The San Francisco call., 1909-03-08
WILLIAMS PLANS
AW WAITED BY
TURFMEN
President of Jockey Club Delays
Announcement Until the
Legislature Adjourns
By J. K. Jefery

Local race goers will not be sorry
when the winter rains cease and the
weather settles for good. Whether
justly or not, the constantly changing
track conditions with which the sport
has had to contend during the last
few weeks are held by the jockey club
officials to be responsible for most of
the exasperating reversals of form
that have marred the racing with much
frequency of late. Presiding Judge
Hopper TO whom the reversals bring
much official worry, is confident that
with the advent of favorable track
conditions the reversals will cease, and
he entertains the belief that the season
will end with period of formful rae
ing.
Meanwhile everybody connected with
the sport is awaiting with keen inter-
est the announcement which T. III Will
liams, president of the Jockey club has
promised to make within short time
concerning the future of racing in
California. While there is a disposi-
tion on the part of horse owners and
race followers generally to take a
gloomy view OF the situation produced
by the passage of the Walker-Otis bill,
an unmlstakable air of confidence per-
vades those who are in supposedly
close touch with the management of
the sport. The occasion for this opti-
m1Stic view of what looks to the public
to be a lost cause can not be ascer-
tanned. WhalusEr loophole T. H Will
liams and those in his confidence be-
lie~e they have through which the
provisions of the Walker-Otis bill NAV
be rendered ineff1cacious is still close
~ guarded secret. 1t is learned that
Williams will delay the making of his
expected announcement until after the
adjournment of the legislature
Until they have some definite state
ment from Williams concerning his
plans, many owners of racing stables
and other followers Of the racing game
in California will make no plans for
the future. As matters now stand there
Will be scant opportunity for racing
this summer except al a distance Butte
and Salt Lake City offer the only op-
portunlt1eS for the racing folk in the
west, unless there should be some truth
TO a report that in spite of his an
nouncements TO the contrary, James +.
McElroy, manager of the track at Sc
attic, has not entirely abandoned the
idea of a brief meeting q t The Meadows
prior to the date on which the Hansen
antl-book making law will go into
effect in the state of Washington
Should this meeting materialize it
would be preliminary to meetings of
considerable Importance at Victoria
and Vancouver. b. C. Reports are cur
tion for the construction of a modern
racing plant at the latter place. In
that event Vancouver will doubtless
prove an attractive point for lovers of
racing.
1t may be regarded as a foregone
conclusion that the Butte meeting will
attain an Importance this season never.
before approached. With Seattle off
the racing map and the sport overdone
in the east TO the extent that now
seems probable. Butte Will look good
to many who have preferred to make
summer campaigns elsewhere
The principal feature Of this weeks
racing at Emeryyille viii be the de-
cision of the Undine stake for year
old colts and geldings Saturday Gil
bert Rose, the local champion is un-
likely TO be starter in the race on
account of having been temporarily on
the shelf. P. Il. Chinn has decided 20
ship his colt A. J. Small, winner OF
the Woodlands stake at Arcadia. for
the Undine, and unless Gilbert Rose
is in condition to meet him. Chinn's
crack may find it easy to win A. J.
Small is regarded as a wonderfully
high class colt. r. /. Thomas FLYING
Squirrel, as yet unbeaten. is also likely
TO come up to run in the stake Other
probable starters include Ollie James.
Elfin Beau, Matchem, Recon, Tfpster.
Fire, Penn, Donovan and Gerando