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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. A movement in the direction of the organization of a govern ina body for the Canadian turf is being made. W. F. Frazer, secretary of the Ontario Jockey Club, at Toronto, is the chief spirit, and he is just now in correspondence with, the prominent breeders and turfmen of that country with reference to the subject. It is proposed that the body shall be known as the Canadian Jockey Club, and that it shall have supervision of racingon all tracks in the Dominion, and that reciprocal relations shall be established and maintained between it and the two organizations in the east and the west of the United States. In the event of the perfection of the organization the first acts will be the curtailment of racing dates and the abolition of syndicate bookmaking. It is said that following this organization will come the construction of a new track at Montreal and the revival of racing in that city. There has been no racing at Montreal for two years. The present track, Bel Air, is seventeen miles out of the city, and its appointmonts are of the ramshackle kind, with accommodations for no more than 150 horsos. It is proposed to build a modern track nearer the city. Then it is proposed to form a circuit, taking in the tracks at Windsor, Toronto, Fort Erie, Hamilton and Montreal. The lease of Chambers and Walker on the Windsor plant has expired, and it is said that they are so certain of the perfection of the proposed organization that tney are organizing a company to purchase the Gross Pointe track at Detroit, which is to be put up for sale this winter, There is a chince, however, that the movement will bo blocked by the Parmer-Hendrie combination, which is pretty strong across the border. In a recent letter to The Spirit of the Times concerning the present San Francisco turf situation, the veteran turf writer Joseph Cairn Simpson.says : "With two such race courses and grounds as the New California Jockey Club possess at Emeryville and Tanforan. it would appear as of little consequence to the club whether Inglesido was available or not. Tho action of the Board of Supervisors and the mayor is, however, highly appreciated by the association, and, apart from a comparatively limited number of the citizens of San Francisco, generally satisfactory. An emphatic vote. Twelve in favor to five against the. ordinance which sanctions the speculative feature of racing for forty days in the year, and this can bo accepted as a testimonial of the popularity of the measure. In some respects Ingleside is superior to either of the other tracks. Handy to reach, electric and steam cars for the crowd of racegoers, people who prefer the equine method have a choice of drives of great boauty, Trainers prefer Inglesido to Emeryvillo and Tanforan, but now that the inside course on theSeast sidn of the bay has been so greatly improved little fault can be found with that, the climate being decidedly superior. "One of the most striking anomalies in the climate of California is the wide diffofonce in points only a few miles apart. Therejnay be a dense fog at Ingleside, part of it reaching Tanforan, though at times it follows the coast range, while at Emeryville the only token is a cap of white vapor on the summit of the Contra Costa hills. During the twenty-eight years I have known that track, only one or two afternoons when there was anything like a heavy fog. "One serious drawback at Emeryville which, when explained, will appear singular to eastern readers. The grand stand faces the east, leaving the esplanade in the shade as well as the stand during the afternoon, and oven in this glorious climate, during winter racing, sunshine has charms. "Fully 200 horses are now exercising at Ingleside, and if there were any doubts regarding the number which will participate in the races, these must be dispelled. The turmoil attending the State election will be quieted on the first call of the bugle, and quite safe to predict that there will be another good year for the N. C. J. C." Whatever doubt may exist as to whether Odom, Lyne and Redfern are the three best jockeys the American turf has had in one year, and three of the best it ever has had, there can be no doubt that they are three of the best behaved, most manly little fellows that over sat in a saddle in any country. Although now grown to mans estate Odom is the same quiet, modest little fellow that he was when, as a lad of 16, he came north about five years ago. Wherever Odom is there his family, is, and one of the sights of the hotel at which they stop is to see the Odom family stream into the dining room, father and mother and sisters and brothers seven or eight in all. Odom has no bad habits, none of the many weaknesses which nine out of every ten fashionable jockeys fall victims to. Nor is he given to the loud clothes and the swagger which all too often is characteristic of the jockey who has won a name for himself as a rider. He has nono of the evil associations which lead to corruption. He is a quiet, undemonstrative lad, ho, when not engaged in the duties of hiscallingrseems to find his chief pleasure in the companionship of his family. In him is to bo found, that rare combination a model boy and a great rider. He now is under contract to ride for- the stable of Capt. Sam Brown at a salary of 2,000 a year. A pretty tale comes from Amsterdam, N. T. It tells of the home-coming of the raco horses owned by Gen. Stephen Sanford and his son, former Representative John Sanford. Tho employes of the big Now York Sanford mills had a half holiday. The streets of the town were liced with spectators to the number of several thousand as the string of thoroughbreds, with Chnctanunda in the lead und headed by a brass band, marched from the railroad depot to their winter quarters. For Chuctanunda, popularly regarded, as the champion sprinter, there was a floral wreath, and for all the horsos there was admiration unbounded. These horses were bred in Amsterdam, and tho people of Amsterdam looked upon thom with pride such as they would look upon one of Amsterdams sons returned to his native heath with honors full and fresh upon him. Sentiment rules tho turf because it rules the rulers of the turf and the great mas? of the people who support it. The home coming of the Sanford horses brought to the surface that sentiment which, although not often displayed, lies at the very foundation of the sport. Colonel James E. Pepper will sell his contract with jockey Arthur Redfern, which runs for another year, for 0,000. The boys services are in such demand that it will not be at all surprising if some millionaire owner steps to tho front wih an acceptance of this price. Redfern signed with Colonel Popper last fall for ,000 a year. If his contract is purchased for 0,000, his new employer will pay 9,0 0 for the boys services next year. It is said that W. C. Whitney is particularly anxious to secure Redfern.
