The San Francisco call., 1908-11-12
Jockey Gilbert Seems
TO Have Lost. Nerve

Jockey Clifford Gilbert, who rode so
well here last winter that President T.
H Williams of the New California
jockey club purchased his contract for
$4,000, is rapidly losing popularity
with racegoers at Emeryville Gilbert
appears to have lost his form in the
saddle and has seemingly degenerated
into such a timid and incapable rider
that even those who have been his
most loyal friends in the past are los
ing faith in him. j. +. Clifford, from
whom Williams bought his contract
at a fancy price, declared yesterday
that he would not again ride Gilbert
on any of his horses. Clifford has
been one of Gilbert's stanchest sup
porters up to the present time, but
the manner in which the boy diSre-
garded riding orders in handling Cliff
ford'S mare, Milshora, day or two
ago. when she performed so disgrace
fully as favorite, aroused Clifford s
ire and he will have nothing further
to do with the lad. Clifford declares
that Gilbert did exactly what he in
structed him not to do with Milshora,
and he attributes her poor showing to
the boys failure to follow instructions
1t is noticeable that Gilbert takes the
overland and pulls up on slight provo
cation. In the last race yesterday, in
which he finished absolutely last with
the favorite, Cholk Hedrick, he de-
liberately took the horse to the outside
at the post instead of sticking to his
he has been doing the same thing with
other horses the presumption being
that he is afraid to ride in close quar-
ters. On account of the position that
he assumed at the barrier with Cholk
Hedrick. he was obliged to go the
overland all the way and the horse
was thoroughly beaten before the race
had been half run.
There was general surprise at EN-
eryVille yesterday when racegoerS dis
covered that Jockey V. Powers was
scheduled to ride Il. H Williams Fire
stone in the handicap, it having been
announced that Williams had instructed
his trainer to ride Walter Miller when
ever that boy could make the weight
Miller was as much surprised as the
general public when he learned that
he was not to ride Firestone, and was
inclined to make a scene until informed
by DIR. Rowell that he had enga ged
Powers to ride the colt because he
was in doubt about Miller being in con-
dition TO ride in consequence of the in
jury which he had sustained in the
opening handicap. Miller and RoWell
are not on the best of terms and the
boy spends but little time at the
Williams stable, so Rowell has little
knowledge of his condition or where
abouts. He does not gallop any of
the Williams horses. but has been gal
loping for other owners since his ar
rival from the east. Miller desired to
know yesterday if he would have the
mount on Creation today and was in
formed that Dr. Rowell proposed to
follow out President Williams instruc-
tions to the letter and that he would
be expected ride Creation if he was in
condition TO do so. Tt is understood
that DR.. Rowell consulted with Judge
Hopper before he engaged Powers to
ride Firestone, and that the judge
agreed that it would be unwise to
defer the selection of a rider until if
might be too late to procure the proper
sort of boy. Firestone failed to run
any better for Powers than he had
for Miller.