120 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



The regular programme of the day was now entered upon. The 

 first number on the card was the free handicap, two miles and a 

 quarter. Acceptances Avere as follows: Fred Collier one hundred 

 and ten, Maj^ D one hundred and twelve. Boots one hundred. Wild- 

 idler one hundred, Birdcatcher ninety. The race was the great 

 betting event of the meeting, and many of the heavy losers of the 

 preceding days showed a disposition to "plunge," and make even or 

 do worse. At the pool rooms, on Thursday evening, business opened 

 lively with Collier and May D about even, the field also finding some 

 favor. As the selling went on Collier drew ahead a little and at the 

 close was the established favorite. On the track, before the start, a pile 

 of money was put on, the rates being, Collier two hundred and thirty 

 dollars, May D one hundred and ninety dollars, field one hundred 

 and fifty-five dollars. The track was not especially prepared for the 

 run, and with the battering of the trotters and the pressure of the 

 crowds that swarmed there in the morning to see the competition of 

 lady riders, the stretch was hard enough to knock out any horse that 

 had not ligaments of steel. They were started from the three quarter 

 pole wuth an even chance, and May D cut out the work at once. 

 When they passed the stand they were strung out in a line, May D 

 first. Boots second. Collier third, Birdcatcher fourth, and Wildidler 

 last. They ran steadily in this order for three quarters of a mile, 

 when May D pulled back to second place, and when they entered 

 upon second mile. Boots was leading. Around the upper turn May 

 D went forward again and in the straight of the backstretch Collier 

 was seen to be slowly moving up. At the half he was on May D's 

 hip, and at the three quarter mark his nose was in front. There was 

 a flourish of whips all round, but Collier came away steadily and 

 won by three lengths. May D. second, Boots third, Birdcatcher 

 fourth, Wildidler fifth. Time, 4:01f. When Collier came back to 

 the stand he was limping, and Wildidler, though he had finished 

 strong, was completely gone on one fore leg, and it was with difirculty 

 that he was got to .the stable. Boots was also complaining but not so 

 loudly as the other two mentioned. The race showed May D to be 

 a mare of remarkable gameness and substance. Private watches 

 made the last two miles 3:31 2 — a tremendous pace — and although 

 May D drove Collier to the drawgate at such a rate over a track 

 almost as hard as a stone pavement, she showed no ill eff"ects and was 

 not at all done up by the race. 



SUMMARY. 



Agricultural Park Course, Sacramnnto, September 14. — Trotting. Free handicap stake, 

 $60 each, $20 if declared; $300 added: $100 to second horse, third to save stake. Two miles. 

 and a quarter. 



Stemler & Ayres' eh. g. Fred Collier, by Joe Hooker; dam, Puss, 5 years; 110 pounds 1 



H. C. Judson's eh. m. May D, by Wildidle; dam, Nettie Brown, 6 years; 112 pounds 2 



C. McLaughlin's b. h. Boots, by Hercules; dam, Eva Coombs; 5 years; 100 pounds 3 



C. Dorsey's br. c. Birdcatcher, by Specter; dam, Pet; 4 years; 90pounds 



Hill & Gries' b. h. Wildidler, by Wildidle; dam, Eva Coombs; 6 years; 100 pounds 



Time—4-Mi. 



Next on the list was a colt and filly stake for two-year olds, one 

 mile. The starters were Shenandoah, Schoolgirl, Bachelor, John A, 

 Philip S, and two from Mr. Baldwin's stable. A great deal of money 

 was laid on this race also. Tavo circumstances conspired to make 

 the betting heavier than it would have otherwise been. One of these 



