The San Francisco call., 1897-03-12
EASTERN RACING
FOR A CHANGE
A. B. Spreckels Will Not
Reconsider His Resig-
nation.
New Ingleside Track O ficers
Will Be Elected at a
Meeting To-Day.
Henry ] Crocker S ATE for the Office
OF President-General Regret at
the Turn of Affairs.

The all.absorbing topic of conversation
among all classes of horsemen at the
Emeryville track yesterday was the reslg-
nation OF A. B. Spreckels from the office
of president of the Pacific Coast Jockey
Club and the consequent attendant
changes in the directorate. On all sides
nothing but regret was expressed at the
sudden turn in affairs and many were IN
clined to prophesy a gloomy future tor
racing in this State. The dabblers In poll
tics were free in their intimatlons that 1t
was perhaps fortunate the change had
not occurred during the early days OF the
Legislature.
Hope was expressed that influence
would be brought to bear and that Mr..
Spreckels would reconsider his purpose to
retire from the turf. These optimists are
hoping against hope. so it is stated on
good authority, for at tho meeting OF the
board of directors of the Pacific Coast
jockey Club 10 be held at the Palace
Hotel this forenoon at 10 o'clock the presi-
dent will again tender his resignation, and
it will be final. The millionaire horse man
has concluded TO sever his connection
with the turf for good. This will, OF
course, mean the retirement OF Secretary
w. S. Leake, who quits turfdom to enter
the employ OF John d. Spreckels d Bros.
Company.
There is much speculation as 10 the
new officers and directors of the Ingleside
Association. ]. E. Tade, assistant secre-
tary under Mr.. Leake, was yesterday ten
dered the Office of secretary, but alter due
consideration declined the honor. When
Mr.. Leake is settled in his new position
room will most likely be found for Mr..
IN I ta6 vrIfh hot
gentleman in business affairs for the past
ten years.
Henry ]. Crocker, now vice-president,
is slated tor the office of president, and
will probably accept. Harry Kuhl, it is
said, will replace ]. w. Wilson in the
judges stand. The new directors are
mere matters of onjecture.
The whole upheaval in turf affairs, it is
said, can be attr bnted to the peculiar po-
sition taken by Vice president Crccker at
the meeting held on Wednesday. When
it came to a question as to whether East
ern or California management should pre-
vail Mr.. Crocker, who had the deciding
vote, stood in with the Eastern clique, de-
Gliding against Mr.. Spreckels and the best
interests of the local turf. Vice-president
Crocker was interested financially to a
very small amount III Ingleslde stock.
making his stand all the more inexplic-
able.
From the outset A. B. Spreckels- has
been the mainstay and sinew of the track,
having invested at times as high as
500, ,C0o and now, at the very height of
the beautiful courses success, faction
whose presence has sounded the death
knell to racing in more parts of the coun-
try than one, attempts game of freeze
out" Why Mr. Crocker chose TO shy his
castor with this side of the house time
only can demonstrate. Love for pomp
and splendor has turned the brain of
many mortal being. The past has not
shown Mr. Crocker racing magnate of
great executive ability, still he may prove
the man of the hour.
The mortgage for $4,000 held by A. B.
Spreckels on the Ingleside track was yes
terday taken up by Henry ]. Crocker and
recorded in his name.