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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. Last Mondays Sau Francisco Chronicle contains the following statement concerning the popular president of tho California Jockey Club, than whom no moro honorable and fair turfman ever raced horses: "Tom Williams is going to emulate Pierre Lorillard, W. C. Whitney and Richard Croker, and will race a stable of horses ia England. This news will be received with favor, a3 Tom Williams is a keen sportsman and an excellent judge of a racehorso. It is Williams intention to get together a formidable stable, composed principally of California-bred horses. There is a report that tho president of th9 California Jockey Club will be given the pick of the Burns and Waterhouso stable, which now contains fifty horses. The ell black and orango cap of Tom Williams is familiar to all turfmen, and some crack horsss sportod his colors before Williams retireroont from the turf in 1894, because of his active participation in the affairs of the California Jockey Club as its president. This was regarded as a wise move at the time, as it effectually did away with any chance for hostile criticiem. "Tom Williams ha3 been actively identified with the turf interests of California for tho pest fifteen, years, during which time he has raced scores of thoroughbreds. Ho made several campaigns in the east, and with such horses as Raciu9, Rinfax and Flirtation made his presence felt in tli9 early nineties. Racine attracted wide spread attention by rnnnincr a milo over the Washington Park track in 1 :39i. cutting the long-stsnding worlds record of 1:391 mado by th9 famoas Ten Broeck. Before assuming the presidency of a jockey club Tom Williams was noted for his game qualities as a bettor, and invariably had up any way from 00 to ,000 oa the horse thatcerried the bit ck and oranuc in an important evont. As a matchmaker no turfmau has haa tho success of Tom Williams, n3 he has- a record untarnished by defeat in that respect. The majority of horsemen labored under tho impression that he haa the worst of it when he matched Rinfax against 1 Garaldine. Williams was especially anxious to beat Geraldiao, as she was owned by Portor Ashe, his orstwhile friead, but uncompromising enemy at the time of the match race, which was takci by Riafax. "Williams al30 provided the Biaaws of war for Clicquer ia his five-furlog match race with B lrder Lassie, who was owned by A. B. Sprockets. Clacquer prove 1 the winner. "Tho main dotaila about tho English turf campaign havo yet to be arranged, bat it can b3 predicted that the California turfmaa will have good horses ana a competent jock-jy when bis colors aro seen ia Eaglaad for the first time."
