184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Every race has been a good one; from the standpoint excellent, as the 

 falling off in the fourth and fifth heats at Oakland could be attributed to 

 a lack of condition rather than to failure of stamina on the part of the 

 contestants. This is further established by the time of the Sacramento 

 race. It was to be expected that five heats, such as were trotted at Oak- 

 land, would better the condition of all engaged, provided the strain did 

 not leave its mark in a wrong direction, and that subsequent work would 

 be beneficial; and the following account proves this to be the case: 



" When the call was made for the starting there was a marked excitement. 

 Fans had been busily at work in the large assemblage, and their vibrating 

 kept time to the music of the band. But when the horses came on the 

 track there was such a desire to get a good look at the famous steeds that 

 the fervor of the air was for a time forgotten, and each received an ovation 

 as they passed in front of the stands. Pool selling was very lively. Thou- 

 sands of dollars went into the box in a few minutes, and the backers of 

 each were exceedingly eager to invest their cash. Guy Wilkes had settled 

 into a pronounced favorite, bringing $200, Stamboul $160, Woodnut $65. 



" In the lottery for positions Woodnut got the pole, Stamboul second, and 

 Guy Wilkes outside. On the fourth score they got the word, all going fast. 

 Just as the bell tapped Woodnut broke and slightly interfered with Stam- 

 boul, who broke, and in turn drove Guy out, and he also broke, so at the 

 first corner all three were in the air. Guy was the first to recover, and 

 Woodnut the next, while Stamboul made a tangled break, similar to the 

 one he had made in the first heat at Oakland, and Guy reached the quar- 

 ter first in 0:34^, four lengths in the lead of Woodnut and ten ahead of 

 Stamboul. 



" Up the backstretch Guy went fast, and reached the half in 1:10!, hav- 

 ing increased his lead on both the others around the turn. Woodnut moved 

 up a little, and Goldsmith took Guy back on reaching the three-quarter 

 pole in 1:47, and eased him all the way down the straight, coming home 

 without making an effort, Woodnut four lengths back, and Stamboul jogging 

 in just inside the short distance. Time, 2:22^." 



Still hotter was the betting — a fight almost who should get the favorite — 

 doubly so now at securing a first heat with so little exertion. If the back- 

 ers of Guy were anxious to secure as many of the cards as their means 

 would sanction, the supporters of Stamboul were also eager, and to $200 

 on Guy they responded with $130, while there were some quiet speculators 

 ready to venture $45 on Woodnut. Neither of the contestants looked a 

 whit the worse for the heat, and the drivers were not at all dismayed, so far 

 as could be told from their appearance. Goldsmith had the inveterate 

 cigar between his teeth, and when he drove past the stand the first time it 

 was at an angle which implied satisfaction with the outlook. Holly had 

 a twinkle in his eye, and Walter's visage, though giving token of anxiety, 

 was not the least downcast. After a couple of scores Goldsmith's cigar 

 dropped to a lower angle, and as Woodnut came rattling along, the weed, 

 though of the best brand, was discarded. Eight fruitless attempts; the 

 ninth the word was given to a good start and the pace was rapid from the 

 first. 



At the quarter, 33f seconds, Stamboul, who had trotted very fast on the 

 outside, led Wilkes by a length, he the same in front of Woodnut. Here 

 Stamboul broke, but settled quickly, and half way up the stretch he broke 

 again, and was passed by Woodnut. At the half, 1:07-2, Wilkes, who had 

 been moving lively, led Woodnut by four lengths. Around the upper turn 

 it was a procession, with Stamboul last. Turning into the stretch, Stam- 

 boul and Woodnut began to close on the leader, and at the rate of speed 



