The San Francisco call., 1897-03-25
PROJECTED NEW
DEAL IN RACING
Possibly a Third Track
and Perhaps a Con-
solidation.
Adolph Spreckels Said to Be
the Prime Mover in the
Scheme.
Turfmen Are All Agog Over the
Rumors, for Clean Sport Is Once
More in Sight.

Evidently there is trouble ahead for one
Edward Corrigan, the turfman who once
earned some sort OF reputation as the
master of Hawthorne"
During the past few days some mys-
terious Whispering has been going on
among those who represent what is known
as the clean element of the racing fratern-
ity, and from these whispers rumors have
been born which indicate that bonn mbshell
is about 10 be exploded in local racing
circles.
If these rumors are to be believed deal
IS on, the result of which will be either
the immediate construction of new race
track in San Francisco or the infusion of
new and more desirable blood into the
California Jockey Club now operating at
Oakland.
By far the most important element of
the story that is now being bruited about
is that Adolph Spreckels, late president of
the Pacific Coast Jockey Club and the real
founder and supporter of that organiza-
tion, is one of the prime movers in the
new project, and that w. S. Leake, who
recently resigned the position of secretary
of the Ingleside concern. is also prOmi-
nently identified in the scheme with Mr..
Spreckels. 1t is not 10 be wondered at, then,
that ne ws Of this sort should set the local
racing world agog. Mr.. Spreckels has a
national reputation as square" sports
man of the simon-pure article-a man
who maintains an expensive stable and
races his horses for love OF the sport
itself.
As long as he presided over the destinies
of the Pacific Coast Jockey Club as the
chief of its steff of officers the public be-
xL-S
sured, and, consequently, was willing
and liberal patron OF the game.
But there came change. Director
Corrigan had some innovations that be
wanted introduced into the local racing
game, and he was given his way about it;
but President Spreckels and Secretary
Leake resigned their respective positions
and apparently stepped back into pri-
yate and commercial life.
1t has been difficult for the fra
ternity of turfmen, knowing Mr.. Sp-eckels
as they did, to believe that he could re-
main long away from the grandest OF all
sports, and this latest story that he is now
about to launch forth into new racing
project has set everybody interested in
clean racing on the very tip-toe OF ex-
pectancy.
Mr.. Spreckels himself is uncommun-
icative. That is, he declines for the pres
ent to make public nis plans.
He says in reference to the rumored new
race-track ueat, that whatever business he
is transacting nowadays is OF strictly
private nature. Should it eventually reach
that stage that would entitle il to the
credit of being public venture, he says,
he will gladly unfold its details. But for
the present-mum is the word.
And Mr.. Leake smiles. too, when ap-
preached on the subject. He is still Mr..
Spreckels' private secretary and OF course
knows what is oing on.
II am paid by Mr.. Spreckcls to attend
to his business, and not to publish it to
| the world" he said last night.
II want to be kind to the press. but in
case of this character must decline to be
interviewed"
The story that new race-track is to be
built, making three in operation in or
about city smaller than others which
have failed to support even one
for but season of month,
does not meet with much credence among
those who are familiar with the status of
the racing game here and the possibili-
ties of making money cut of it. They
rather incline to the belief that the new
deal means a Consolidation between those
who lately withdrew from Corrigan's 8
game and the chief magnates of the Cali
fornia Jockey Club. Such move would
mean great deal to the racing interests
now locate here, and might mean that
the Ingleside contingent would eventually
have to pack up and seek new pastures.