The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14
SUCCESS OF RACING
ON THE PACIFIC COAST
Horsemen Commenting on Ex-
cellence Of California's Win
ter Meetings.
UPHEAVAL IN THE RANKS
Owners, Trainers and Jockeys
Realize that Wrongdoers Will
Be Punished.
UPHEAVAL IN THE RANKS

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb 13.-The Califor
MIA racing season is now at its height, and
old race-goers are commenting on the enor-
nous strides the sport has made this year
under the able management of President
Thomas II. Williams The drastic meas
ure taken at the very beginning of the
present winter meet, when the three most
prominent Jockeys in the country were
summarily ruled off, viz, Adkins. Hall and
Terrell. together with Jim Davis, a promi-
nent bookmaker and a member of the
Metropolitan Association Of New York, was
a good sign of what Mr.. Williams and Pre-
siding Judge Hopper intended to do in the
way Of purifying and improving the char
acter Of racing on the Pacific coast.
The upheaval in the ranks of the turf has
had most beneficial effect on California
racing. and is bound to exert a strong NOR
al influence on the business of racing all
over the United States. Owners, trainers
and Jockeys, as we'll as bookmakers, now
realize that punishment will be melted out
TO wrongdoers without fear or favor. and
that there is no possible influence that can
save the most prominent offender If he at
tempts to do dishonest work
The condition of things in the betting
ring eclipses all previous records of the as
ISOLATION. The boOkmaker with the small
bank roll is conspicuous by his absence,
and from Nov. a. 1903 (the opening day.,
there have been from twenty to-twenty-
seven books in line. with bank rolls running
from $4,000 to $4,000. and they have had at
all times more money presented to them
than the boOkmen could conveniently ham
die. Speculation has been of a colossal
character and thousands have been used in
specializing on the results. where hundreds
were in evidence in former years, andthere
is a confidence displayed in the betting ring
that 70 those
to have at least a run for their money.
HORSES RUNNING TO FORM.
A reference to the form charts will prove
the assertion that more horses have re-
coded in the betting and won their races
than in any former season. Scores of cases
might be cited where the whims of bettors
have caused some horses price to grow
suspiciously long, yet the horse will be re-
turned a winner. Shrewd handicappers and
operators like Joe Yeager Frank Lanter-
man and Ed Stutte who are always consid-
ering the price, have wagered thousands on
horses at a falsely long prince, and done
it confidently, knowing that they would get
what was in the horse and boy at all
events.
The new system of patrol judges. with
telephone connection with the judges
stand was a grand move on the part Of the
association. Now from the moment the bar
rier rises experienced eyes are closely
watching what each jockey does to his
mount, and the boys knowing this well
aware that their actions in races will be
duly reported to the officials.
This innovation has no small effect in
putting these little pigskin artists on their
mettle and we see result most prom
ising crop of rising young apprenticeship
fact, there are more new boys in the pub
lie eye just at present than in any previous
year. Owners that have contracts on boys
that were unknown few months ago. like
Larsen. Kunz, Oliphant and others. are
being importuned by telegraph and letter
to set a price on these midgets services
for the coming season i'm the East. The rec
ord that Hildebrand is making is almost
phenomenal and stands for ITSELF and il
Is q well-known fact that this clever lad
has won race after race when Joe Yeagcr
his employer, was betting heavily on some
other horse. This speaks we'll for the in
tegrity of both owner and jockey and i'm
bues the smaller bettor with a confidence
that is inspiring.
EVEN PULLMAN WAS SUSPENDED.
The fact that the stewards suspended as
prominent jockey as Johnny pullman for
an offense not committed on the track. viz,
dissipating away from the track-shows the
severity with which the offending Jockeys
will be treated in the future. When Jockey
pullman returned from his little indiscrc-
ton he ordered to exercise horses, to
prove to the judges that he was in condi-
ton to ride in races. This was certainly an
innovation in the treatment of one of the
most prominent riders in the country, and
must have been great surprise TO his
JOhnnyship.
Referring to the Sad Sam race at Ingle-
side, popularity supposed to be 'shoo in, -
the owner of Money Muss. Pete DonalOche,
was suspended for six months for starting
his horse out of condition. and the horse
Royalty was ruled off for Inconsistent run
ming.
Charles McAfferty and his horses were
suspended for the glazing revcrsals of
form shown by Golden Light and Chick
adee
Dave Cox. formerly owner of Urchin and
other horses. and two race track followers
named Williams and Pincus. have been
/ ruled off the turf for ''buncoing" a hotel
proprietor named Van Loon. of San Fran
| cisco. Van Loon parted with $1,000 on the
| represen tations of these three worthless
that they could get the results from the
/ tracks in advance of the handbooks around
/ town. Williams was formerly an agent for
/ Barney Schroeder. but must not be con-
| founded with Dick Williams, at present
training Il string for Schneider.