15 to be paid January 1, 1886, and $25 to be paid January 1, 1887, and $50 thirty 

 days before the race. The Occident gold cup of the value of $100 to be added by the soci- 

 ety. First colt, cup and six tenths: second colt, three tenths; and the third colt,' one tenth 

 of stake. Mile heats, three in five, to harness. 



Sable Wilkes, blk. c, by Guy Wilkes— San Mateo Stock Farm 1 12 1 



Soudan, blk. c, by Sultan — L.J.Rose ...2 2 12 



Kme— 2:30; 2:29^; 2:31; 2:31i. 



The second race was the 2:23 class, for which six started: Black Dia- 

 mond, Marin, Thapsin, Valentine, Maid of Oaks, and Daisy S. The battle 

 was fought out between Black Diamond and Marin, but both Thapsin and 

 Valentine showed good quality, staying well through the five heats. Stam- 

 boul was entered for the race, but as it was regarded as a certainty for him 

 he was withdrawn, taking, however, a share of the purse by mutual consent 

 of the starters. Pools sold: Valentine $50, Thapsin $22, Marin $22, field 

 $24; and, as the result showed, it was a fielder's race. 



The first heat astonished the backers of the favorite. Black Diamond 

 got off well and led the whole way, winning by a couple of lengths; Thap- 

 sin second, Valentine third. The quarter was made in 0:35, the half in 

 1:11, and the mile in 2:22^. The second had many similar features, Black 

 12' 20 



