The San Francisco call., 1910-11-13
SCRAMBLE
TO GET MONEY UP
First Days Racing at EmeryVille.
Success From Every Standpoint
By WILLIAM ]. SLATTERY

The most expensive and exclusive
animal of them all, the race horse, came
back to his own yesterday afternoon
at the Emeryville racetrack despite the
national movement to eliminate him
from the ranks. He showed, too, that
he could come back with nearly all the
grace and the pomp and the splendor
which used to mark his efforts in the
past 1t was a great day for the horse
and the followers of the horse and
Judging from the turnout, there will
be many another great day during the
coming 100 or more on the track across
the bay.
A fair day, the very thing which
the horsemen and their followers were
looking and praying for all these
weeks, made the opening day of the
California jockey clubs season a far
more pronounced success than it was
year ago yesterday. Despite the
counter attraction. the football game,
some 5000 crowded their way into
the betting ring and the grand
stand and the clubhouse at EN-
eryvi1le. There was nothing lacking In
the makeup.
President Thomas H Williams. the
man who guides the destinies of racing
In this far western land, was there
with a smile Of satisfaction. The event
surprised even him and, as they all
know, this dean of the turf is ever
hopeful He saw a new life for the
game yesterday. He could come to no
other conclusion than that the people
of San Francisco wanted to see the
horses run and were willing to pay
their money for the privilege
A year ago yesterday the layers of
odds, the betting commissioners and
the bettors were shy and skeptical and
suspicious. They hid behind posts and
whispered and nudged one another
through fear. Yesterday they went
right ahead and bet their money and
won or lost It There was no fear Of
arrest. no lurking suspicion that every
thing was not all right.
When the crowd had assembled in
the betting rings somebody dug up a
soap box, which was quickly mounted
by Attorney Carroll Cook, and a cheer
went up as the attorney for the race
track interests raised his hand and
made ready to deliver his annual
speech of warning and caution, his final
instructions to bookmakers and players
alike.
Cook assured them all that they
were well within the law, but he eau
toned them not to take any chances.
He laid down the law of oral betting
as established by the Walker-Otis bill
and defined by the last decision Of the
supreme court of the state. The crowd
listened ihtently and cheered at the
finish Then the bookies took their
places and began to quote prices on the
opening race Of the season and the bet
tors fairly jammed themselves around
in an effort to wager their money.
II there is any scarcity Of money in
San Francisco, Oakland OF the sur
rounding cities there certainly was no
in the Emeryville betting ring yester-
day afternoon. Just as soon as the Ia
bookies took their places in athe ring
they were besieged by the anxious bet
tors, all fighting for chance to place
their money on the chances of the
horses they liked. 1t was just the same
as the oldep days except that pro-
grams took the places of the black
boards and the bookmakers mingled
with the crowd instead OF standing
aloof on the block aud shouting. The
public did the shouting yesterday.
Everything in the betting ring
seemed to work like a magic charm
There were no mixups, no mistakes
and no disturbances Evidently Cooks
words were heard and appreciated by
everybody and none of them gave
single thought to the presence of Of
fcers of the law.
Practically all the veterans, the old
timers and the regulars were there.
Very few OF those who were expected
failed to materialize. They all shook
hands with one another, extended con-
gratulations and talked about the pos
sibility of a great season under the new
betting laws. What difference from
the outlook which last years opening
day presented,
Although the card lacked the class
which the track used to boast ~hAn