The San Francisco call., 1909-02-13
Gossip of the Track

Associate Judge c. II. Pettingill, acting in be-
hef Of ~. II. Vanderbilt, yesterday made Jockey
J. Butler an attractive proposition 10 ride for
the Vanderbilt stable in France the coming sum
mer. but Butler concluded not to accept the
ofer, both for the reason that J. S. Hawkins
Still has some sort Of strings him, and because
his mother Is opposed 70 the idea OF his going
abroad. He would have received a retainer Of
$1,000 for the first years service in addition to
the usual riding fees for winning and losing
mounts. with an increase 10 50 600 the second
year. Butler believes that he viii be able to
earn 9s much ana perhaps more the eastern
tracks the coming season After Jockey Butler
decided that he preferred 10 remain in this coun-
Try, Jockey Upton was given an opportunity 10
g. abroad in bis place, but after thinking It
over he, too, decided that America is good enough
Tor him.
No less than 19 fllies are carded to start in
the Gunst stake al Emeryville today. This is
by far the largest field in several seasons and
starter Heltman VIII certainly have his hands
tuA u aclleFing creditable sendon II there
are no Withdrawals from the list Of prospective
starters named over night It is barely possible
that Folie Levy and Roberta, the two candi-
dates from Arcadia, VIII not get here IN time TO
start. They are in carload Of horses that have
been detained near San Luis Obispo By washouts.
Racing luck is apt 70 play much figure IN
the outcome Of race contested by such an IN
wieldy field as this that the best horse may
never get near the front. Consequently the odds
VIII be correspondingly long and the favorite is
likely To &c as good as or 10 ]. In fact the
race has such open aspect aside from the size
~ the field, that the favorite is not easy TO Sc
lect The fact that SILVIA Dunbar. ". OBJ. Mac
-donoueh's promising fllr. won her only victory
much more fnpressively than any Of the Others
that have been winning races is likely TO result
tn her installation at the post Of honor Her
name not added 70 the list OF prospective
ton Of the overnight entry lists had been given
circulation
The licensing committee Of the Pacific Jockey
club has decided that Jockey Gross can not be
permitted 10 ride for George Berry against the
protest Of I'd Soule, who held the contract on
the boy when he was ruled OF by the stewards
of the King County fair association at Seattle
two years ago. The boy was recently reinstated
by the northern officials with the proyiso that
he should be allowed TO ride only for George
Berry, who had interested himself in the boys
behalf and who expected 20 obtain the contract
on him. Cross license is therefore held up.
Jockey Keogh was 50 III yesterday that he was
forced 70 remain indoors and his engagements to
ride Pan De OrO Bucket Brigade and ConfessoT
we're filed by other boys. Charlie Bowman
found the making Of Keosh's engagements such
an expensive piece Of business that he has given
81 Up. While he was making The boys engage
ments he made a practice Of backing all the
else who attempts 10 follow any one jockey,
found it would not work The experience cost
came from The failure OF short priced horses
20 run they should Ordinarily Bowman
does not bet on horses at odds on, but he made
no exception IN backing Keogh's mounts, and the
disqualification n Work Box was the culminat-
ing incident which, caused him to change his
policy
Jockey Notter was 50 anxious to get on to ad-
vantage with Tom Shaw 81 the fourth race yes.
terdar that he broke through the barrier several
times in spite OF Starter DFyer warnings, and
the start was delayed 81 consequence. Notter's
punishment was 2 fne Of 500 and suspension
Tor week. When the start actually came. Not.
Ter failed to get away IN the first flight but his
mount had so much speed that he quickly ran
into the lead, and, had the horse been slayer,
he would have rewarded Notter's Wen meant
activity. but he backed up badly and confirmed
the notion that he is nothing but sprinter.
william Hawke was far from satisfied with
the ride that Jockey Nentry gave his horse Lega-
tee YESTERDAY. and, while he did not make a
which he freely vented after the race created a
deal Of comment. The officials may look into
che matter.