The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-25
CALF ORN IA
RACING is
DOOMED
Present Season Marks Pass
ing of "the Sport
of Kings.

San Francisco. Jan. 24.-That racing
in the state of California is doomed ana
that the present season at the famous
Emeryville and Santa Anita courses
VIII mark the passing of the sport Oh
kings is the opinion not only oil tne
majority of followers of the turf ou-
of others in touch with the situation
at Sacramento. The passage OF inc
Walker. Otis anti-race track bill by
an overwhelming majority in the lower
branch of the legislatu e was greae
surprise to both friends and oppon-
ents OF the measure and the result OF
the vote has spread CONSERVATION Ill
the ranks of the latter. Although an
adverse ruling was expected In the
assembly by the enemies OF the bill.
inasmuch as no fight had been made
in that body, nothing like such
sweeping defeat WAS looked for and
the moral effect OF the assembly's ac-
tion Will have much to do with stimuli
ating the ultimate passage of the law.
The scene of battle will shift: this
week to the senate where a last stand
will be made by the opponents of the
proposed law To ward off defeat which
at this time seems inevitable. The
bill. as passed by the house, will
come up for action in the senate on
next Wednesday morning. Its pro-
visions are similar to those of the
Hughes antirace track bill which has
suppressed pool selling in the state OF
New York, with the one exception that
the pool sellers in California will be
allowed sixty days in which to wind
up their Affairs. AS this extension
will date the time on which the gov
ernor's signature IS penned TO the doc
ument In the event of It's passage by
the senate, It Is reasonable to pro-
sumo that the law would not become
operative until we'll into the spring.
The effect of the closing of the race
tracks in California will be widely
felt and incalculable. Not only will
the immense modern courses at EN-
eryvlle Ingleside. 1anforan and Ar
cadia suffer, but the county fairs at
which troting meets are annually held
simultaneously in various parts of the
state during the summer months will
be forced to abandon these events
which have been conducted with great
profit since time immemorial.
Poolrooms also will come under the
ban, and as there are hundreds OF
these being conducted both openly and
Surreptiously In this city and elso-
where, their closing down will add
largely to the idle population of the
state
The great breeding farms waich
have made California famous the
world over will receive a blow. the
race followers assert, that will sound
the death knell to many of these In
stitutions.
Thomas H. Williams, Jr.. president
Of the California Jockey club, which
controls the racing plants at Ingle-
side Tanforan and Emeryville. and
who is also interested in the Santa
Anita track. OF which f. ]. Lucky"
Baldwin is presumed to be the domin-
ating factor, is, il is understood, mar
shalling his forces at the capital and
will organize the most bitter fight
that has ever been waged for or
against a public measure in this
state. The president has been keeping
In close touch with the situation mad
has personally directed the fight for
the interest which he represents.
In the event of the closing of the
racing establishments in this state,
IL is fairly certain that racing will be
shifted to Nevada or Lower California.
Negotiations. 1t is generally under
stood. have been under way for some
time with a view OF erecting and
maintaining courses on the Nevada
side of Lake Tahoe and near Tia
Juana, just across the boundary line
In Lower California about twenty
miles south Of San Diego.