The San Francisco call., 1908-10-16
Novel Idea Offered for
Preparing Track
S. {. HiIdreth Says EmeryviIie
Course Should Be Worked
With Crude Oil
BY J. K. Jefery

sents the investment of a considerable
fortune, advances a novel idea for the
treatment of the Emeryville track. 1t
| Is Wen known that in protracted spells
OF wet weather the going at Emery
vile becomes so deep that at times it
is actually dangerous. Hildreth de-
clares that the application to the sur
1ace of the track of liberal quantity
of the crude oil similar to that used
for road work will effectively solve
the problem that the track officials find
| so troublesome each winter On ac-
count of the large amounts that he has
invested in high class horses HIldreth
mas been giving the subject of a safe
track In wet weather much study dur
ing the past year or two. While in
the east the past summer he conducted
experiments on a stretch of road ad-
Jacent to his residence. the results of
winch convinced him that oiling the
track VIII prove panacea for the
troubles that have to be faced here
sach succeeding season. Hildreth
found, after he had oiled and narrowed
the heaviest rains failed to make 1T
MUDDY. while adjoining roads were
, verltable quagmires. The oil impreg
mated soil shed the falling rain while
the adjacent ground absorbed it. DR..
, howell, trainer for T. I'll. Williams.
who had suggested the oil treatment
to Hildreth, inspected the oiled road
several times and was impressed with
It's possibilities. Since his arrival on
the coast Hildreth has discussed the
matter with superintendent James
Grant of the Emeryville track. The
pian represents such a radical depar
ture from existing methods that the
off1cials naturally look upon it with
d1strust, but Hildreth is confident that
test OF 1t on small section of the
track would result in it's Immediate
ADOPTION hat
would run over such a track just as
| fast as they do under existing condi-
tlonS and that an oiled track, well
worked, would be much easier on
horses feet and legs than the ordinary
dirt track of today. There would be
nardly any variation in the speed of
what the state of the weather might
be. Hildreth declares it is needless to
expatiate upon the advantages of a
track that would be uniform at all
times.
On account of the rain of the night
before the main track al Emeryville
was kept closed yesterday and train
stricted to the inside track. None of
the trainers attempted any fast work
over the deep sandy surface of the
training track, contenting themselves
loped his big string on the ring about
his stable, evidently preferring not TO
trust his good horses on the training
track. which has not yet been worked
into Shape. 1t is expected that the
main track will be reopened for train
ing operations today.
Ever since his arrival at Emeryville
Trainer II. NJ. Mason of the Macdon-
ough string has been using the inside
track for training purposes in prefer
enc ence to the main course, it being his
theory that the trying surface of the
training track is just the thing to de-
velop young horses:
One of R. l.. Thomas valuable yearIinps CON
tracted pneumonia on the way from Los An
geles and died at Emeryvlle yesterday The
youngster was by Cesarion- Goody Good and had
shown promising form in private trials.
Montgomery. winner Of the Burns and Cali
fornia handicaps last winter, is being breezed
along with the rest of the eastern division
of the Hildreth string at EmeryvilIe The horse
looks extremely good and viii he ready for
early racing. He failed 10 make any kind of
showing in the east during the summer and
was ON the shelf during the greater part of
the season. Because Montgomery failed TO run
up TO expectations after DR.. Rowell had pur-
chased half interest in him for T. II. Will
liams, Hildreth called the deal or and the
horse belongs entirely TO him. IT is likely that
leave here throughout the winter in charge of
Frank Taylor, as he is a superior mHdder.
c. ]. Casey is expected here(from Hamilton
within few days with Aimee G and Fore. A
pair of more than ordinary caliber Aimee @
is 3 year old and his been showing excel
lent form the Canadian circuit where she
has been taking the measure of good sprint
ers. Fore showed up we'll among the second di-
vision of year olds ON the New York tracks.
T. II. Williams long distance horse Big Bow
is being trained for his winter engagements in
cart. He gallops about eight miles daily over
Oakland roads and appears TO take kindly TO
this unusual mode Of "prepping."
a manner which lends encouragement to the idea
that he will train this winter. Cahfll will
go along with him very patiently and the
horse will be given every chance TO get back
to his high class form of two seasons ago.
T. H. Ryan's good horse Downpatrick win
of the winter. Downpatrick went wrong in his
underpinning in his only start at Seattle but
At present he is big and high in flesh and it
looks II the season might be well advanced
before he is ft to face the barrier
Trainer Jack McGee has Purse Rose in train
ing at Emeryvlle. This mare ran some fair
races last season on hurry up prep and
will have better chance to make good
showing this winter
Los Angeleno. winner of the Thornton stake
and Thornton renewal In 1907 and holder Of
the American record for four miles, is such a
confirmed cripple that III. G. Bedwel, his owner
has determined upon the immediate retirement
nearby ranch for the winter, and next summer
Bedwell will use him for driving purposes He
is splendid driver and Bedwell has a senti-
mental attachment for the horse as a natural
consequence of the valuable purses that Los
Angeleno has for him. Bedwell has made
numerous attempts to get Los Angeleno into
racing trim since his notable efforts in the long
distance events of last year. but the horse has
broken down repeatedly and Bedwell has finally
concluded that there is no hope While at
Seattle. Bedwel sold Treasure Seeker to n
turfman from British Columbia, so J. r.
Laughrey is the only horse in his string at pres
ent that gives any promise of winning distance
races. Bedwell believes that this horse may de-
velop into a useful distance runner.
Despite the eastern curtailment of valuable
stakes no less than % year olds have won in
excess of s., 900 each so far during 1908 Sir
Martin $TS500 Maskette $50 260 Fayette S2s.-
o50 and Trance S1S,752 the leaders. The
records of the youngsters in the list that have
raced in California scheduled to race in
California this winter follow:
Win
Horse SITS. 1st. I'd. Sd. IMP. nings.
Trance ...........19 Is 4 S1S75o
Lee Rose. ..........12 o 10205
Sufragette ......-7 0 $40
o