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THAT GENTLEMENS RACE. Social and cigarette circles at Ingleside still sizzle with the excitement awakened by Mr. W. S. Hobarts pursuit of a shade. In racetrack parlance a shade means an unfair advantage, -and the rest of the gentlemen jockeys insist that Mr. Hobart had a shade the better of them in the last race. Being unable to get down to -weight, the millionaire, by virtue of his pull -with the association, is alleged to have raised the limit, changed the conditions, chartered the best horse at the track and carried off the silver cup. He left the trophy on the grounds and departed hurriedly to escape the hisses of the people in the grandstand, but the cup was carried away during the night by a trusted valet, who chaperoned it to San Mateo, where Mr. Hobart spent yesterday admiring the reward of ihis prowess on the turf. Mr. Skinner and Mr. Forsland, both of whom refused to ride because of Mr. Hobarts peculiar gentleman jockey methods, discourse sadly of the race and its outcome. Mr. Forsland, who cuts his whiskers to get down to weight, .says that Mr. Hobarts pull as a director of the Pacific Coast Jockey Club, backed by unlimited money, enabled him to obtain a "shade" over -the other contestants. It is true that Mr. Skinner had an option on Dr. Sheppard, but he could not guarantee the owner against damage nor fill his depleted purse. Had Mr. Hobart broken the back of Br. Sheppard or caused his kidneys to ehift, Mr. foster would have been reimbursed for the loss of the beast. Again, he was able to pay his horse rent. In speaking of these matters, Mr. Skinner -expressed deep regret. He was reluctant to discuss the affair at all, but his feelings compelled him to remark that Mr. Hobart had -acted in an unsportsmanlike manner. It came out yesterday that a Mr. Qamage, said to be a bad debt collector, who rode in the gentlemens race, has a tale to unfold. The story goes that Mr. Qamage, having mingled in -good society on the turf, related to a downtown bartender that Mr. Hobart engaged him the bad debt collector to take a mount to fill out the field and make the event more imposing. With Mr. Skinner and Mr. Forsland out of it, the field would have looked rather skimpy, despite Mr. Hobarts generous beam. While not a crackajack rider, Mr. Qamage was competent to occupy the vacant space in a gentleman jockeys saddle and wear some kind of -colors. The gentlemen jockey races this year were a series continued from last season, and to capture the trophy a gentleman jockey had to win three times. One of the first conditions was that the aged horses should each carry 160 pounds. This did not fit Mr. Hobart, who carried at least ten pounds more for wealth ; so he requested that the scale bo raised ton pounds. Originally all the horsoB wore ontored by their owners and the mounts settled by lot; but the millionaire didnt liko thig nrrangoment. Ho suggested that each ridor procuro his own mount, which was done, and Mr. Hobart on Mistral II. won easily. In the next event they drew lots for mounts and Mr. Hobart was wiped out, Mr. Skinner winning on Collins. Even at 170 pounds Mr. Hobart was too heavy. Then the millionaire went into training with a professor of boxing to thump the surplus flesh off him. Skinner and Hobart had each won two races, and the third was to decide the ownership of the silver cup. Again did the San Mateo mdn urge a change in the conditions, which would permit each jockey to furnish his own horse instead of trusting to chance. To that end he circulated a paper among the gentlemen jockeys. A number of them refused to sign and the scheme fell through, but Mr. Hobart was not to be balked. He got the directors of the Jockey Club to change the conditions of the race and set after his shade. It seems that Mr. Skinner and Fred Foster, owner of Dr. Sheppard, are old acquaintances. Mr. Skinner says Foster promised him, voluntarily, that he should have the big horse whenever the opportunity arose. This understanding prevailed down to the time of making entries for the race of Thursday. All was serene until Fred Foster bethought him of his brothei Qeorge, who is part owner of the gallant Dr. Sheppard. Fred left Mr. Skinner while he sought brother Qeorge, the closing of the entries having meanwhile been staid at Skinners request. There Skinner fell. Between the time of leaving good friend Skinner and meeting brother Qeorge, owner Foster ran into millionaire Hobart. When he returned it whs to pour a tale of woe into the Skinner ear. Foster needed money. Hobart needed a horse. Skinner got an apology. Hobart got Dr. Sheppard, and Mr. Forsland said in a signed statement made yesterday: "It was nothing short of brigandage on Mr. Hobarts part." But then Mr. Forsland afterward reconsidered his language. He said that he had been informed that brigandage meant robbing people on a "by-way." Therefore he requested that his screed read : "It was nothing short of colossal impudence on Mr. Hobarts part." Mr. Hobart says nothing. He has the cup. San Francisco Examiner.
