RACE FOR THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL PREMIUM
The best trotting race of the sea son came off at Bay View Park yes terday afternoon, for the Occidental Hotel premium of three hundred dollars. The competitors for it were a stallion "Kentucky Hunter," entered by H. Fish; gr. stallion "Captain Hanford," entered by Charles H. Shear; and b. stallion "George M. Patchen, Jr.," entered by W. Hendrickson. These are set down in the bills as the three fastest stallions on this Coast. On the first heat "Hunter" came in a length ahead of "Patchen," and "Hanford" brought up the rear. Time, 2:38. The next heat was as closely contested as the first; "Patchen" was first, and "Hunter" and "Hanford" neck-and-neck to within two hundred yards of the Judges' stand, when "Hunter" roused himself and dashed up to the score a couple of lengths ahead of "Patchen." However, it was pronounced a dead heat, because "Hunter" had broken into a run once or twice in going around the track. Time, 2:411/2. "Hanford" led for a considerable portion of the last half mile, and all thought he would win the heat. The second heat proper was a handsome race, and was won by "Hunter," again. Time, 2:43. "Han ford" came out third best. "Hunter" won the third heat also, leading "Patchen" about two lengths. Time, 2 :40. The first premium, of two hundred and fifty dollars, was awarded to "Kentucky Hunter," and the second, of fifty dollars, to "George M. Patchen." There was a large crowd present, and the race created unusual interest; considerable money changed hands, but we did not bring any of it away. Previous to the Occidental contest, a tandem race came off for a purse of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, mile heats, best 3 in 5. "Spot" and "Latham," driven by Mr. Covey, and "Rainbow" and "Sorrell Charley," driven by Mr. Ferguson, ran. Before the first half mile post was reached, Ferguson's team ran away, and Covey's trotted sround leisurely and won the purse. The runaways flew around the race track three or four times, at break neck speed, and fears were entertained that some of this break-neck would finally fall to Ferguson's share, as his strength soon ebbed away, and he no longer attempted to hold his fiery untamed Menkens, but only did what he could to make them stay on the track, and keep them from climbing the fence. Every time they dashed by the excited crowd at the stand, a few frantic attempts would be made to grab them, but with indifferent success; it is no use to snatch at a cannon ball - a man must stand before it if he wants to stop it. One man seized the lead horse, and was whisked under the wheels in an instant. His head was split open a little, but Dr. Woodward stitched the wound together, and the sufferer was able to report for duty in half an hour. Mr. Ferguson's horses should be taught to economize their speed; they wasted enough of it in that one dash, yesterday, to win every race this season, if judiciously distributed among them. The only Christian way to go out to Bay View, is to travel in one of the Occidental coaches, behind four Flora Temples, and with their master-spirit, Porter, on the box, and a crowd inside and out, consisting of moral young men and cocktails. Mr. Leland should be along, to keep the portable hotel. The principal attraction at Bay View to day will be a ten-mile race, single heat. Four entries have been made - "Fillmore," "Gentleman George," Grissom's mare, and another beast, whose name has escaped our memory. To-morrow the great equestrienne race, for the Russ House premium of silver service, valued at three hundred dollars, will come off. Thirteen ladies have already entered their names for the skirmish.
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