Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-18

ished I'm the money. Pettijohn, who
out of six starts had been third once.
Now, Kinsman had been second twice
and third twice. Where did he belong?
Was he too bad for the good division
or was he too good for the bad
division?
Gentlemen, we state the facts to you
The condition of the track was ordered
changed. The only horses that have
not had their weights raised In handi-
caps after winning are Rubric, Alencon,
Fireball. The horses most favored by
the special conditions of the races are
Fireball, Alencon, Silver Sue, Wee
Lass and Theo Case The treatment
of owners who met some OF your di-
rectors on January 10 has been differ
ent since that date.
We feel that we voice the sentiment
of the majority of owners in stating
that should the meeting close with the
present feeling among horsemen toward
the management, that neither the ma
jority of the eastern owners por the
better class of western stables would
return another year and that your
track would lose the confidence OF
horsemen and public in general.
Gentlemen, we appeal to you for the
protection of your own property, for
the safety of racing at Ascot and for
justice to ourselves"
The statement is signed by C. T.
Boots, j. j. McCafferty and Henry
Mcdaniel
The Match Race
F. b. Van Meter owner of Hand
zarra, was asked regarding the charge
that Brooks had given the order to flood
the track and harrow it on the night
before the match race between Bear
catcher, Handzarra and Cruzados, and
he said:
II was informed after the races on
the day before the match race that
Brooks had issued an order to the as
sistant to Superintendent Glass to flood
the track and harrow it and keep the
roller off of it,
knowing that Handzarra could not
run in heavy going and that her chances
of winning would be absolutely ruined
If the order was carried out, / ap-
pealed to George Rose to have the
order countermanded.
Rose and Judge Hamilton took it
Fup Immediately afterward, / under
stand, and the order was revoked and
the track, which was lightning fast the
night before the race, was practically
in the same condition next day. That
is all the information I can give you
on the subject"
The news of the order having been
issued caused great indignation among
the horsemen at Ascot, but was not
given out to the public. This formed
the basis of the first ill-feeling between
the horsemen and the manager of the
race course.
The second act of Brooks which
famed the flame of wrath against him
was the posting of a notice in the pad
dock a few weeks ago to the effect
that horsemen and trainers should
cease criticising the assignment of
weights in handicaps and stakes. The
notice is as follows:
NOTICE
TO
OWNERS AND TRAINERS.
The intention of handicap races at
this track is to make good contests. In
the future we do not care to have horses
entered in handicaps unless it is the
owners intention to start them. We
also do not intend to have any kckings
or criticism in front of the box re-
garding weights. Parties doing so
must run their horses in selling or
condition races. owners and trainers
who are wise enough 10 know just what
horse will win a handicap would do
much better to wait and conceal their
knowledge and bet on the horse when
the race is run.
j. w. BROOKS, Manager.
Discharges Hoffman
Another grievance which the horse
men have advanced is that Brooks re-
Gently attempted to interfere with
Starter Hoffman in the discharge of his
duties In sending the fields away from
the post.
A report became current that Holt
man and Brooks had quarreled while
a field of horses January %, the quar-
rel being occasioned by Brooks
language in instructir~ Hoffman as
regards treatment Of horses and
jockeys at the post.
1t is related that following the quar-
rel Brooks informed Hoffman that he
was discharged and this report reached
the ears of the horsemen, causing con-
sternation among them because Holt
man is considered one of the most COM
petent officials in this line.
Committees called upon George Rose
and other directors of the jockey club
and stated the details as /. had been
given to them. The affair was stilled
and Hoffman continued in his position.
while the public was none the wiser as
to the accuracy of the report
All these things have added in max
ing more intense the strained relations
between the manager and horsemen at
Ascot and since their attempts at
securing hearing before the board of
directors have failed thus far they
have almost become discouraged with
the hope deferred.
The horsemen formed an owners as
ISOLATION several weeks ago and APP
pointed a committee to meet the direc-
tors. and this committee presented
their grievances to a portion Of the
board January 10, at which they were
assured of prompt action upon their
This committee was composed of
Henry Mcdaniel, trainer Of Jake San
ders. Rubric, Good Luck and others
of the Tichenor string; w. d. Randall,
trainer for c. w. Clark, owner of Chan
tilly and Valeureuse; j. H. Holland,
owner of Masterson, Hester w and
Memories; #. r. Wood owner Of Dr.
Hollis, Lady Alice and others; G. Il.
Boots, owner of Borghesi and the Elm
wood Stock farm horses; It. b. Van
Meter, owner of Handzarra and others;
William Walker, owner of Marshal Ney
and others; j. j. McCafferty, trainer